Podcast Summary

Podcast: Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky

Host: Monica Lewinsky (A)

Guest: Allison Janney (B)

Episode Air Date: October 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Reclaiming features a candid, funny, and deeply moving conversation between Monica Lewinsky and acclaimed actress Allison Janney. The two explore the concept of "reclaiming" through the lens of Allison's remarkable career, her spiritual curiosity, personal grief, roles that challenged her, and her journey toward self-acceptance. Themes of late blooming success, resilience through grief, the search for meaning, non-traditional lives, and finding peace outside of societal expectations are woven throughout the episode.

Major Discussion Themes and Insights

1. How Monica and Allison Met; Friendship Memories

• A trip down memory lane: Monica recalls meeting Allison at a dinner party (~03:00) and shares quirky stories—like an impromptu canoe ride and paranormal “woo woo” experiences with broken glasses.
  • [05:03] Allison: “I was in the middle, and you two were rowing me through the canals...I have no idea how I got here.”
• Their friendship is marked by magical coincidences and a shared love of spiritual tangents and dinner parties.

2. Spirituality, Woo Woo, and Searching for Connection

• Both women share an interest in astrology, psychic readings, and spiritual signs, especially as a form of meaning-making after loss.
  • [06:52] Allison: “I’m a Scorpio with Cancer in my moon and Pisces rising. So I’m a triple water sign.”
• Allison confides in using signs (her initials on license plates, for example) to feel connected to departed loved ones.
  • [09:51] “If I see my initials on a license plate, I know I’m at the right place at the right time.”

3. Early Life, Theatre Roots, and Mentorship from Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward

• Grew up in Boston, then Ohio; attended Kenyon College.
  • [11:19] Allison: “Paul [Newman] came back to Kenyon to direct… he and Joanne were instrumental in getting me to come to New York and become a member of the Actors Studio.”
• The esteem and support from Newman bolstered Allison’s confidence, helping mitigate imposter syndrome.
• She shares, sometimes just having someone believe in you is as good as any “favor.”

4. Late-Blooming Success and Perseverance

• Allison’s major breakthroughs came in her late 30s/early 40s after years of professional rejection.
  • [14:09] “My career didn’t take off till I was 38. I did a soap opera…then Broadway…and finally West Wing at 40.”
• Candid about failed auditions for major sitcoms and the insecurity of seeing one’s audition tapes collecting dust as set decorations!

5. Portraying Iconic Women: CJ Cregg and Beyond

• Discusses how CJ Cregg’s character on The West Wing reflected both her own vulnerabilities and Sorkin’s writing.
  • [18:16] “A lot of CJ’s humor, femininity, and vulnerability was from me; her smarts came from Aaron.”
• How stepping into political roles (The West Wing, The Diplomat) shaped her worldview.
  • Current role (The Diplomat), working closely with Brad Whitford, draws on years of shared history on The West Wing.
  • [19:27] “We’ve been arguing in fake government buildings for 25 years.”

6. Approach to Acting and Research

• Prefers to ground her performances in the present rather than exhaustive backstory.
  • [21:24] “I call it working from the far side of a fart…That doesn’t really help me much.”
• Extensive research, however, is crucial when playing real people (e.g., working with Hugh Jackman in Bad Education).

7. Choosing Roles, Escaping Typecasting, and Career Variety

• Theater background made her comfortable with variety and versatility.
• Happy to be a “character actress,” not pigeonholed by TV/movie industry.

8. Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Mental Health

• Allison opens up about using ketamine, mushrooms, and MDMA as therapeutic tools after the loss of her mother and brother.
  • [27:37] “It’s the best thing I ever did for myself—to feel the release from all, all the heaviness…nothing but love and loved.”
• She stresses the importance of medical supervision and intention-setting in those experiences.
• Monica expresses curiosity about but has not yet tried psychedelics.

9. Grief, Family, and Loss

• Deep discussion of losing her younger brother Hal to addiction, and mother to illness.
  • Their relationships, Allison’s grief, and reframing her roles (Mom) in tribute to Hal.
  • [34:52] “[Hal] loved magic, he loved to perform...he could talk to anyone about anything...I wanted him to want to be here so badly, and he just did not want to be here.”
  • [36:11] “He just couldn’t find a place to land”—Allison quoting her father at Hal’s memorial.
• Acting as a tool for empathy and honoring those lost—Mom was chosen explicitly in Hal’s memory.

10. Nontraditional Life Choices: Marriage, Kids, and Fulfillment

• Both share a sense of not following the expected life script and processing feelings about marriage and motherhood.
  • Allison had long relationships but didn’t marry or have children; her “true love” are her dogs.
    • [40:24] “Animals, and especially dogs, are my heart.”
  • Conversation on expressing love in WASPy families via pets—dogs as sources of unconditional affection.
• Honest about fertility pressures and lack of education around women’s health and menopause.

11. Sexuality, Aging, and Body Confidence

• Addresses Instagram rumors about her sexuality after appearing on the “lesbian bus.”
  • [45:46] “I loved being on the lesbian bus. It was freaking fun...But I’m not a lesbian.”
  • Laughs at rumors, jokes about the “night being young,” but has not had a lesbian experience yet.
• Revels in embracing different looks for red carpet (notably, her pantless look at the Las Culturistas Awards) by “playing a role” at public events—though most comfortable in sweats and a T-shirt.

12. The Importance of Friendships and Searching for “Additive” Partners

• Monica and Allison reflect on how, at their stage of life, close friendships often provide the intimacy and support once sought in romantic relationships.
• A humorous acknowledgment of the “complicated” men both are drawn to and the ongoing pattern of self-exploration.

13. Tech Tsunami & Changing Industry

• Allison expresses gratitude that she’s established, as the acting profession contends with threats from AI and rapidly changing landscapes.
  • [54:18] “There’s an AI actor who’s being signed by what agency…I’m so grateful I’m not starting out right now.”

14. Reclaiming the Self and Pursuing Stillness

• Allison’s current journey involves reclaiming her identity outside work, relationships, or external validation:
  • [51:47] “Reclaiming who I am without being with anybody or associated with a job or a part or anything. Reclaiming my center and peace of mind.”
• Dream of a silent retreat to reset and find inner quiet (which Monica jokes would be hard for her!).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [09:51] Allison on “signs” after loss:
  “If I see my initials on a license plate, I know I’m at the right place at the right time.”
• [13:15] Allison on Paul Newman’s support:
  “Paul said to me, if you ever need a favor, you can call me, but make it very specific…Just having that in my pocket made me feel confident.”
• [18:16] Allison on CJ Cregg:
  “A lot of CJ’s humor, femininity, and vulnerability was from me; her smarts came from Aaron.”
• [27:37] Allison on ketamine therapy:
  “It’s the best thing I ever did for myself…just goes. And I felt nothing but love and loved.”
• [34:52] Allison on her brother Hal:
  “He loved magic…he could talk to anybody about anything…when he was around me, I just always felt more relaxed and comfortable.”
• [36:11] On Hal’s legacy:
  “He just couldn’t find a place to land.”
• [40:24] Allison on dogs:
  “Animals, and especially dogs, are my heart.”
• [45:46] On Instagram "lesbian bus" rumors:
  “I loved being on the lesbian bus. It was freaking fun…But I’m not a lesbian.”
• [51:47] On reclaiming her identity:
  “Reclaiming who I am without being with anybody or associated with a job or a part or anything. Reclaiming my center and my peace of mind…”

Key Timestamps

• [03:00] First meeting, dinner party, and woo-woo stories
• [06:44] Astrology, spiritual seeking, and signs from the universe
• [11:19] Kenyon College, Paul Newman mentorship
• [14:09] Rejection in acting; career taking off at 38/40
• [17:37] CJ Cregg and influence on character
• [19:27] Working again in government roles (The Diplomat)
• [27:37] Psychedelic therapy and healing after loss
• [34:52] Remembering her brother Hal
• [40:24] On not having children; love for dogs
• [45:46] “Lesbian bus” Instagram rumors; sexuality
• [51:47] What Allison is reclaiming now: her center, herself

Tone & Style

The conversation is warm, irreverent, and deeply honest—marked by Monica’s openness, Allison’s humor and vulnerability, and their clear affection for one another. They fluidly move from laughter over cat tales and red carpets, to poignant reflections on grief, aging, and the search for meaning.