Leanne Morgan on Stand-Up, Stardom and Second Acts

Summary

Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist

Guest: Leanne Morgan on Stand-Up, Stardom, and Second Acts

Date: March 15, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this lively and heartfelt episode, Willie Geist sits down with stand-up comedian Leanne Morgan, whose career has skyrocketed in her late 50s and 60s after decades of perseverance and balancing motherhood, marriage, and comedy. They discuss Leanne's late-blooming stardom, her unique comedic voice rooted in real-life experiences, the power of persistence, and the importance of embracing "second acts." Leanne shares hilarious anecdotes from her life, her journey into stand-up, and the relatable stories that connect her deeply with audiences, particularly women navigating midlife. The conversation is filled with warmth, humor, and inspiring life lessons.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Leanne's Whirlwind Success: Living in the Moment

• Current Feeling:
  • Leanne describes her life as "a whirlwind" but says she’s “trying to be present and every day, you know, and I’m so grateful.” (04:00)
  • At age 60, she’s on a massive tour and thriving, despite many women telling her they're "so tired." (03:34–04:03)

2. A Long Road to Stardom

• Persistence Pays Off:
  • Leanne has been doing stand-up for 25 years, often questioning if she was "crazy" for sticking with it, but always finding small encouragement to keep going. (04:16–04:44)
  • “For a long time, I thought, am I crazy? Am I like one of those little kids on American Idol that thinks they can sing?” (04:16, Leanne)
  • Her journey included near-misses with sitcom deals and a non-traditional career path as she prioritized raising her three children and working outside typical comedy circuits. (07:13–09:53)

3. Roots of Her Comedy Material

• Family as Inspiration:

  • Much of her material springs from her experiences as a mother, wife, and now grandmother, including hilarious yet relatable stories of motherhood, such as birthing stories, menopause, and family antics. (07:13–09:53)
  • She admits, “Now I’m a mama and a grandmama, you know, I like to talk about my kids and their daddy. He gives me a lot of material.” (09:53)

• Process:

  • Leanne now uses her phone for jotting down ideas, but earlier would write jokes on the backs of receipts and checkbooks, often losing them in the laundry. (08:20–09:53)

• Audience Veto Power:

  • Her husband and children have veto power over her material. “I run everything through everybody, and everybody's okay with everything.” (10:20)

4. Platform and Representation

• Late-Life Stardom Resonates:
  • Willie points out that Leanne’s appeal lies in voicing what many women experience but rarely hear in comedy – midlife, menopause, and family life. (13:50–14:21)
  • Leanne reflects, “I wanted to make it when I was young and thin…” but now is glad for the timing: “I have led a full life as a mama, a grandmama...and that's what people are relating to.” (14:21)
  • “All this stuff like things end at 40…that’s crazy. We’re the best…I feel like I’m the best I’ve ever been in my job right now.” (44:45, Leanne)

5. Breaking into New Mediums

• Transition to Netflix Series:

  • Leanne shares her fear and self-doubt stepping into acting and sitcom production for Netflix, feeling like “every day for the first four episodes I would say, pack your bags. We're getting out of here… I was scared out of my mind…” (16:09–16:47)
  • With support and persistence, by episode 6 she hit her stride with the help of veteran director Andy Ackerman, building “memory muscle” with scripts and live audiences. (16:47–17:58)

• Accolades and Support:

  • High praise and encouragement from comedy greats, including Jerry Seinfeld:
    “He said, Leanne, even if it doesn't get picked up, you have a sitcom with your name on it, which is unheard of…you're in there with Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, Lucille Ball.” (20:24)
  • Leanne has also found acceptance with industry cool kids, forming friendships with the likes of Marc Maron, Neil Brennan, John Mulaney, Jim Gaffigan, and Amy Poehler. (22:00-24:01)

6. Going Viral and the Power of Social Media

• The Breakthrough Moment:
  • Leanne’s social media team launched her to new fame after one of her videos about aging rock concertgoers went viral:
    “I moved my baby into her apartment, and…a video...was going viral. I could see thousands...every time I opened my phone.” (25:38)
  • “It was almost like God said, okay, buckle up girl. You got that baby tended to. Everybody's okay. Let's roll.” (26:40)

7. Staying Grounded Amidst Success

• Family First:
  • Despite her success, Leanne remains grounded. She shares stories about traveling on the road, shopping at grocery stores, loving Costco splurges, and sharing hotel rooms with family to save money. (28:14–31:49)
  • Her favorite splurge? “That’s a splurge, you know, because I...my people are meat people...We had a meat processing plant.” (30:15)

8. Early Comedy: From Jewelry Sales to Stand-Up

• Origins in Home Parties:
  • Leanne’s comedic instincts emerged while selling jewelry at home parties, where her presentation would naturally veer into storytelling and humor, planting the seeds for her stand-up. (37:16–39:20)
  • Encouraged by audiences and a Christian comedian, she pursued open mics, eventually landing her first professional gig at age 32. (39:20–40:52)

9. Moments of Doubt and Perseverance

• Resilience in the Face of Rejection:
  • Multiple failed sitcom deals and inability to sell tickets led her to consider quitting for good and even opening a hardware store. (41:24–42:21)
  • One last investment in her social media presence turned everything around, leading to sold out shows and national tours without even having an agent. (43:21–44:21)
  • “Six months before that, I was booked in improvs…couldn’t sell a ticket…And then, honey, I start selling out all over the United States…” (43:39)

10. Lessons for Fans and Listeners

• It’s Never Too Late:
  • Her journey underscores the importance of sticking with your passion: “Do what y’all want to do that makes you happy, you know, and go for it, ’cause you don’t want to regret that.” (45:53)
  • “Life is short. I know that now. And I've just turned 60. I think, gosh, where did this go? …So I think if somebody wants to go back to school, go back to school. If they want to start a business, do it, you know? I just think it'd be crazy not to try it.” (45:53-46:20)

11. Connection with Audience and Fandom

• Loyal Following:
  • Her audience now is diverse, including men, and deeply invested in her success, “These fans of mine want to see me win. And if somebody says something mean to me on social media, honey, thousands will go after them, honey.” (47:12)
  • “I look out in that audience and I think I’d be best friends with every one of them. We’d all go to Jazzercise...do a Bible study. I wouldn’t do my homework, but I would cheat off of them.” (47:34)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Showing Up Later in Life:
  “I wanted to make it when I was young and thin...but...this is wonderful timing. I got to raise these children. I have led a full life as a mama, a grandmama...that’s what people are relating to.” — Leanne (14:21)

• On Persistence:
  “For a long time I thought, am I crazy? Am I like one of those little kids on American Idol that thinks they can sing?” — Leanne (04:16)

• On Comedy Material:
  “I'm a mama and a grandmama, you know, I like to talk about my kids and their daddy. He gives me a lot of material.” — Leanne (09:53)

• On Industry Support:
  “Jerry Seinfeld called me the day it came out and said, ‘Leanne, even if it doesn't get picked up, you have a sitcom with your name on it, which is unheard of.’” — Leanne (20:24)

• On Going Viral:
  “It was almost like God said, okay, buckle up girl. You got that baby tended to. Everybody's okay. Let’s roll.” — Leanne (26:40)

• On Regret and Going For It:
  “Life is short. ...So I think if somebody wants to go back to school, go back to school. If they want to start a business, do it, you know? ...You don't want to regret that. I don't want to. I got enough regrets, honey. From the 80s.” — Leanne (45:53)

• On Her Connection to Fans:
  “These fans of mine want to see me win. And if somebody says something mean to me on social media, honey, thousands will go after them, honey.” — Leanne (47:12)

• On Being the “Best I’ve Ever Been” at 60:
  “All this stuff like things end at 40…that’s crazy. We’re the best. I feel like I’m the best I’ve ever been in my job right now.” — Leanne (44:45)

---

Important Timestamps

• 03:34 – Leanne on turning 60 and her energy for touring
• 04:16 – Questioning her sanity and sticking with comedy
• 07:13–09:53 – How her family and life stages have inspired her material
• 10:20 – Family veto power over on-stage stories
• 13:50–14:21 – The appeal of Leanne’s comedy to women of her generation
• 16:09–16:47 – Terrified stepping into her Netflix sitcom
• 20:24 – Jerry Seinfeld’s encouraging phone call
• 22:00–24:01 – Acceptance into the “cool kids” of comedy
• 25:38 – Going viral and the career explosion
• 31:26–31:49 – Costco adventures as her idea of a splurge
• 37:16–39:20 – Origins of her comedy while selling jewelry at house parties
• 41:24–44:21 – Moments of doubt, nearly quitting, and the last-ditch effort that paid off
• 45:53 – Lessons about chasing dreams at any age
• 47:12 – How her audience supports her and what their connection means

---

Tone & Final Impression

Leanne Morgan’s warmth, candor, and wit light up the conversation, as she and Willie Geist openly discuss the challenges and triumphs of not just her career, but of life, aging, and staying true to oneself. The episode is equal parts inspiring and entertaining—a testament to the power of late-blooming success and the enduring magic of relating through humor.

---

For More:

• Leanne Morgan’s newest Netflix stand-up special, Unspeakable Things, is now streaming.
• Season 2 of her hit sitcom Leanne is in production.

---

Summary by Podcast Summarizer AI.

Transcript

[Redfin Announcer]

There's a difference between liking a house and actually getting it. Redfin is built to close that gap. Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agents, so when you find a home you love, you're not a step behind when it's time to make an offer. That means less watching great homes disappear and more zeroing in on the one you'll actually end up calling home. Redfin helps turn saved listings into real addresses. Get [e-mail] own the dream courage I

[Leanne Morgan]

learned it from my adoptive mom, hold my hand. You hold my hand.

[Adopt Us Kids PSA Voice]

Learn about adopting a teen from foster [e-mail] you can't imagine the reward brought to you by Adopt Us Kids, the U.S. department of Health and Human Services, and the Ad Council.

[Willie Geist]

Hey guys, Willie Geist here with another episode of the Sunday Sit down podcast. My thanks as always for clicking and listening along. I am extraordinarily excited to bring you my conversation this week with my guest Leanne Morgan. I'm always excited to bring you these conversations because I have so much fun talking to my guests. But Leanne Morgan is one of the funniest and most charming people I've ever had the opportunity to sit down with. Leanne you may recognize from her stand up specials on Netflix. One of them is number one on Netflix right now. It's called Unspeakable Things. You might recognize her from her star turn in the Reese Witherspoon Will Ferrell movie. You're cordially invited earlier this year. She is, I don't know, she's a force of nature. She's just so naturally funny. She's got the thick southern accent. She grew up on a farm in rural Tennessee right near the Kentucky border. She's been at this standup comedy thing for 25 years, maybe even a little bit more. She'll talk about it. It all started because she's naturally funny. She was selling jewelry like home to home at house parties and she was so funny as she would sit and talk to the women. This is going back 25, 30 years that they said you should be a stand up comedian. She had three young at home. She didn't think that was possible. But then at night after she get the kids in bed, she'd go do open mics and gigs around where she lived. Turns out there was an audience for it. But the climb has been long because she's been a mother, she's been a wife as she talks about now, she's a grandmother. She's had priorities in life, but she Stayed at this comedy thing. She's come to the brink of what she thought was going to be her big moment. And then it hasn't happened for her. But just in these last few years, she has blown up. She also has the hit show Leanne on Netflix, which was like the number, number two show of this year on Netflix. Wildly popular, just behind the Hunting Wives, as she talks about hilariously. She just got a great story to tell, great observations about being a mother, being a woman, being from the south, all these things all through that syrupy, thick Southern accent, but really leading with her charm and genuine, honest to goodness, natural sense of humor. I love her. She's so funny. I think you're going to enjoy these next several minutes spent with Leanne Morgan right now on the Sunday Sit down podcast.

Leanne, I'm so happy to see you.

[Leanne Morgan]

Oh, really, honey, I'm so tickled to be here. Thank you for having me.

[Willie Geist]

And to catch you in the middle of this ride. You've just done the Tonight show last night. You've got a second season of your show coming up. You just wrapped this tour that lasts two and a half years. You've got so much going on. What is the feeling right now? What's it like to be in the middle of it?

[Leanne Morgan]

It's like a whirlwind, my darling. It's a whirlwind. But. But I'm trying to be present and every day, you know, and I'm so grateful. I'm grateful. And you know what people say to me all the time? They go, how are you doing this? Because I'm 60. You know, I just turned 60. And so women comment on social media and go, I'm so tired. I just went to Atlanta for the weekend and I can barely go, how are you doing a tour? But I think the energy and the adrenaline, because it is so special. I mean, it's fun and wonderful.

[Willie Geist]

And we were talking about how the road for you has been long to get to this place. Place. You've been at this for 25 years or something like that.

[Leanne Morgan]

25 years, yeah.

[Willie Geist]

So does that make it all the sweeter to know the road that got you here?

[Leanne Morgan]

Yes. Because let me tell you, Willie, for a long time I thought, am I crazy? Am I like one of those little kids on American Idol that thinks they can sing? You know, when, remember, they would have them. And, you know, I thought there were times when I'd think maybe I'm crazy. Am I just, this is not what I'm supposed to be. But then I Would get one little, you know, something to keep me going all those years while I was raising my children. And I just stuck with it.

[Willie Geist]

You stayed with it? Yeah. And you've got this new special, unspeakable things. I will not ask you to describe what the unspeakable things are. People have to watch to figure that out. Chuck Morgan, there's so much in there that your fans are going to love, whether it's Claremont Lounge, where I have been myself, in his lounge.

[Leanne Morgan]

You have, Willie.

[Willie Geist]

I've been.

[Leanne Morgan]

Did you think that was. What did you think, Willie?

[Willie Geist]

Even as a young man, I thought, wow, this is a lot. This might be too much. And I take it you felt the same? You felt the same way?

[Leanne Morgan]

Oh, just bizarre. I felt like I wanted to rock those little women in my lap. I don't know. But, you know, people say everybody's gone, and it's like Lady Gaga. I've heard her talk about it. She went, people, it's a destination in Atlanta. But you as a young boy, that's almost like going and seeing somebody give birth before you had your own children.

[Willie Geist]

Well, we should say Clermont Lounge is a gentleman's club, but it's almost like a drag club also. It's more performance than people might think of a gentleman's club.

[Leanne Morgan]

And as I say in my special, it's sweet that they let everybody participate. It's not what you see in the movies as a.

[Willie Geist]

No.

[Leanne Morgan]

Strip club.

[Willie Geist]

No.

[Leanne Morgan]

It's not J. Lo.

[Willie Geist]

No.

[Leanne Morgan]

In Hustler or whatever that thing was. It's not that.

[Willie Geist]

Did you see a performer named Goldie by any chance?

[Leanne Morgan]

I haven't. I didn't that night. And I don't know if little Goldie. Is she still with us? Because more people say, okay, you've heard what about Goldie? You've heard and what she does on stage.

[Willie Geist]

Got a trick up her sleeve.

[Leanne Morgan]

She was not there. Another little girl, young girl, who was beautiful, had another trick. We cannot talk about it.

[Willie Geist]

Okay, let's save this for the special. Okay. This is the little tease that everybody has to go watch. It's so, so good. Your fans are gonna love it.

[Leanne Morgan]

You think so, Willie?

[Willie Geist]

Without question.

[Leanne Morgan]

Oh, good.

[Willie Geist]

And a lot of those are new fans who've come around to you just in the last few years and can't get enough of you on Instagram or wherever they see you. So when you're this act together, what is the process for you? I love talking to stand up comedians about that. Where do you pull the material? Is it just things you come Across. I mean, because a lot of these are just stories you're telling of things that have happened in your life.

[Leanne Morgan]

For this special, the first one I'm every woman was, oh, gosh, that was 100 cities I did before I'd shot that thing. And I feel like some of my best is before anybody ever knew who I was, because I feel like. And I would have television deals for sitcoms. A lot of people don't know that I had, like, four before this sitcom made it, when my children were little. But I would lay out Chuck Morgan and then my oldest, Charlie, and then Maggie, and then Tess. And showrunners would say, you've already laid out this sitcom for us because you developed these characters. But they're all so funny and so different. And so when this one. And through the years, you know, I'm doing what is happening to me in my life. So little children in elementary T ball. Somebody pooped on a T ball field, you know, and I had to flick it into the woods. That. And then, you know, birthing. Before that, birthing was a prolific time for me. Then middle school. Shut your mouth. Don't say our name out of your mouth. So I did, and that was a dry time. High school, they were like, we don't care what you do because they, you know, don't care what you do in high school, and they're tired of you. And then this didn't happen for me, really blow up big until my early 50s. So then I was going through menopause, so I had to talk about that, which, evidently, nobody talks about that on Netflix or movie stars don't want to talk about it because it's gross, I guess. And then this one, I said, like, my family, all my kids were like, mom, you never told this story. What about this story? But what I do now is I get my phone. Everybody's got an iPhone, you know, And I take notes about something that I'll remember that I think is funny. And then I can get it out, you know, in a club or whatever. I'll work it out on stage, get it out of my mouth, see if there's anything to it. When I was raising these children before an iPhone. Oh, Willie. There's probably four hours of material that's lost somewhere that went to a landfill because I would write on the back of my checkbook, it would drive Chuck Morgan crazy because I never balanced my check. And then I would write on the back of, like, a Walgreens receipt and, like, little ideas that I think come from heaven. And I'D be washing clothes, put my head in, you know, and washing all these kids clothes. And something would dawn on me. I'd go write a piece of paper. I don't know where it went, but this is how I did this one. I had thoughts of what I wanted to talk about, and it's just random. It's. Cause I'm a mama and a grandmama, you know, I like to talk about my kids and their daddy. He gives me a lot of material.

[Willie Geist]

Yes, he does.

[Leanne Morgan]

But Morgan does.

[Willie Geist]

He does. He's really the headliner in this special,

[Leanne Morgan]

and he's getting a big head over it.

[Willie Geist]

Is he really?

[Leanne Morgan]

Yeah, he is. And people ask me, is Chuck here? And I go, no, he needs to keep working. He needs staying home.

[Willie Geist]

So you've sort of answered the question, but do any of your three children or Chuck, do they have any veto power over the material? Like, please don't tell that on stage. Yes, they do.

[Leanne Morgan]

And I run everything through everybody, and everybody's okay with everything. There was one time that Chuck Morgan said, do not say that about me. And okay, Willie. I had nursed three babies for a long time, which I'm so proud of. I mean, it was a good time. And I should have been a mama gorilla. You know, I raised them in the bed with me back then. Sleeping in the bed, all that very kumbaya. And. But then I'm very vain, and I was young and still had life left in me. So I wanted to get my breasts done, okay? And I sat on stage early on. And Chuck Morgan sells mobile homes. He works for a big Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett company, Clayton Homes, and He has for 30 years. And I said on stage, I want to get my breasts done, but it's been a bad mobile home year, and I didn't think a thing in the world of it. And he goes. He said, I'm so hurt by life. He goes, I have always provided for you, and I could write a check for your breasts today. And he said, don't tell people that I'm not providing for you, because that's how Chuck Morgan feels. Value is that he is a working mule, honey. And he is an overachiever. I told you that. And he studied in school and paid attention. I didn't. I didn't know where Slovenia was. And so I've never seen anything like that. Now he says, you know, I can say it in interviews.

[Willie Geist]

Well, I love. It's doubly funny knowing everything you say about him in this special. That. That's the thing that upset him, not all this other stuff you're saying about him?

No, that's fine.

Go ahead, tell the world. Tell the world.

[Leanne Morgan]

He's the one that said in this special, tell him about the time I got arrested. Oh, really? Uh huh.

[Willie Geist]

So he cleared that one.

[Leanne Morgan]

He cleared that one. But he said. But explain it, Leanne. That it wasn't something bad.

[Willie Geist]

Hey guys, thanks for listening to the Sunday Sit down podcast. Stick around to hear more from Leanne Morgan right after the break.

[Opendoor Advertiser]

Cash now. More later from Opendoor gives you cash up front for your home plus all the profit later. That's no chaos now. No cash left behind later. Skip the showings now. Pocket extra profit later. This is so simple now. This is so awesome. Later. Or sell fast now and pop the champagne later. Cash now. More later. Now available nationwide. Start your [e-mail] radio profits calculated after fees and costs. Eligibility and offer price may vary.

[Depop Advertiser]

Last night you spent two hours deciding what to wear to the party this morning. It'll take you two minutes to list it on Depop and make your money back. Just grab your phone, snap a few photos and we'll take care of the rest. The sheer dress and platform heels you'll never wear again. There's a birthday girl searching for them right now. Your one and done look is about to pay for your next night out or at least the ride home. Your style can make you cash start selling on Depop, where taste recognizes taste courage.

[Leanne Morgan]

I learned it from my adoptive mom, hold my hand.

[Adopt Us Kids PSA Voice]

You hold my hand. Learn about adopting a teen from foster care at Adopt usa. You can't imagine the reward brought to you by Adopt Us Kids, the U.S. department of Health and Human Services and the Ad Council.

[Willie Geist]

Welcome back. Now more of my conversation with Leanne Morgan.

You, you mentioned that this all came to you later in life. And I think there's part of what the appeal has been to a lot of women I know in my house and a lot of her friends and all that, is that you're talking about things they can relate to that they don't hear other comedians talk about. So in some ways, the fact that your material has matured into this stage of your life gives women all over the place someone to point to and relate to and say, yes, I know,

[Leanne Morgan]

isn't that a blessing? Yeah, because I wanted to make it when I was young and thin. Really, I was dreaming big through this whole thing since I was 9, 10 years old. But when I would get these television deals, I was probably in my 40s, you know, and still had my bloom. And I wanted to, you know, I would be devastated when something wouldn't make it. And I. And the Comedy Central did not, you know, care for me. I was not the hip, edgy, you know, comedian. So there was a lot of no's, a lot of heartbreak. But I look back on it and I think all of it, I think it was wonderful timing. Wonderful timing because one, I got to raise these children. I have led a full life as a mama, a grandmama. My parents are still with me. I tend to them when I can. I've got this full life I can talk about, and that's what people are relating to. And I just. And I really feel. Not feel sorry. There are these young girls who've got pretty legs and they're doing big things, but I think, oh, my gosh, do they have to sustain this for that long? I mean, I'm 60 years old. I think I'm having a bowl. And then someday I would like to, if I'm not touring, not able, I would like to do movies like Big Cloris Leachman, Betty White, kind of. I think that'd be fun, you know, I love that. I know. Wouldn't that be fun?

[Willie Geist]

Yeah, I can see it. Don't you feel like that's all coming? I mean, you've got this hit Netflix series we were just talking about, which is so funny, but you never know how these things are gonna land or

how they're gonna do.

And then it comes out and it's like the most streamed comedy they've ever had, and they wanted another season of it. Was that experience because it's so different from what you've done? Was that a little scary to step in there, Willie?

[Leanne Morgan]

I was scared out of my mind. And my baby child is my makeup artist on that. On that series. And she lived with me out there in la. It was just me and her away from our family. And every day for the first four episodes, I would say, pack your bangs. We were getting out of here. I'm not doing this. I mean, I was scared out of my mind because it is a whole different thing. And my name's on it, Leanne. And then, you know, all these people are looking at me.

[Willie Geist]

So at what point did you start to get comfortable? Because I cannot imagine having never done it before, how nerve wracking it was. When did you start to feel like, oh, I can pull this off.

[Leanne Morgan]

Okay, Episode three, I thought, okay, I don't think I'm gonna get the shingles. Episode six, I had Andy Ackerman direct me, who did a bunch of Curb and Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld. And there's something clicked then where I certainly didn't think I was a pro, but I thought, okay, maybe I can do this. You don't have to pack your bags. And of course, Chuck Lord, none of them knew I felt this way. They will know now. But I was. I mean, it's a lot to learn camera blocking, but let me tell you. And that script every week, that was daunting. But they said, you'll build this muscle in. There'll be a memory muscle that you. And I was like, no, I won't. And I did. They were right. And I got better at that through the time. But we filmed in front of a live audience and if something doesn't land, they start walking toward you and tell you another line, you know, to see what else works. And then you gotta relearn that all over on the spot. And so that was frightening. But you get used to that too.

[Willie Geist]

It's just so different than anything done right.

[Leanne Morgan]

So different. And I wasn't a theater kid. I mean, I was in one play in my little bitty country sweet high school that where everybody raised dark fire tobacco. But I did have a. I had some kids in that class that were very talented. One went on to Juilliard and became an actor and has been in a bunch of stuff. But they did a lot of musicals. Cause we had all these musical kids and I couldn't do anything. So I tried out for Stupefying Jones in Little Abner. She was the sex symbol. And I put my own. It was a bathing suit with pantyhose underneath it. And I just had to gyrate. I didn't have a line. And I really, honest to goodness, in my 17 year old mind, I thought this is the beginning. Stupefying Jones in this tiny theater with 100 people. And my little daddy said you didn't have a love like you just gyrated in front of people that we go to church with.

[Willie Geist]

But in your mind, a star is

[Leanne Morgan]

born A star is born A Dan,

[Willie Geist]

A Dan the phone's gonna start ringing. But so when Leigh Ann becomes a hit and it's clear and you're seeing the streaming numbers and all that, I mean, are you surprised by that?

[Leanne Morgan]

Oh, I was so surprised.

[Willie Geist]

Obviously you're thrilled. But I mean, your first time out to get that reaction is unheard of.

[Leanne Morgan]

I don't know why I didn't get the shingles while we were waiting on, you know, because Netflix will Tell you in about 30 days.

[Willie Geist]

Yeah.

[Leanne Morgan]

And because they look at all those numbers, you know, it's a numbers thing. And I thought, and sometimes things do wonderful and they may not pick it up because it's too expensive to make or whatever. So I was hysterical. Also, I was. It came out the same time as Hunting Wives.

[Willie Geist]

Right.

[Leanne Morgan]

So I had to compete against those women shooting boars in their panties. Well. And I thought. But then they go, it's not a comedy, Leanne. You're in a different thing. But I wanted to get to number one. I kind of can get competitive.

[Willie Geist]

Yeah, I bet.

[Leanne Morgan]

But I was, you know, I stayed in the top 10 for weeks.

[Willie Geist]

Yes.

[Leanne Morgan]

And that was. And so I thought, surely to goodness, but you just wring your hands until they tell you. But I was thrilled. I think I would have been devastated because I put everything I had into that and I wanted people to love it and it meant a lot to me and I want to be successful. And so I think I would have been devastated if it hadn't been picked up. And Jerry Seinfeld called me the day it came out and said, who has been precious to me through this whole thing? And he said, leigh Ann, even if it doesn't get picked up, you have a sitcom with your name on it, which is unheard of. And you think he goes, you're in there with Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, Lucille Ball. Wasn't that sweet?

[Willie Geist]

Yes.

[Leanne Morgan]

And he said, I know, you're a Christian lady. Right, Leann? He goes, everything happens for a reason. It will be. You've already had a year of success. I mean, a season come out. Multicams are not even coming out. I mean, so that made me feel good. And then so it was icing on the cake when I got.

[Willie Geist]

Oh.

[Leanne Morgan]

And then you think about those people that are with me who they put those pros around me and what a blessing they've all been. And we love each other. And I think you can tell it on that screen.

[Willie Geist]

Absolutely. Oh, Kristin Johnson's amazing and has wonderful things to say about you. You taught her an accent, first of all. She's like, I need Leanne's help with that. She got it, I think, right?

[Leanne Morgan]

Uh huh. Yeah. She tried to do like my daughters because they were raised in the city.

[Willie Geist]

Right.

[Leanne Morgan]

I was raised country, so mine's thicker than my children. And then Chuck Morgan was somewhere where there was a country club. So he was in East Tennessee, which. That's a whole different thing. He got to play golf and tennis.

[Willie Geist]

Oh, wow.

[Leanne Morgan]

So that's you know, we didn't even know what it was. Where I grew up.

[Willie Geist]

Didn't have that in Atlas.

[Leanne Morgan]

We saw it on tv.

[Willie Geist]

Yeah, right.

[Leanne Morgan]

You know, we saw people playing.

[Willie Geist]

Saw shows about it. Right?

[Leanne Morgan]

Yeah.

[Willie Geist]

I mean, you mentioned Seinfeld. We were talking earlier about Nate Bargetzi. That part of this ride for you where people I'm sure you've looked up to you now consider friends and mentors in many ways. What has that meant to you?

[Leanne Morgan]

Oh, it means a lot to me, Willie, because me being a mama in Knoxville and I started professionally, I called myself a professional comedian. When I opened for the first time at a comedy Club, I was 32. That baby child that does my makeup was 18 months old. Opened for Billy Gardelle at Zany's in Nashville. But I had to take a different path from everybody because Brian Dorfman, who owns that club and is now my concert promoter, said to me, I think you got something, but you've got three babies, Lynn, and club work. I mean, you can do a little bit, but you want to raise your own children, because people, these women that are out here doing clubs all the time, you can't raise your own children. I mean, it's hard. So I had to cut out a different path. I did a lot of corporate, private things. I let. Anywhere somebody let me on stage, I did it. But I always felt like I was on the outside, because Comedy Central, I would audition for Just for Laughs, all those things, and I wouldn't get it. And I just felt like I was never one of the cool kids. And Nate Margetzi says to me, I've never been one of the cool kids. I go, then you need a therapist because you're the cool kid. But now I feel like a cool kid because they've all been wonderful to me. Marc Maron had me on his podcast. Neil Brennan, Richard Lewis reached out to me on social media right before he passed away and said, I am a huge fan, and I loved everything he ever did. I got to meet David Letterman. John Mulaney has been so good to me. I mean, it's been wonderful how these. Jim Gaffigan has been darling, and that's meant a lot to me.

[Willie Geist]

It was fun to see. I was saying earlier, you and Amy Poehler on that podcast, too, she loves you.

[Leanne Morgan]

Clearly.

[Willie Geist]

This might be a hard question to answer because you're talking about yourself, but are you able to identify why? Just even in these last couple of years, things have taken off for you the way they have because you're doing a lot of what you've been doing. The material is a little different, as you said, but this has been your style. You've been you this whole time.

[Leanne Morgan]

I know.

[Willie Geist]

Why is it connecting right now, when you think about it?

[Leanne Morgan]

Okay. And let me tell you, Narval Blackstock, who manages Blake Shelton and all these hoop de doo people in Nashville, said to me, Reba's ex husband said to me, came to a show, and he was backstage, and he said, leanne, it's just a phenomenon that you do this same thing. And one day, it's like somebody turns a light on in a dark room. And I feel that way. I feel like, you know, I'm a believer. And I feel like God, you know, has done this for me, put this in my imagination. When I was a baby, I was in the middle of nowhere wanting to be a comedic, you know, actress. And I feel like it's God's timing, but I also think it's just. It's just his timing, because I think I started talking about menopause. Nobody was talking about it. I. I just talked about regular, everyday life. And it was just a time. After Covid, well, I kind of was starting to go up before COVID but then after Covid, everybody wanted to laugh and get out and do. And it just went crazy. And I named that first tour the Big Panty Tour, because who doesn't love a big panty?

[Willie Geist]

A big comfortable panty.

[Leanne Morgan]

A big, comfortable panty. And maybe I'm the only one that's a fool enough to talk about it. I don't know. I don't know why. I wish I could answer that. I just feel like I got my children raised. All right, let me tell you this, Willie. This baby went to school in Manhattan for television and film, for makeup. And she had gone through thyroid cancer and been treated for that or was about. Yeah, she had been treated for that. And then we moved her. We were worried death about her. I moved her into her apartment. The day I moved her in a video, my social media people that I had barely, you know, had saved the money to. I'd bought too many. I'd get my hair done and stuff instead of invest in myself. I had, like, two headshots in 25 years or 20 years. And I had hired these boys to do my social media. They put out a video about me taking Chuck Morgan to go see Def Leppard and Journey and how everybody looked sick and had plantar fasciitis. And that video was going viral. It was turning. I could see thousands of, like, every Time I opened up my phone and we were moving that baby in, she was happy. She wanted to go to school for that. She had been in traditional college and said. Came to us and said, that's what I want to do. Can y' all please take that money and let me do this? We felt good. She was, you know, Gotten through cancer, was in that apartment. And then it was almost. To me, it was like God said, okay, buckle up, girl. You got that baby tended to. Everybody's okay. Let's roll. That's what it feels like. I feel like I got my children raised. And every day on that set when I was. Did that, I had that little bitty part in that movie with Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell, and Reese Witherspoon got me that part, that doll. And she said to me every day, lynn, you got to raise your own children. And she said, not everybody does in this business. And so I feel like that was that blessing. You know, I got to have a normal. I am. And people go, how do you stay grounded? Grounded. I'm in a Mitsubishi rental car. I'm still doing all the laundry, you

[Willie Geist]

know, sharing a bed.

[Leanne Morgan]

I love a grocery store. Tess and I share a bed on the road. Because Chuck doesn't want us to spend money on two hotel rooms on this

[Willie Geist]

next tour for next year. Can we get two beds or two rooms or something? Or.

[Leanne Morgan]

No. We try to get two queens when we can. They're not always available, but. But maybe if I go to big arenas. Big, big arenas like Nate Borghesi. I think we can get two bigger

[Willie Geist]

rooms, like a connecting room.

[Leanne Morgan]

A connecting room would be fun.

[Willie Geist]

Nice connecting room.

[Leanne Morgan]

Yeah.

[Willie Geist]

Everyone gets a little privacy in the bathroom and all that.

[Leanne Morgan]

Yeah.

[Willie Geist]

Yeah. You deserve it.

[Leanne Morgan]

Thank you. And when I was at the Wynn. Las Vegas. Cause Chuck Morgan likes to go to the Wynn and play golf. He played golf with Usher.

[Willie Geist]

He didn't.

[Leanne Morgan]

I know. He didn't even tell us. Somebody else told us.

[Willie Geist]

What do you mean?

But coincidentally, they set him up for a golf game.

[Leanne Morgan]

And Usher. He met Usher on the golf course. And then some later that night, said, isn't that something? Chuck played golf with Usher. He wasn't even gonna tell us. Cause Chuck doesn't talk. But when I first went to the Wynn and they put us in a suite that you could ride a bicycle through, I got a Diet Coke out of the mini bar. Mini bar. And Chuck looked like he was gonna have a heart attack. And I was like, I think it's okay, Chuck. Even if it is $6. I think it's okay. And I go, let's get a hamburger and get it brought to the room. Cause Chuck Morgan's been living with the brakes on, honey. He's a saver. Which thank the Lord, I'm not. I don't do crazy mess, Willie. But I money away.

[Willie Geist]

Think that'll change a little bit now with all your success? A little more license to get out there.

[Leanne Morgan]

I don't think so.

[Willie Geist]

Let the purse strings open.

[Leanne Morgan]

No, he won't do that. No, I think. I think because I'm a grandmama, I just like. Some things are nifty. Yeah. But I think I'm pretty. I think I'm gonna stay about the same. I think. Cause you know, now I'm. I mean, I do love to go to the grocery store and get. When I get off that plane commercial, I go. And Nate Morgans goes, when are you gonna get on a private plane? I don't know if that's ever.

[Willie Geist]

Chuck's not gonna allow that.

[Leanne Morgan]

I don't think so.

[Willie Geist]

No chance.

[Leanne Morgan]

But I think I like. The first thing I do is like, let's go to the grocery store and then have all these babies over and what they like to eat and all that. That's what I.

[Willie Geist]

So you're just pushing your cart through the Kroger?

[Leanne Morgan]

I'm just pushing it through. I am buying grass fed.

[Willie Geist]

Oh, you are.

[Leanne Morgan]

And I do like organic meat. I wanna know where my meat's coming from.

[Willie Geist]

That's your splurge.

[Leanne Morgan]

So that's. That's a splurge, you know, because I. You know, my people are meat people. You knew that.

[Willie Geist]

Yes.

[Leanne Morgan]

We had a meat processing plant, so it was kind of organic back then. I mean, that's why I think they.

[Willie Geist]

You were ahead of it.

[Leanne Morgan]

Stayed covered up. We were ahead of it. But yeah, that kind of stuff is what I like to splurge on that. Playgrounds for little babies that don't splinter. That kind of stuff.

[Willie Geist]

You're taking care of your people.

[Leanne Morgan]

Yeah. Yeah. But I do love a Costco. I still love a good Costco trip.

[Willie Geist]

Will you go in there with things in mind or just go in and just hunt?

[Leanne Morgan]

That's full abandon. That's full abandon. Yeah, that would be my splurge. That's what I need to tell people. That's what I. Yeah, I kind of go nuts in a Costco.

[Willie Geist]

I don't really need a list or anything. I'll just go in there and get that big cart going. If you're with somebody else, a second cart and Just pulling things off the shelf, right?

[Leanne Morgan]

Yeah. Baby pajamas, printers. Lord. A nifty kind of food you hadn't seen before. Teriyaki chicken over a sticky rice. I bought so much sticky rice, it would cover this table. I love stuff like that, you know, I like things in bulk.

[Willie Geist]

Yeah.

[Leanne Morgan]

It makes me feel safe, you know. You got enough paper towels, right? Yeah, that kind of stuff. I go nuts over there and chuckle go the samples.

[Willie Geist]

You'll do the samples.

[Leanne Morgan]

I love the samples. Yeah. I. Even when we were shooting in LA because we didn't know anybody, this baby and I would go to Costco in Burbank on Saturday night and eat a piece of pizza and a hot dog.

[Willie Geist]

From the samples.

[Leanne Morgan]

From that. We do the samples. Then you go to the restaurant part and get an actual hot dog and a piece of pizza. That's what we would do on Saturday night. Yeah. Nobody knew who I was. I mean, maybe one little woman might know who I was, but I had a bowl. Yeah, I love that. I hope I get to continue to do stuff like that.

[Willie Geist]

Yeah.

It might be getting harder these days. People know you a little bit. They go, what's she doing in there?

[Leanne Morgan]

I can maybe put on a wing.

[Willie Geist]

Sure. Like a real movie star.

[Leanne Morgan]

Like a real movie star.

[Willie Geist]

Put a base ut hat on or something like that, right?

[Leanne Morgan]

Uh huh. Uh huh.

[Willie Geist]

Stick around for more of my conversation with Leanne Morgan, right after a quick break.

[Redfin Announcer]

There's a difference between liking a house and actually getting it. Redfin is built to close that gap. Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agents. So when you find a home you love, you're not a step behind when it's time to make an offer. That means less watching great homes disappear and more zeroing in on the one you'll actually end up calling home. Redfin helps turn saved listings into real addresses. Get [e-mail] own the dream at Nature's

[Nature's Bounty Advertiser]

Bounty, the belief is simple. You already have a brilliant body. Supplements just help support your journey. For over 50 years, nature's bounty has offered vitamins and supplements to help you eat, eat, sleep, thrive.

[Leanne Morgan]

Repeat.

[Nature's Bounty Advertiser]

From magnesium glycinate for heart and muscle support to hair growth capsules for fuller, thicker hair and probiotics. With 20 billion live cultures for digestion. Nature's Bounty. It's in your nature to thrive. Learn [e-mail] these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

[Leanne Morgan]

Courage. I learned it from my Adoptive mom. Hold my hand. You hold my hand.

[Adopt Us Kids PSA Voice]

Learn about adopting a teen from foster care at Adopt. Um, you can't imagine the reward brought to you by Adopt Us Kids, the U.S. department of Health and Human Services, and the Ad Council.

[Willie Geist]

Welcome back now to the rest of my conversation with Leanne Morgan.

You mentioned the movie with Reese and Will. I was telling you earlier that for people who didn't know you yet, that little scene. How long was that? 30 seconds about the bird bath. And even if you didn't see the movie, it was everywhere on Instagram. I can't tell you how many people. Who is that hilarious woman. And they went looking for more. And then they kind of, you know, they became fans off that. And that's a real story. You said, yeah.

[Leanne Morgan]

Chuck Morgan knows I love a bird. I love bird feeders. Hummingbirds. He will plant flowers for me. He's like Martha Stewart in that way. And he knows what'll bring hummingbirds. And I also had in the backyard, he says, cardinals. And I love all that. So he made me. You know, he puts up bird feeders for me. And I said, I really would like a bird bath. He got a ceramic bird bath. Put metal around it. I would have preferred something more organic, like wood, you know, a frame. But anyway, Chuck put metal around it, the same color as the bird bath, but it. And dirt piled up and the children. That was for Mother's Day. And we all looked out on that porch and I said, don't tell him, but it looks like a grave. It looked like somebody was buried out there. It did. But sweet Nick Stoller let me riff. And there were stories before that that I told about all kind. I mean, and I didn't know. You know, it's kind of worrisome because you think, what is going to come out of this thing? Because I was trying to, you know, be as funny as I could, which was hard for me because I'm used to in stand up, getting a reaction, and they all have to be quiet. And I think, is that not funny? So I gave it everything I had. And my little mama Lucille has always said, weak as water. She was weak. You couldn't make a fist. That. So, yeah, all that just came out of my head. And I had a wig topper on. I want you to know, Willie. Cause I think you're cute in your pants. I want you to know that that was a little topper they put on my hand.

[Willie Geist]

Oh, okay. Okay. That's important.

[Leanne Morgan]

Yeah. Cause I want to be pretty.

[Willie Geist]

You are. You are most certainly yeah.

[Leanne Morgan]

Thank you. Well, you know, I'm 60 now, which could be pretty. Of course, I think it's because I've always loved Hollywood, and I thought I would be younger and thinner when this happened. But that's okay. That's okay. God had a plan.

[Willie Geist]

That's right. You're doing great.

[Leanne Morgan]

And now I don't have that pressure. Even though when I saw myself on that sitcom for the first time, I thought, where is my chin? Oh, I thought I had a chin. Didn't show up. Also, you know, you start thinking about all kinds of stuff. And Kristen Johnson said to me, lynn, think of Lucille Walt. Think of Carol Burnett. It's about being funny. It's not being about pretty. And that helped me. Cause I do. I'd rather be funny, and I'd rather have expression.

[Willie Geist]

Well, you've got them both. Funny and pretty. You've got them both.

You've got them both.

[Leanne Morgan]

My willy, my willie. You don't.

[Willie Geist]

Before I let you go, I want to talk about. There's. So we know you were a young girl who thought she was going to be a star, had performance in her somewhere. But then there's a long way between there. You go to Tennessee, you marry Chuck, and then you're back home, and you start selling jewelry. And even though you didn't realize it, kind of the seeds were being planted for your comedy career, weren't they? In those living rooms?

Yes.

[Leanne Morgan]

Okay. He moved me. We were 27 and 26 years old. He bought a business and had never walked into a mobile home. Played golf with a little man named Fran. Bought this business from him. He was retiring. Moved me to Bean Station, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. And I didn't know a soul. And Chuck doesn't talk. I had gotten pregnant with my first baby, Charlie, who's now 32. And I wanted to stay home and nurse. Shouldn't be holding my breasts while I say that. I can't help it, okay? I wanted to stay home with him. And so one of my friends in Nashville said, I'm selling this jewelry like women sell Tupperware and Mary Kay, you can make a little money. Stay home with Charlie, meet people. Because you're out doing these parties for women, right? And I don't even care about jewelry. I don't even. And they would. This company was precious. And they would tell us. They would say, wear all your jewelry to the grocery store so somebody will ask you about having a party, and we all look like Mr. T. It was terrible. It made no sense. But anyway, I gave a party. That's how you start out. You buy the kit. I bought this big kit full of jewelry and I schlepped that thing around. I did it for two or three. Well, yeah, until I got pregnant with my third baby and I thought, I'm too tired. I can't be doing all this. But I would get in people's living rooms and I was supposed to be, you know, put all this jewelry out, somebody make a coconut cake, a dip. We'd eat, we'd laugh, and I would do a presentation. I was supposed to be talking about the jewelry and how you can put a clip earring on a pump to change the look of your shoe, that kind of thing. And I was saying, talking about hemorrhoids, having hemorrhoids, breastfeeding Chuck Morgan, not hearing the baby crying the night and, you know, plotting his death, all that kind of stuff. And that was my first material. But I look back on it, and I had these little women, you know, and girls my age, and they were all going through the same thing I was going through, listening to me. And I built that first 45 minutes and doing those jewelry parties. And the company saw that I was booking like a year in advance. Wow. And because people thought I was fun, and they asked me to start speaking at their big things. And people would say, you need to be a stand up. There was a Christian comedian, because it was a Christian company out of Dallas, there was a Christian comedian. That was their entertainment that year at Opryland Hotel in Nashville. And he came up to me afterwards and said, you could do stand up. You've got it. You could do stand up. And I had been feeling that and chuck it before we married, he brought me out to LA and took me to the Comedy Store. And my heart was beating out of my body, and I thought, I could do this. I know I could do it. But I was in the middle of nowhere. You know, we didn't have a comedy club or anything, but when that man said that to me, it was Dennis Swanberg. And he's written me letters, you know, he's heard me say that and how much that means to him. But he did. He encouraged me. And I thought, if he thinks I can do it, then I can do it. And then Chuck sold that business and went to work for this big company he still works for and moved us to San Antonio. And I had Cap City Comedy Club in Austin, Texas, which was one of the best clubs. Rich Miller owned it. His brother was Dennis Miller on snl. Jimmy Miller Was their brother had Will Ferrell and all these people. He sent my CD to Jimmy. That's how I got my first television deal with Warner Brothers and abc. So, I mean, it all just worked out the way it could. And that with three little children, isn't

[Willie Geist]

that amazing that you could pull that off and giving your kids all the attention they deserved and needed and still going to do this? I think most people would say, how on earth can you do that? But you were that committed to it and you believed in it that much that you just kept going.

[Leanne Morgan]

I kept going, and then I just. Opportunities came to me that were unusual and they weren't the traditional rail. But Chuck could tend to the babies on the weekends or at night. And wherever I went, I never had to hire anybody. And it all just worked out. Isn't that crazy?

[Willie Geist]

Was there ever a time along the way? Because like we said, the climb has been long. Where you said, gave it my best shot. These sitcoms don't seem to be working out. All the things you just told me a little while ago. Did you ever think that was fun? I'm going to put that away.

[Leanne Morgan]

I went out to dinner with Chuck Morgan and I cried and said, I don't think anything's going to happen. I was in my early 50s, and right before all this blew up, I said, I just don't think it's going to happen. And I want to open a hardware store because my family had the grocery store and the meat processing plant. And I do feel like I could put out a cheese wheel, sell canning goods and dance on. And Chuck Morgan loves a hardware store. So I said, let's do that. And he went, you lost your mind? Okay. I had gotten a little bit of money off a little special that went online that we thought nobody would ever see. 50 million people watched it. That gave me a little bit of money. Not a lot, but enough that I said, okay, I'm going to do one last ditch effort. And if this does not happen, then I'll know that's God's way and I'll be glad to bow out and I'll go to work at Target or somewhere. I've always thought Target put up the bedd in the back would be fun, you know, and coordinate all that. Or pop the popcorn. If they even do that anymore. I don't even know if they have that. I'm good. That would be fun. I like working in food, but I got these social media guys who were young who knew how to do all that voodoo. I didn't I was putting up pictures of my dachshund, and I said, I'm gonna give y' all three months. That's all I can afford. And they're the ones that put that Def Leppard and Journey Out. They're both very funny and creative. And they put that out, and it went like gangbusters. People saw that and can relate to that. Who hadn't been to a concert where everybody's aging, doesn't feel good, and you want to sit down and eat popcorn, you know, and not smoke dope like people are doing in the United States of America? We've talked about that. I feel like I'm 100. But anyway, I did that. People started looking at what else I had, and clubs started calling all over the United States saying, we need to get Leanne Morgan here. Sweet women were calling those comedy clubs and saying, do you ever have Leanne Morgan? Now? Six months before that, I was booked in improvs in Orlando, West Palm Beach, Tampa. Couldn't sell a ticket. And they were like, she's sweet. She doesn't get drunk, fight in the parking lot, but we're not having her back. She cannot sell tickets. And I would be so hurt. And. And then I just. That's when I got so. Where I thought, this isn't going to work. And then honey starts selling out all over the United States, all over the. Everywhere. Everybody was like, I didn't even have an agent. Agents wouldn't take me.

[Willie Geist]

Wow.

[Leanne Morgan]

Yeah. I mean, it was crazy. Somebody had to beg somebody to be my agent. And then I got my first tour, the Big Panty Tour.

[Willie Geist]

There's gotta be a lesson in that for your fans. And I think there is. People who watch you, they say, oh, maybe I ought to go chase the thing I've always wanted to do.

Right.

It's not too late in some ways, right?

[Leanne Morgan]

Yeah.

[Willie Geist]

Is there a lesson in all this?

[Leanne Morgan]

I think so, because I do think this. It took me 20 years to hone this craft. It's hard, you know, not everybody can get up and do this, and I've bombed many a time. It takes a long time, like Nate, you know, how many? 20 years. So I think that I'm the best that I've been, and I think it took me that long to get there at this age, and we're all better and wiser and smarter, you know, as we do our job and our craft and what we enjoy doing. So I do think that all this stuff, like things end at 40 or something. I don't even know what in the world to say to that, that's crazy. We're the best. I feel like I'm the best I've ever been in my job right now. And I understand why this is happening, even though, I mean, it's crazy. But I also think that it's sad when you've got a dream and, you know, life beats you down. People around you don't mean to, but they say, oh, you can't do that, or, you don't need to take that leap. Life is short. I know that now. And I've just turned 60. I think, gosh, where did this go? I tell my children every day, do what y' all want to do. That makes you happy, you know, and go for it, because you don't want to regret that, you know? And so I think if somebody wants to go back to school, go back to school. If they want to start a business, do it, you know? I just think it'd be crazy not to try it, you know? You don't want to regret that? I don't want to. I got enough regrets, honey. From the 80s.

[Willie Geist]

You really regret those siggies, don't you? From the 80s?

[Leanne Morgan]

I do. Even though I think my lungs have regenerated themselves. I hope so. Yes.

[Willie Geist]

Well, you are living proof that sticking with it is the thing to do and worth it. And just look at everything that's happening, even right now. I mean, you're gonna take a little time off, but not much. Well deserved. Enjoy the holidays.

[Leanne Morgan]

Thank you.

[Willie Geist]

Right, back to shoot season two of Leanne, and then you're going out on this tour, this arena tour of yours.

[Leanne Morgan]

I know, 200 cities.

[Willie Geist]

Can you believe that?

[Leanne Morgan]

Somebody said to me Yesterday, are there 200 cities?

[Willie Geist]

Good question. And I have to say, I love the video you posted the other day at the end of the tour. You were in Boston and it had been two and a half years, and I could just see it was written all over your face what all this has meant to you.

[Leanne Morgan]

Oh, when I go out on stage, they stand and blow kisses to me and give me a standing ovation before I've ever said a word. And these precious people, husbands and wives, I think about 50% men now in my audience, which is thrilling because I love men. I've loved men since kindergarten, but. But they fly. They have their. Like their 12 girls from college came together. Mothers and daughters and grandmothers come together. Like somebody brings their little 90 year old daddy and said, he loves you, Leanne. He's never been to a comedy show. It's been so sweet. It really has. And they've done this for me. These fans of mine want to see me win. And if somebody says something mean to me on social media, honey, thousands will go after them, honey. They do. They feel like we're friends. And I feel like I would be friends. I look out in that audience and I think I'd be best friends with every one of them. We'd all go to Jazzercise. We would all, you know, do a Bible study. I wouldn't do my homework, but I would cheat off of them. You know, I feel that way. It is really sweet how people have treated me and for Boston, for me to sell that many tickets when the cool kids got to go to Boston and I never got booked there, so that meant the world to me to end it there. They were precious to me.

[Willie Geist]

Guess what? You're one of the cool kids. You are. We love you, Leanne. Thank you so much for doing this.

[Leanne Morgan]

Thank you, my darling.

[Willie Geist]

We're so happy for you.

[Leanne Morgan]

Thank you, my angel.

[Willie Geist]

My goodness, I could talk to her all day. My big thing. Thanks to Leanne for a great conversation. Her new special, Leanne Morgan Unspeakable Things, is streaming now on Netflix. In a second season of her hit show, Leanne is coming soon. My thanks to all of you for listening again this week. If you want to hear these conversations with our guests every week, be sure to click follow so you never miss an episode. And don't forget to tune in to Sunday Today every weekend on NBC to see these very interesting interviews with your own two eyes. I'm Willie Geist. We'll see you right back here next week on the Sunday sit down podcast.

[Leanne Morgan]

Courage. I learned it from my adoptive mom.

[Redfin Announcer]

Hold my hand.

[Leanne Morgan]

You hold my hand.

[Adopt Us Kids PSA Voice]

Learn about adopting a team from foster [e-mail] you can't imagine the reward brought to you by Adopt Us Kids, the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the AD Council.