Aparna Nancherla

Summary

Podcast Summary: Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim — Aparna Nancherla (May 19, 2026)

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Episode Overview

In this episode of "Thanks Dad," host Ego Nwodim sits down with comedian and writer Aparna Nancherla. Their conversation winds through themes of family, personality types, career, cultural upbringing, relationships, and the subtle quirks that shape personal identity. With both humor and sincerity, the two comedians explore what it means to be grateful, how inner children guide us, and the realities of navigating adulthood, relationships, cultural expectations, and career in creative fields.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gratitude and the ‘Inner Child’

• Opening Question: Aparna is asked, "Who or what do you want to say thanks to?" (02:02)
• Aparna’s Response: She thanks her family, specifying "their inner children."
  • "My inner child wants to thank their inner children." — Aparna (02:27)
• They riff about Freud, inner children, and psychology (“I have a psychology B.A., but I don't have an answer to your question.” — Aparna, 03:45).

2. Personality Types & Overthinking

• Both discuss Myers-Briggs and Enneagrams; Aparna is an INFJ, Ego as well (04:37).
• On Overthinking:
  • "We're like deep thinkers. Like, almost to our detriment." — Aparna (05:11)
  • Outfits and everyday choices become sources of overthinking.
• Sibling Dynamic:
  • Aparna has an older, non-binary sibling; they're currently close (06:48).

3. Work, Creative Life, and the Show “Kevin”

• Aparna describes her new animated show “Kevin” (07:18), where she voices a sickly kitten among misfit animals.
  • "It's about a cat who... decides to make it on his own in the world." — Aparna (07:28)
• On being a cat person and living with (technically) her roommate’s cats (07:56-09:00).

4. Pets, Attachments, and Logistics

• Ego and Aparna share stories about growing up with pets (Aparna ascends: fish → guinea pig → dog) (09:06).
• Funny Note: Who keeps the pets in a breakup or move? (“If our house was on fire... he had to pick me or them, it would be them.” — Aparna, 08:50)

5. Pandemic Viewing and Shared Trauma Media

• Pandemics as a time for heavy TV and movies: Apparent both watched "The Wire" and/or "Blue Valentine" during COVID.
  • "I don't know if I would recommend [The Wire]... it was already a hard time." — Aparna (10:13)
  • On favorite "The Wire" characters: Aparna—Wallace and Omar (11:43, 12:33).

6. Travel Stress, Packing, and Running Late

• Both admit to being chronically late, with packing and airport arrival as key anxiety points (14:21-15:20).
  • "With airports, I'm at least trying to give like an hour and a half... an hour feels dicey." — Aparna (15:19)
• Extensive riff about TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and doubts about CLEAR ("Clear creeps me out... they have your eyeballs." — Aparna, 16:26).

7. Lateness as Family Trait

• Late arrivals run in Aparna’s family; her ranking: "My mom might be the latest queen. Maybe me second." (21:22)
• Reflection on how being early or on time feels odd to a chronically late type (20:02).
  • "As a late, chronically late person, when I'm early, I'm like, this feels nuts." — Aparna (20:02)

8. Cats & Kitty Litter Logistics

• Ego’s intrusive questions about making kitty litter not stink ("There's a spray that's a deodorizer...") (22:01)
• On cat independence: "Cats live by their own code." — Aparna (21:49)
• Cat/dog personality differences: dogs are codependent; cats are avoidant (24:11).

9. Social Dynamics: FOMO & Boundaries

• Discussing "busy body" personalities in people and pets, and the art of social insertion (25:01).
  • "I'm always impressed... by people who can just insert themselves in conversations." — Aparna (25:17)

10. Living in LA vs. New York

• Aparna details her 10 years in NYC and three in LA, appreciating both (26:46-27:07).
  • Loves LA for “nature... trees, fresh air, the sunshine” and a calmer pace (27:08).
  • Both miss having a car as private decompression space; compare to weeping in public in NYC (28:24-28:42).

11. Kids, Relationships, and Pressure

• Aparna is child-free by choice ("I think I felt that way for a long time... you should be at least somewhat on board with [parenting]." — 39:41)
• Discusses family pressure, especially with immigrant parents from India (42:09-43:39):
  • "I have immigrant parents, so... what else is comparable to be like, I don't wanna give you grandchildren." (42:09)
• Talks about navigating cultural identity, attending Hindu temple, and assimilating while maintaining roots (43:39-45:21).

12. Career Paths and Parental Approval

• First “real” writing job (Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell) marked the point her parents saw showbiz as stable (45:55).
• Aparna’s parents, both doctors, “gently nudged” towards medicine but were chill about her other choices (45:21-45:48).

13. Nature Preferences, Adventurous Streak

• Aparna prefers mountains to beaches, dislikes sand (48:25).
• Reflects on Outward Bound experiences and learning she’s “not built for roughing it” (49:33-50:17).

14. Nibblings and Family Connections

• Aparna has two “nibblings” (nieces/nephews) in New York; keeps up as an aunt (51:00-52:49).

15. Childhood and Early Creative Instincts

• Always kept journals; made homemade films with cousins; was a shy kid, but the seed of creativity was there early (53:31-54:04).
• Typical suburban upbringing in Northern Virginia (McLean) as an American kid of Indian immigrants (54:49-55:03).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "My inner child wants to thank their inner children." — Aparna (02:27)
• "We're like deep thinkers... almost to our detriment." — Aparna (05:11)
• "If our house was... on fire... he had to pick me or them, it would be them." — Aparna (08:50)
• "I don't know if I would recommend [The Wire]... it was already a hard time." — Aparna (10:13)
• "With airports, I'm at least trying to give like an hour and a half..." — Aparna (15:19)
• "Clear creeps me out... they have your eyeballs." — Aparna (16:26)
• On family lateness: "My mom might be the latest queen." — Aparna (21:22)
• "Cats live by their own code." — Aparna (21:49)
• On parenting: "I think it's just such a big decision and you have to. You have to be all in." — Aparna (42:44)
• "I do think it was, like, there early on, but... I don't think I'm quite bold enough to really be a performer, but I think the seed was there." — Aparna (54:04)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening/Who Do You Want to Thank? (02:02-02:54)
• Psychology, Personality Types & Overthinking (04:04-06:14)
• Sibling Dynamics (06:44-07:08)
• New Animated Show "Kevin" and Pet Ownership (07:13-09:00)
• Cultural Upbringing, Pets, and Pandemic Media Picks (09:13-11:29)
• Travel Anxiety, Packing, Running Late (14:21-20:02)
• Family Lateness & Logistics (21:00-22:15)
• Cat Litter & Pet Boundaries (22:01-24:26)
• FOMO, Social Insertion (24:51-25:44)
• LA vs. NYC Living (26:46-28:42)
• Thoughts on Parenting & Family Expectations (39:37-43:39)
• Career Milestones & Family Support (45:55-46:36)
• Outdoor Adventuring (Outward Bound) (49:20-50:17)
• Nibblings (50:54-52:49)

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Language and Tone

• The tone throughout is light, self-deprecating, and warmly introspective, marked by quick wit, mutual support, and the undercurrent of gentle honesty and care characteristic of close friends.

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For listeners: This episode offers a relatable, funny, and insightful exploration of what it means to be a thoughtful adult — with or without kids — navigating the complexities of selfhood, family, culture, and career. Aparna and Ego’s chemistry makes for an engaging listen, whether you’re a fan of pet anecdotes, late flights, or existential musings about human connection.

Transcript

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[A]

All right, Aparna. Hi. I'm screaming.

[B]

That's how you should start every morning.

[A]

Always scream.

[B]

Screaming.

[A]

Nothing gentle about my mornings. I have to do an introduction for you, which I'm very excited to do.

[B]

Great.

[A]

I take this very seriously. My next guest is a comedian and writer, you know from her special hopeful Potential Potato and the new Amazon prime show, Kevin. It's a part of Nancherla.

[B]

Hello.

[A]

Hi.

[B]

Thank you for having me.

[A]

Oh, I'm so happy you're here. Okay, to start. Who or what do you want to say thanks to?

[B]

Oh, my gosh. You know, I was told I would get this question. I already was stressed about it, but I guess I want to say thanks to my family. But also I was like, you know what? That feels too generic. I'm going to say thanks. Thank you. To my mother, my father, my sibling, their inner children, specifically, their inner children.

[A]

What do you feel gratitude for about their inner children?

[B]

I mean, I guess your inner child is kind of the part of you that is in touch with your joy and what keeps you grounded or what gives you, you know, a sense of possibility for your life. So I, I. My inner child wants to thank their inner children.

[A]

That's beautiful. I think Freud would really respect that.

[B]

I don't even notice. Is Freud all about inner children? Probably.

[A]

I think, you know. No, Freud is. Freud is. Yeah, actually, Freud is. Yeah, probably. Yeah. Freud is like your child. He doesn't use the term. I Don't think he. Well, didn't Freud coin the term ID

[B]

about, like, your primal urges? Maybe I should think they're IDS as well.

[A]

ID your ego. But who coined inner child? Do you seem to know?

[B]

I don't know. If I do know, you know, I brought it up, and I can't tell you anything.

[A]

Well, I got dismissed for Freud, so I'm like, wait, who was it? I just thought a psychologist would appreciate the energy.

[B]

Now I'm really outing myself as, as. I had a. I have a psychology B.A. but.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Undergrad. But I don't have an answer to your question.

[A]

Well, I. Listen, if you had let me run with Freud, we'd actually be off this topic.

[B]

I'm gonna put you back on Freud. I'm gonna say you were right with Freud.

[A]

No, I don't need to be right. It was just throwaway.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Okay. A psychologist of sorts would be proud of you. So you studied psychology?

[B]

I did.

[A]

Did you enjoy it?

[B]

I did. I like to say that I will never not do take a personality quiz online. So I think that was more. My interest in psychology was that I just love learning more about what makes me tick, what makes other people tick. It's one of those fields where you can immediately apply it to your life. So I think that made it attractive. What's your Myers Briggs info?

[A]

Infj. Introvert. Neurotic. I don't know what the N stands for.

[B]

I think that's right. No, wait. Intuition.

[A]

I shouldn't have begun this either. No infj, though.

[B]

Feeling is yes.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And J is judging.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What does it mean about you to be an infj?

[B]

I think we are a very rare type, and I think we are very overthinky.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

We're like deep thinkers.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Like, we're almost to our detriment. Yeah.

[A]

Have you overthought something recently?

[B]

Oh, my gosh. Everything. This outfit. Like, what.

[A]

What was your thought process with the outfit?

[B]

I was like, I want to be casual but uncomfortable, but I need to add something. So I just did a pop of color.

[A]

It looks great.

[B]

I, I am proud of myself in that I feel like I, I'm glad I didn't go, like, yellow or orange, because this feels like it complements.

[A]

No, it. You look like you belong there because the, The, The. The mustard color on the collar of your T shirt matches the couch. You've done great.

[B]

I know. I, I. What are you thinking about?

[A]

You've done great.

[B]

Yeah, I, I mean, I was overthinking it before I got Here. And when I got here, I actually was a little bit at ease.

[A]

Okay, good. Yeah, good. That's what we hope to do.

[B]

Are you an overthinker?

[A]

I can be. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. What I say I can be. I am. If we'll stop. Yeah. Let me pretend first like, that I'm not.

[B]

I know, but that was. That's an overthinking answer to be like, am I? Yeah, I guess I am.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Nothing is.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Straightforward.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay. I have to ask, though. Do you know your enneagram? Also, do you know that personality test? It's a hard one to remember. Someone asked me that recently, I believe.

[B]

7.

[A]

Do you know what that is now?

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

Two is helper. It's like.

[B]

I don't think it's a peacemaker. It might be helper. Okay, peacemaker.

[A]

Where do you fall in the sibling lineup?

[B]

I am youngest.

[A]

You are of just two?

[B]

Yeah, Just two, yeah.

[A]

And do you have an older brother?

[B]

Older, non binary sibling.

[A]

Okay, amazing.

[B]

Yes. Yes.

[A]

Are you guys close?

[B]

We are, Yeah. I would say we've gone through periods where we're not as, like, in touch, but I. I would say the, you know, past phase of our lives, we've been back, connected.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Good way. Yeah.

[A]

Are they in New York here?

[B]

They're in New York, yeah.

[A]

Yeah. All right, well, then. That's amazing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Everybody's in Brooklyn.

[B]

I know.

[A]

So do you want to tell me about working on Kevin?

[B]

Sure. Kevin was really fun. It's an animated show coming. Coming out on Amazon. It's about animals. It's about a cat who. His couple that he lives with breaks up, and instead of going with one or the other, he decides to make it on his own in the world. And this is about his journey.

[A]

This is beautiful.

[B]

Yeah. And he ends up at sort of, you know, a sheltered situation and, you know, a lot of kind of misfit animals there. And I'm one of the them. I play a sickly kitten.

[A]

Do you like cats in real life?

[B]

I do. I have two.

[A]

You have two cats? What are their names?

[B]

Neni and Zazi.

[A]

Nenny and Zazi. Very sweet.

[B]

Yeah, they're sisters.

[A]

Oh, you got them together.

[B]

They're bonded. Yeah.

[A]

For life.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You can't separate the siblings.

[B]

You can't separate.

[A]

I have a friend with four cats, and I'm always like, that is. But it's beautiful.

[B]

It is beautiful. That's a full family. Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

It's like, wow, those are really your children. At that point.

[B]

They. Yeah.

[A]

Do you travel A lot. Right.

[B]

For. For, like, stand up touring. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

How are they when you do that? Obviously you have a cat sitter.

[B]

They're okay. I live with the roommate, so we sort of share cat duty. Oh, great. So, yeah, yeah. That's really nice.

[A]

If you were to move out. Cats are your cats.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay. So you would be taking the cats. Oh, no, no.

[B]

I think actually they are kind of more my roommate's cats because he's a cat dad and he takes it really seriously.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Like, to the point where I'm like. I think if it our house, like, was, you know, on fire or something and he had to pick me or them, it would be them.

[A]

Yeah. Oh, great.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Great.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Did you grow up with pets?

[B]

I grew up with a dog. Well, first a guinea pig, then a dog.

[A]

Oh, my goodness. A graduation.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

From guinea pig to dog.

[B]

Yeah. Well, I think, yeah. Fish, guinea pig, dog.

[A]

It's the proper way to do pets. Start with the fish evolution.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Okay. That's. I didn't grow up. Well, no, I said I didn't grow up with pets because I feel like I had the kind of mom that wouldn't be for pets. But then I think about it, and she used to rescue cats off the street. She did, yes. And so then I'm like, no, I did. And I had a childhood cat, and then we moved.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Really far away, and she let her friend keep our cat. Yeah. Which is okay. It's okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I have other trauma. Not that one's. That's.

[B]

Well, cats are creatures of place, so you could argue that it was, like, kinder to let the cat stay.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. I think it was. I think it was a good thing. I don't think the cat going from Lewisburg, West Virginia, to Baltimore, Maryland, would have been a good transition.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, the cat. Yeah, the cat watched the Wire.

[A]

I don't think that's the.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Not.

[B]

Not my scene.

[A]

Did you watch the Wire?

[B]

I did, and I, I, I think it's still in my mind because I watched over the Pandemic, which I don't know if I would recommend. It was already a hard time, and I don't know to add the gravitas of the Wire on top of that.

[A]

Well, I also did an insane thing during COVID and I watched the first thing I watched.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I'm actually not one to sit down and watch anything, but we had all this time, right.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Blue Valentine, which is one of my favorite movies, but it's such a painful story.

[B]

Have you ever seen that? Is it, like, wrenching? Gut wrenching?

[A]

It's gut wrenching. Michelle Williams, Ryan Gosling are in a relationship. Derek C. Francis, the director. And I was like, why did you choose, like, the most gut wrenching film? I refused to watch again any other time, but I thought, oh, we're on lockdown and the world is ending. I'm gonna watch the most painful film I've.

[B]

Dig deep into this emptiness I'm feeling. And. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And now it's one of your favorite movies.

[A]

But it was one of my favorite movies to begin with, but I only ever seen it once, and I was like, I'll never watch that again, because that was too intense. And then Covid hit, and somehow I was like, I know exactly what to watch. Well, you watched the Wire.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Well, did you do all seasons?

[B]

Yes. And I think it was that thing of like, well, what else am I gonna do? I'm finally gonna watch the shows everyone told me I have to watch.

[A]

What else did you watch?

[B]

That was the only one.

[A]

That was it.

[B]

I think that one put me out of the game.

[A]

Did you. So do you have a favorite character from the Wire? Because my friend and I talk about it all the time.

[B]

I mean, Wallace.

[A]

Wallace.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Michael B. Jordan.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We. Can we spoil it for people and say, what happened?

[B]

Let's see. What. How. How many years later are we spoiling?

[A]

It's like 20 years later. I think we're allowed. Sad what happened to him.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Do you feel like they should have killed him?

[B]

I mean, I think it. I know, but at the same time, it was, like, one of the most. Yeah. It's like the part that sticks with me the most. So I don't know. I guess you could argue then they should have kept it. But I don't know. I'm like, I guess if they kept it, then would Michael B. Jordan have the same career?

[A]

You know, if they kept him alive, I. Wallace. That's a good one. Because I feel like I don't hear Wallace a lot, but I've heard mine is Omar.

[B]

I know Omar was gonna be my next choice.

[A]

Omar.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I also think Wee bei Really fun.

[B]

Popped up in something else recently. I was like, wee babe. He was playing a therapist, though.

[A]

Really?

[B]

And I couldn't get. I was like, but you're. We bay.

[A]

But you're Wee Bay, though, and you're locked up. Yeah, he's doing therapy now. That's not supposed to.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Do you have a hard time when you're watching things? Sort of like Separating an actor from there.

[B]

Yeah, it depends on the actor. And sometimes it's not fair because I'm like, why am I pigeonholing you into that one role? Like, you're an actor. You can be anything. I. That's me. I'm the problem. But other times I'm like, but you're just this person in this world. Like, you're always. Basically you.

[A]

Yeah, Yeah. I think about the. Like, Verizon. Are we. Are we can. Wait. Can you hear me now? You remember that's an actor who's in a commercial and then is like. Apparently, like, he and Flo couldn't do other jobs because it was like, when people see you now, they just see the Verizon man. And when people see Flo, they're, like, progressive. They're okay.

[B]

They're okay. They're fine. They're fine. I'm so worried about them.

[A]

I'm like, they're rich. It's fine.

[B]

I was so worried about that guy. I don't even know his name. Maybe that's why. Because she has a name, Flo, and he's just Verizon guy.

[A]

That's the thing. Yes. You become your character.

[B]

You become your character.

[A]

Do you think you'd be saddened by that if that happened to you?

[B]

I mean, I think at this point in this industry, I'm just like, you know what? The stability. Give it to me.

[A]

You'll take. You'll take the stability. How are you with travel? Generally?

[B]

Not. I mean, as I've gotten older, worse and worse. Yeah. It's almost like every stage of the process now stresses me out. Like, starting with packing. I used to be okay with packing, and now I dread it. Like, sometimes I'll do it the morning of my flight, which is not good.

[A]

What is your. What? You. But I can relate. Morning of the flight, I feel like my brain's too. I'm too discombobulated.

[B]

No, it's not. Don't do that. Don't do it.

[A]

Don't do that. Okay. Don't.

[B]

Don't do.

[A]

Not.

[B]

Unless you are that person who has, like, a suitcase ready to go. You just need to add three things.

[A]

When I get stressed about packing, too, and people are like, oh, well, it's not like you're going somewhere where you can't buy something if you forgot. And I'm like, so I'm supposed to be on trips just buying stuff I forgot at home. And I'm supposed to. That's the. That's the way we're doing it.

[B]

I want to spend my time. This is like buying contact.

[A]

How are you with airport arrival then? What's your deal then?

[B]

I'm cutting it close.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Can you say more?

[B]

Well, I always. I'm always running late in general, but with airports, I'm. I'm at least trying to give like an hour and a half, like, to check in and get to my gate. An hour feels dicey to me. I know there are people who like, are like, I don't have a bag to check. I can get there an hour before, but that starts to make me too anxious. Oh, are you.

[A]

We could never travel together. Are you.

[B]

An hour before.

[A]

Oh, I'm trying to get.

[B]

Are you checking something?

[A]

I'm not checking a bag. Okay. Well, that's why I'm not checking a bag. I like to get to the airport in this. I basically want to get to airport in a way where I wait in line for security. Very short line. God willing. I know I walk through security and my flight is boarding.

[B]

Yes. That's the dream.

[A]

It's happened for me.

[B]

When you can do that, you feel like you won. You won some sort of prize.

[A]

It's so nice. Now. Are you tsa? Pre check down, Global entry. Down. Cleared down.

[B]

Pre check down, Global entry. No Clear. No Clear. I'm scared of.

[A]

What are you scared about with Clear?

[B]

That they have your eyeballs.

[A]

What do you think they're gonna do with the eyeballs?

[B]

I mean, I don't even know why that's my fear. Cause my phone has my eyeballs now.

[A]

Yeah. Cause I do.

[B]

They probably have more information than Clear does.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I don't know. Something about the Clear setup really creeps me out.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah. Are you cleared down?

[A]

I am not cleared down, but I had someone I can. Because I should sign up. I said it's because I'm. I'm in real time being like, oh. Because I'm diamond medallion. Which I've shared on the podcast a few times, I can get a free Clear membership, but I don't think I have an interest in that as one of my perks. But it's not because I'm weirded out because I have been a Clear member.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

My sister and I joined clear probably in 2005, trying to catch a flight, like, early days.

[B]

Wait, there was clear in 2000.

[A]

It was either 2005 or I'm gonna fast forward to like 2010, but it was like, somewhere in that one, I'm like, 2005.

[B]

I feel like Clear was being kick started.

[A]

Well, no. Well, that's exactly it, though. That's, that's the thing. We joined it in 2005. I believe it was 2005, maybe 2006, but we were running late to catch a flight back to California and they were offering it up. Like, we can help you skip the line right now. So this is like baby clear.

[B]

Yeah. And it was like when they're handing out lotion samples.

[A]

Yes. Being like, you want to. And we're like, yes, actually, we need to sign up. We need to skip the line. Like, I spelled my name wrong. Like, trying to catch our flight because again, like, to arrive to the airport late. So then had clear for. Had a free trial, but immediately landed and canceled it because I was like, you're going to charge me in seven days.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

So canceled it and then got rid of it. Didn't have it forever. And co workers of mine a few years ago were talking about how important it is to have clear plus TSA and how helpful it is. Oh, I, I've been TSA pre check.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Just brag.

[B]

No, I, I, you should be bragging. I have it. And I'm like, I feel very proud of this.

[A]

It's good, it's good. It's worth it. But I, I had TSA and TSA pre check and clear for a beat there because people suggested this is just a couple years ago. And I was like, this is never a shorter line. Every airport I was going to, it was not, I was not finding clear useful.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I was like, but I'm TSA PreCheck. This is fine. It's the same. What are we doing here?

[B]

How is it?

[A]

Why am I paying extra for this?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And if I'm not mistaken, TSA PreCheck one time fee, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. So I'm paying monthly for this thing. Monthly or. No, no, year. A year's fee. Okay. So I couldn't wait to cancel clear.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because I was like, why am I. And it re. It renews. So, So I canceled it. But right before I went to cancel it, I was in Miami and the line was insane and I was leaving to come back to New York and clear was the shorter. So of course that happens, right? Like the week I'm like, I'm planning to cancel this, but I still canceled.

[B]

Yeah. How often are you in Miami?

[A]

Not often. Not often.

[B]

Not often enough.

[A]

Not often enough to keep a year long clear subscription.

[B]

People should have clear.

[A]

It'll work for him going home every time. It's going to be good. But I, Yeah, I'm like, Airport stuff. I tried. I'm like, let's. The rush of being a little late.

[B]

It is a rush, I think. I mean, I think there. I mean, obviously the world is people who are on time and people are late. I'm like, I don't know. I feel like we have a little more excitement in our lives.

[A]

Just a little bit. Cutting it close because.

[B]

Have you ever been as a late, chronically late person? When I'm early, I'm like, this feels nuts.

[A]

Yes, I do feel that way, too. Like, you know, people who are of the mind that early is on time and on time is late. I'm like, no, early. I'm losing my mind. Because what am I. I could have been doing something else with this time.

[B]

Exactly. What am I doing? I'm pacing.

[A]

I'm pacing around here. I'm checking my bangs. What am I doing?

[B]

You were checking.

[A]

I was checking my bangs.

[B]

But it's like, what else are you supposed to do? Yeah.

[A]

I can't imagine being still. Imagine just being still in that peace with yourself and not running.

[B]

And I am. I do get stressed out about keeping people waiting. Like, that does bum me out to think about someone waiting for me, but then to be the person waiting, I'm just like, no, I'd rather.

[A]

I'd rather not. Is that crazy?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Are your parents on time people?

[B]

No, we're all late people. Yeah, we're all late people. We're different degrees of late. Like, I think my dad is probably the least late. And then, yeah, it's a little, you know, gender stereotypes, but us getting ready or whatever, dragging.

[A]

Where do you fall? In the. Between the four of you. Where do you fall? Who's the latest?

[B]

I think my mom might be the latest queen. I think. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe me second.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And sibling third. Dad.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's genetic.

[B]

And maybe the cats are the worst.

[A]

The cats.

[B]

Cats will never be on your schedule.

[A]

What's the deal with the cat? Because I don't. Because I had one as a kid, and I was so not responsible for it. Oh.

[B]

Just that they do their own thing, and it's like they're not even gonna show up. Maybe. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

To be a cat.

[B]

Yeah. Cats live by their own code.

[A]

What? Divas and Devos. I have a intrusive question about kitty litter. How do you make it not stink in your home?

[B]

Oh, there's actually a spray that's a deodorizer. So you just spray that on the litter, and it kind of neutralizes the SC Even more so than, like, whatever the litter claims is neutralizing.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Where is your kitty litter? This is the other thing I think about too often.

[B]

Ours is in our laundry room, funnily enough, because there's a door to, like, outside and a window. So we can just like, air it out easily. So that makes the most sense.

[A]

Oh, great.

[B]

Yeah. So it's tucked away. It's not like in prime real estate location.

[A]

I. Because the friend with four cats has a lovely smelling home. Yeah, I've thought about this. Just no problem. Smells great. I.

[B]

They have litter boxes everywhere.

[A]

They must. I not. I've never even seen the litter box when I've gone over, so I'm like, where is it? Maybe next time I go over, I'm so.

[B]

Are they using the human toilet?

[A]

Oh, yeah. Cuz you can train your cat to li. Have you ever tried with your cats?

[B]

No.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I remember when one of them was a kitten, she tried to jump in the toilet and we were like, maybe not. Oh, no, this is not.

[A]

Yeah. Keep the kitties away from bathroom.

[B]

Yeah, Yeah.

[A]

I do remember growing up my kitty, though, when there's just pure kittens. Because my friend's cat had babies when they're this big and cling to your shirt. If we could only keep.

[B]

If we could just keep them that big labu size.

[A]

Oh, kitty. I would. If there are labubu kitties, if that existed, I might get. I just New York apartment. And my dog is. He's not big, but he just. He takes up. He needs to be everywhere. Oh, he's a busy body.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

It's like, what are you doing? I need to be in that.

[B]

If he hears now, is your dog, like, clingy or. He kind of can have his own thing.

[A]

He's a little clingy. Namely, like, if I'm in the other room on a phone call and it sounds like that phone call is too fun, he's like, what the going on here? Yeah, he is big time fomo. Okay. Oh, my gosh.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But then it's like, not as clingy as some dogs. So sometimes I'm like, let's cuddle. And he's like, chill.

[B]

Oh, okay.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah. So he has some boundaries.

[A]

He has boundaries.

[B]

Because that always feels like the distinction to me between cats and dogs. That everyone's like, dogs are codependent and cats are like the other one avoidant.

[A]

Oh, avoidance.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah.

[A]

I could. How would you call your cats avoidant?

[B]

Ours are a balance because they will come and be like, I demand to be pet. Or like, I demand to sit in your lap. But it's just everything is on their terms.

[A]

Yes. And when they want to. Again, no convincing them.

[B]

Yes, yes, man. But it sounds like your dog has some boundary.

[A]

He does, but it. But I don't. I do think it's crazy that he's like, oh, you're having fun, or I'm hearing you on the phone, or something's happening and I need to know what it is and be a part of it.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

It's crazy. Like, imagine a person like that. I love my dog, but I'm like, this wouldn't be a chill person.

[B]

There are people like that, though.

[A]

I know. Do you like them?

[B]

No.

[A]

Yeah, me either.

[B]

I don't. You feel like that's like a. A type in an office where it's like, the person sees that those cubicles are having a nice time. Yeah.

[A]

Just mosey over, like, hey, what are you talking about? What a way to insert yourself.

[B]

Yeah. I'm always impressed, though. Like, begrudgingly impressed by people who can just insert themselves in conversations.

[A]

I've seen it in action, and I think that is a fascinating.

[B]

It really is. I feel like I've been in a party where I'm in conversation with someone and I see. Still don't feel like I am in.

[A]

Supposed to be there. You don't want to be talking to me. I've inserted myself in your life. Right? Yeah. I know you. I. I hate to. I was last night at an event, and a girl I was talking to. I think I, like, glanced away because I was like, oh, in my periphery, I see a friend. And I didn't think I'd see any friends at this event. Yeah. And she was like, I'll get out of your hair. And I was like, no, I'm enjoying talking to you. Oh, no. I was like, oh, no. I just. In my periphery, and I might be adhd, I diagnose myself a lot. Yeah.

[B]

I think that's actually an LA complaint that people have of, like, oh, at LA parties, whenever, you know, you're talking to someone, they're, like, scanning the room to see who else is in there. Oh, gosh. But I think what you're saying also happens where you do just, like, catch sight of someone and.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Yeah. And then your eyes naturally are like, oh, is that that person? But then. But yeah, that's the fear that you're then, like, making someone think you don't want to.

[A]

And I was like, no, I like. You don't go. And then I looked needy. And then it was like, this isn't bad. This interact attraction has gone down.

[B]

Yeah. You're like, okay, we're done. All right.

[A]

It isn't. It is. Have you spent time in la? Have you lived there?

[B]

I live there now.

[A]

You live there now? I thought you were New York based.

[B]

I was for a really long time. I've been there for the past three years, but I was in New York for almost ten years.

[A]

Okay. Thoughts?

[B]

Yeah. On.

[A]

On both. You've lived in la, you've lived in New York. Thoughts?

[B]

Isa. I mean, I'm gonna. I don't even think this is controversial, but I love both for different reasons.

[A]

Why do you love la?

[B]

Nature.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I just love the trees and I love the fresh air and I love the sunshine. And you know, I do think everyone is a little more laid back.

[A]

Yeah. I have to say, I'm even more laid back.

[B]

There you are.

[A]

Oh, yeah. I'm like, nothing matters.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Rushing. I wouldn't dare.

[B]

You wouldn't dare? Take your time. If you're in your car, you're like, this is like my other. My second home.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I moved into an apartment closer to like ucb where I was spending a lot of time, like my last few months in la. And I. And I had a crazy commute before that cuz I lived in Santa Monica. It's like east to west in traffic. It was crazy. But I did that for like four, five. I'm doing bad math. Probably five years. But. So right before I moved I was like, to New York. I was like, oh, I'm going to live closer to ucb. My friends are here. And I missed my car time. I did.

[B]

I was like, so precious.

[A]

I. I was like catching up on phone calls. Hands free, of course.

[B]

Of course.

[A]

Meaning my hands were off the wheel, drinking my matches.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Two phones. Hell, hold on. But no, like I, I missed it. And I was like, my music, my.

[B]

Oh my gosh.

[A]

It doesn't hit the same in the house.

[B]

I think of it as like my little office or something. I do so much stuff. I have meals in there.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

I used to fix in my face. Have a, have an emotional moment.

[A]

I know in New York and you have to have an emotional moment in New York in public, weeping.

[B]

I know I've.

[A]

I have wept in public in New York.

[B]

But everyone, everyone, everyone has.

[A]

But you know, a woman came up to me while I was weeping and was like, can I get a picture?

[B]

Oh my gosh.

[A]

And I was like, there's no dignity. And my friend said, yes, my friend because she was like, can I get a picture of both of you? And I was. And my friend said yes before I could be like, I'm crying.

[B]

Just put on your sunglasses.

[C]

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[A]

I can't stop scratching my downtown. Yeah, but I'm not itching to go

[B]

downtown and tell a receptionist I'm here to talk about my downtown.

[A]

Some things you'd rather type than say out loud.

[C]

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[A]

And it's like, okay, yo, yo, yo, is this indulgent?

[C]

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[A]

But there's places in this book that.

[C]

That deeply, emotionally affected me. And I left it on the mic. That's great because it served the story. People will say like, oh, my God, I cried at the end. It's like, yeah, dude, me too. Listen to Irsay the Audible and I Heart Audio book Book Club on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[A]

Have you ever taken a picture of yourself crying?

[B]

No, don't.

[A]

Isn't it strange when. When people do people do that? Wait, you've never seen this? Someone like. Like a influencer, like, weeping on. On. On reels?

[B]

I guess I've just seen. Yeah. Video.

[A]

Video, you think is better and. Okay.

[B]

No, no, I thought you meant like a still.

[A]

I've seen stills.

[B]

You have?

[A]

I've seen stills. I've seen videos.

[B]

I think it's all weird, but I. But yeah, I guess stills kind of blew my mind.

[A]

Have you ever done video then?

[B]

No, no, I. But I've seen like the. Whatever. The apology video or whatever it is where they're tearing up. But yeah, I. I think that's weird because I also just think about them editing it or being like, oh, this one. I look sad. Or you know, like just that, like the thought process feels wild.

[A]

How you would a self tape.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I'm. I could see a still, like documenting. This is when I was down so bad. Oh.

[B]

Almost like the. The. The weight comparison.

[A]

Yeah. Yes. Before.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then I went and got my mind right.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

You know, I healed after my breakup. And now look. Now she smiles. Yeah, I. I've seen. I've seen the. The cryings, the reels, and I'm always like, I wouldn't want to do that, but kudos to the brave souls.

[B]

I guess. So.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It almost feels like now it's like the. Whatever the pics or didn't happen, where it's like, if you have remorse, we need video Peru.

[A]

We need to see. Yeah, yeah, I need to see you weeping. Do you watch Any reality tv.

[B]

I was just talking about someone. Just talking with someone about a. Oh, yeah, I just watched a New York real estate reality show. It was like a Ryan Serhant.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Have you watched. Okay, okay. Okay. I guess there was a show, Million Dollar Listing, that he was a realtor on, and then he, like, broke out and now has his own business, and it's about him launching his own.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Is it sort of aspirational watching that stuff? Like, what's the. What. What do you find yourself enjoying about a real estate reality show?

[B]

I think this one was interesting because I usually do it to, like, ogle the houses or the places, but most of. I've noticed on most of these real estate shows, I don't want to live in any of the places. They're. They either have no personality or they're just like. Like too over the top, where it's like, I wouldn't want to live in this. Like, maybe go to a party.

[A]

Yeah. And mosey around.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. But I'm also fascinated by who is looking at them because it'd always be like, he. He's a billionaire because he sold a shoe or something. And you're like, okay, sure, fine.

[A]

No problem.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Do you spend any time on, like, Zillow or Redfin looking at us?

[B]

But I'll look at, like, really, like, kind of. Of wild places that I wouldn't live just to see what's there.

[A]

Like where.

[B]

I don't know, like, New Zealand or something. Oh, yeah.

[A]

Have you seen incredible spots there? I'm like, I should.

[B]

I just, like, look up, like, what. What's the real estate market there?

[A]

Yeah, Yeah. I should start doing that. I basically. I bought a house a couple years ago and I. Thank you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I still look on Zillow as recently as last night to be like, did I get the best house?

[B]

Oh, sure.

[A]

What is that personality type? Being like, did. And my friend was like, you bought the house. It's done this.

[B]

You just want to see what's out there. You want to see. It's like the person who's in a couple, but you just want to see what the dating pool is doing.

[A]

Just a little something. Have you ever been in an open relationship?

[B]

No.

[A]

Would you ever?

[B]

I don't think I. Well, I guess actually my last. My last serious relationship, we sort of were moving in that direction.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But then we broke up.

[A]

Did you feel like you were moving in that direction because you probably needed to break up, or was it.

[B]

I think it was just feeling like we weren't Meeting all of each other's needs. And it was like, maybe that would help. But. But, yeah, maybe it was a sign that.

[A]

I'm just so curious.

[B]

I think sometimes, yeah, maybe just the writing on the wall and you're just like, well, why don't we try this? I mean, I. I do think, you know, people get flack for. For opening relationships up when they're maybe not facing the relationship is over. But I'm like, that's a better option than being like, let's have kids and see if that fits.

[A]

Oh, I've seen that. Yeah. I was in a bad one. And I had someone say to me, like. Like, you know, sometimes just you have a kid and it kind of distracts you from each other. And I was like, why would I. I should have a kid with this troll to distract from the solution. It's like, sometimes it just lets you just, like, have other things to focus on with instead of just, like, poor child.

[B]

Other things.

[A]

How many kids exist in the world because their parents were just trying to,

[B]

like, start an Etsy business. Don't have a kid

[A]

when you said we were.

[B]

But I think you're right. I think that is, like, a lot of people have that mindset.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I think there are a lot of kids who are the result of sweet babies.

[A]

We do not get along. Let's have a kid. Someone in the middle.

[B]

And I. I also was thinking about that idea of people not getting divorced because they're like, well, for the kids. But I'm like, I don't think your kids are like, yeah, we would rather live in a house where it feels tense all the time for a reason we can't fully name or understand.

[A]

That's bad.

[B]

Also bad.

[A]

Maybe worse than divorce. Maybe worse potentially. You know, I've never been a parent, never been married, but I'm like, that just. Yeah, that feels bad. When I've heard that. I've been like, no, they don't want. I don't think the kids want that either.

[B]

It almost feels like they're using the kids as a scapegoat to be like, we want to see. Okay. For other people. You know, like, other parents who might be judging us.

[A]

Yeah. And that's the problem with keeping up with the Joneses. That's. You just.

[B]

Who are these Joneses?

[A]

I've been wondering that. Even as I said it, I'm like, who the fuck are the Joneses? No. That you're trying to keep up with legitimately. Where did that even begin? I know we could get.

[B]

Why are they the standard.

[A]

Yeah. Because when I hear the name Jones, with all due respect, I'm like, fine.

[B]

Yeah. Fine, fine, but not great. Yeah.

[A]

Right there in the middle. No problem.

[B]

Is that the idea that you just want to stay, like, somewhere in the middle? Because I always think of it as, like, you want to be up there.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, top crop.

[A]

Yeah. And in some sense, I'm like, sometimes I hear the Joneses, and I feel like people are trying to be like, that's. That's the top.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

[A]

But I'm like, why do we pick the name Jones? I do need to know who this famous Jones is.

[B]

Keeping up with the Rockefeller.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Come on, guys. Raise. Raise the bar. Do you want kids?

[B]

I don't.

[A]

You don't?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

How did. When did you make that decision?

[B]

I think I felt that way for a long time. Like, I'm in my 40s, and I feel like early on or, like, mid-30s, I was already kind of headed in that direction and. Yeah. I don't know. I think it's one thing that I've never felt strongly about, and it feels like a decision you should be at least somewhat on board with just a little. Just a little bit.

[A]

Just some thought in your life. Yeah. I don't. It's.

[B]

Even if it's just occasionally you're like, maybe.

[A]

Yeah, that's something.

[B]

That's something.

[A]

That is something.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I think I live there sometimes where I'm like, I know I wanted kids, and I still. You just get also really used to, like, living your life. You get so accustomed to it.

[B]

Yes, yes.

[A]

Like, the dog has grounded me in some ways where I'm like, I need to think about the logistics of what I'm gonna do with you when I travel. Are you coming with me or getting you a sitter? And that's, like, a fraction of having a child. But I think that I still go back to, like, you know, at one point, you did really want kids, and I've just got. But I think you just got used to, like, moving and shaking independently.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So for me, that's. I go back to, like, no, I think that'll be fun. And I used to babysit and nanny, and I do love. So you.

[B]

You like no kid energy.

[A]

I do, yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I like it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I like kids and old. Oh, everyone in the middle. I'm like, fine, fine. We'll take it. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Myself included. Let me get either side of the spectrum here, please. Fun.

[B]

I love that, though. It's like the full. The intergenerational range.

[A]

Yeah. Maybe I could have, like an old kid or something. Yeah. Have a Benjamin Button. That would be. That would be so cool.

[B]

Oh, my God. I would watch that movie.

[A]

I mean, we'll be the one of me as a parent. That would be fun. Yeah, let's figure that out. Yeah.

[B]

They're trying to bring back what an old franchise is.

[A]

Yeah. They don't like new ideas anyway, so I can just like, let me pitch it. But it's me, BB2. Yeah. And that's. You've got the whole thing sorted out. It's gonna be great.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. I'll call you. I'll call you once I have the pieces in my.

[A]

Okay, good. We'll have our people talk and all of that.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Did you get any flack from anyone in your life, though, once you decided, like, I don't want kids or any pressure leading up to that moment being like, are you gonna have kids? Oh, yeah.

[B]

I mean, I have immigrant parents, so it's like, what. I don't know what the. What else is comparable to be like, I don't wanna give you grandchildren. I mean, my sibling has two kids, so I think that really took the pressure off of me. Cause it's like, now there are grandchildren in the picture, but I think they always were like, are you sure you could just. Just have one? You know, like, what's better than a kid? I'm like, I don't know. The people who I know have them are very stressed out. And. Yeah, I. I think it's just such a big decision and you have to. You have to be all in.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

How did you handle those conversations, though? Oh, when the pressure was coming, I

[B]

think I sort of said that where I'm like, well, do you want to raise the kid?

[A]

And how would they respond to that? Because that is a valid question.

[B]

I think they were like, what? Once they come, you'll see what it's like. And I'm like, that's not the logic you can use. Because what if they come and that's not what you feel? And then they're here and then they're here and they're not going anywhere.

[A]

That's not fair.

[B]

That's not fair.

[A]

Where did your parents immigrate from?

[B]

India.

[A]

From India?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Do you think growing up, how was it navigating for them the fact that their kids were growing up here, but they're from somewhere else and they have a culture that is of a different place? What was. I feel like it's. It varies from family to family. The balance of, like, assimilation versus holding on to culture. What was your experience with that?

[B]

I think it was pretty typical. Like, assimilation is like, we. We want to be American, but at the same time, you know, we would go to, like, the Hindu temple regularly. We did a lot of, like, community events. We would go to, like, for a while, we went to, like, Hinduism, Sunday school. So I think my parents were, like, definitely trying to, like, stay tied to roots. And we were sheltered in a lot of ways growing up. Like, we weren't allowed to go to sleepovers. We weren't allowed to date. Like, there were certain shows we weren't allowed to watch. Like, the library was free reign. Like, the library was, you know, go have a ball at the library. You can do whatever you want there. But, yeah, it's funny because I also associate my dad with so many, like, immigrant dad things where it's like, he loved a nature show. He loves Costco a good deal. You know, like, just, like, things where you're like, yeah, that's an immigrant dad. Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Aside from Hinduism, were there any parts of the culture that they were like, you have. Yes. You're in America, and, yes, we're assimilating in ways, but these are parts of the culture that we really want to make part of your life, I think, just like.

[B]

Yeah, just, like, regularly going to events with other South Asian folks and, like, you know, wearing, like, traditional clothes, and we would mainly eat Indian food at home. And those things I'm, like, grateful for, because I'm like, yeah, I'm. I'm on board with those things. Bollywood movies. But, yeah, nothing. Nothing like that felt like constricting.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, that's nice.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because there is the version of.

[B]

There's that version. Because even, like, my parents are both doctors, and I think they. They, you know, gently nudged us in the direction of med school, but neither. And my sibling and I are doctors, and, you know, they weren't like, this is unacceptable, or, like, why are you, you know, doing careers that are less stable? Or, like, I feel like on the immigrant parents scale, they're definitely on the more chill end of things. Yeah.

[A]

Is there a job you've had that was the one that made them go, oh, Aparna's made it.

[B]

I think maybe my first writing job where they were like, oh, this is an actual job. You, like, show up, go somewhere. Yeah.

[A]

Daytime hours.

[B]

You get a regular paycheck. I think that made them realize, oh, okay, this is a career where you actually can have a job that looks like a normal job.

[A]

Yeah. What was the writing job?

[B]

That was the. That was actually the reason I moved to New York. It was writing for this late night show on FX called Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. Oh, cool. Yeah.

[A]

So you moved from New York from.

[B]

From la.

[A]

From la. Oh, you were in LA originally?

[B]

I had moved there from dc, which is where I started. Comedy.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay. And then did a stint in la, came to New York, and then went back to la.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Was there any part of you that was considering staying in New York after the draft?

[B]

Yeah. I mean, I love New York. I think the grind just as I've gotten older, I'm just like, I just want a little more ease there.

[A]

That's what people do.

[B]

I know. A little more eas, a little more trees.

[A]

So a little more ease, a little more trees. That's the motto past a certain age. Yeah, fair enough. Because a lot of people will leave New York to go upstate or somewhere else where there are trees or they'll head west.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. But you know what else is upstate?

[A]

Ticks, I was gonna say. I mean, it's so many things I could have said. Ticks. Are you scared of ticks?

[B]

I don't know. I have a friend who has Lyme disease and so I think it's like, I'm always like, oh, ticks, ticks. Yeah.

[A]

Does your friend who has Lyme disease know when they got bit by the tick? They do know.

[B]

And. And I think it was in. On the west coast, so I don't know. What.

[A]

So you're in la.

[B]

I'm not safe.

[A]

Yeah, you're not safe there either.

[B]

I'm not safe.

[A]

I've always been like, one tick bite and it's a wrap. I used to play in the woods as a kid, but it didn't occur to me. Yeah. Like, we used to play in the woods all the time. Yeah. And it was just like ticks were like a m. Like they existed for sure, but it was like, like, don't get bit by a tick. Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

But did you remember checking each other for ticks?

[A]

Sometimes we would check for ticks, but

[B]

I'm like, probably not every time.

[A]

But no, sometimes we weren't checking for ticks.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. But that is a scary thing to think that one little bug bite.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Could change your life. I know. Look at spider man. Did he get bit by a bug?

[B]

I mean, I guess that's good.

[A]

Best case if he got bit by a spider and it's helped us. It's a better, better situation.

[B]

So many franchises do you spend time

[A]

at the beach at all?

[B]

I'm more mountains than beach.

[A]

Okay. Because I heard when you said nature and you were like, trees and such,

[B]

I thought, I do like the beach, but, like, less so. Yeah.

[A]

What do you not like about the beach?

[B]

I think it's the sand.

[A]

Yeah. I have a friend who has more trees than beach. Like, my preference is blue water beach.

[B]

Okay. Okay.

[A]

And my friend is Little Miss Trees, and she's like, this sand, and she goes. And then you go to the beach and do what? And I go lay there. And you read and you drink.

[B]

It is nice to lay there.

[A]

Yeah. I also do just enjoy being horizontal as a rule.

[B]

Sure. Yeah.

[A]

That explains that. So are you into hiking, then?

[B]

I do, like, a hike. Yeah. Yeah, I would. I will say, though, backpacking is maybe. I think I wanted to get into that when I was younger, and now I'm just like, why? Why do I need to carry it all on my back?

[A]

You already are in real life. Why am I putting a backpack on?

[B]

Right. Yeah.

[A]

Have you ever backpacked, like, through Europe or something?

[B]

No, but when I was a teenager, I did, like, I think two Outward Bound trips.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So that's like, sort of like an adventure program where you go to the wilderness for. I think both of them were, like, three weeks long, and you just kind of rough it where you're, like, backpacking from place to place and you learn how to survive in the wild. And I think I was just really obsessed with being really independent and knowing how to take care of myself. But I think what I mainly learned from those trips was like, oh, I'm not built for roughing it.

[A]

That's good to know yourself. I know that about myself. Without having done Outward Bound, I'm like, I'm not made for that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And that's okay. But, you know. You know, because you actually went and tried and saw, and you're like, yeah, thank you.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

So you would never do a Survivor?

[B]

I don't think I could.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

To. To do that and be filmed on

[A]

top of it is crazy.

[B]

Have you ever seen Naked and Afraid?

[A]

I haven't seen Naked and Afraid. I've seen clips. I've seen clips.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

But, yeah, that's brave. People are brave out here.

[B]

People are brave. People are brave. To be like, I want to survive and have no supplies and no way to figure out what's happening, and I need it all documented.

[A]

That's a different kind of person cut from a different cloth.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Are you super close to your. Do you have nieces, nephews.

[B]

I have nibblings.

[A]

Nibblings?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Your siblings, Kids. How. So it's two, right?

[B]

Two. One is. Is eight and one is five. I'm trying to figure out their birthdays. Yeah, I think maybe.

[A]

Yeah, it's hard to keep track.

[B]

It's hard to keep track.

[A]

My mom, I don't think even knows my birthday. I think my siblings remind her.

[B]

I know. I think since the grandkids showed up, I. I'm like. I think my parents put in their birthdays and took mine.

[A]

Yeah, we're like, you can only have two birthdays in the calendar and your siblings and yours is out. So you guys are close. Does that feel. Yeah. And where are they?

[B]

They're here in New York.

[A]

They're here in New York. Okay. So do you get to see them often?

[B]

Every so often. Like, yeah, Like, I would say a handful of times whenever I'm here. Yeah.

[A]

How long did it take for you to get close, to feel close or, like, connected to them? Because when they're babies, in my experience, it's like. I mean, I was obsessed with my niece as a baby, though, to be fair. But it's like, okay, you have a personality. There's.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It is cool to see as they get older, just like, seeing them turn into little people more and more, where it's like, they have their quirks and. Yeah, you're right. As a baby, it's a little bit more like, okay, I'll take. I'll tote you around and put you in cute things. Yeah, Yeah. I think I. I mean, I think it's hard now that I live on an opposite coast to kind of spend as much time with them, but it is neat to just see, like, what they're into now and, like, where they're. Where they're headed as kind of people, because they also. It's funny with siblings how, like, different they are from each other, where it's like one of them will be like, you know, really into trains, and then the other one's like, no, I'm a, you know, I'm a teddy bear kind of guy or whatever it is.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. It's fascinating to me because my niece, the oldest one, very reserved, and then her younger sister is like a little wild card adventurer, and she's 2. And I'm like, the personalities, it's so early. Both came from the same lady and man. And I'm like, wow, it's crazy how quickly they can form their own personalities. Did you have any indication when you were younger that you would do what you do now. Like, when you look back retrospectively and are like, oh, I guess I did really enjoy this thing growing up. It makes sense now that I am a.

[B]

Always enjoyed creative writing. Like, I kept journals very early on and, like, diaries. And then I remember, like, hanging out with my cousins and, like, making, like, these mini movies and. And, like, joking around and being silly. So I do think it was, like, there early on, but I think especially with performing, I was also a really shy kid. I think I was often like, I don't think I'm quite bold enough to really be a performer, but I think the seed was there. It was there. Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Did you do, like, any other sort of extracurricular activities?

[B]

Yeah, like, we took piano lessons. We did, like, classical Indian dance. So, like, kind of a smattering of different things. But yeah, no, I think I took theater in college and, like, did some musicals in. In middle school, but. But I think I was like, oh, I'm not. I'm not quite as, like, out there as some of these theater kids. So I didn't. I kind of took myself out of the running. Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

And it was D.C. where you grew up. Right. Which. I'm from Baltimore. So close, but far close, but far same, but so not saying.

[B]

Yeah. And technically I grew up in the suburbs.

[A]

You did?

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Like, what part of Maryland was.

[B]

Well, northern Virginia.

[A]

Virginia. Look at me biased and assumed. I'm like, so you're from Maryland?

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Okay. Yeah. What part of Virginia was it?

[B]

It was Fairfax county and I grew up in McLean.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

I see them on the signs on.

[B]

Oh, sure, yeah.

[A]

Driven by, waved at you, the family. Would you ever move back? When you think about cities, like, would you ever move back to where you're from?

[B]

I don't know. I mean, I honestly, like, didn't have issues growing up there. Like, I liked it. I enjoyed my time there. But for some reason I'm like, I don't know if I would want to live there again. I like visiting. I like seeing my parents. And obviously the area has gotten really. Like, there's cool stuff that wasn't there when I. When I lived there, but. Yeah, I don't know if I could live there again.

[A]

Why? What do you have to do?

[B]

I think it would still feel, like, too regressive or something. Even now where I am just like, I feel like I would be going backwards. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Do you feel like that?

[A]

I am curious about going to. I don't think I would live in Baltimore.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Full time. But I do like going back to be like, like, what's happening in this city that I'm from? I'm like, what's. Where's the good food? It's got such good food. And people do show stand ups, do shows there sometimes.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so I'm like, oh, I should, I should be acquainted. It's been a long time.

[B]

But yeah, I mean, I guess if money was no object, I'm like, yeah, sure. I wouldn't mind a little house.

[A]

Yeah, it's a great place.

[B]

Yeah. I could just pop through. Yeah. But I, I don't know if I could like, just be there full time.

[A]

Fair enough. Yeah, fair enough. Well, thank you so much.

[B]

Oh, thank you for having me.

[A]

Of course. I really appreciate you guys. Watch Kevin. Thank you. Yeah, That was my discussion with Aparna and Cherla. Thank you guys for listening. I love you so much. And if you want advice from me and my next guest, guys, we're basically experts offering free advice. Call us at five zero two, THANKS dads. It's five, zero two, THX D A D S. Leave a voice message and we will give you advice next time sometime soon. But yeah, let us know what's going on in your life. Also, I'm just kind of nosy. So, yeah, call us, let us know and we will try our best to help you. See you next time. Thanks dad is a production of Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and I Heart Podcast. I'm your host, Ego Wodem. Our producer is Kevin Bartelt and our executive producer is Matt Apodaca.

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