Taylor Ortega

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim

Episode: Taylor Ortega
Date: April 7, 2026
Host: Ego Nwodim
Guest: Taylor Ortega

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Episode Overview

In this engaging, funny, and heartfelt episode, Ego Nwodim welcomes actor and writer Taylor Ortega for a candid conversation on creative paths, friendship, career, emotional regulation, and the ongoing balancing act between work, ambition, rest, and self-care. The episode meanders through relatable discussions about saving social media content, navigating creative careers, auditioning, city living (NY vs. LA), homebody habits, feeling gratitude, and—true to the show’s roots—the importance (or not) of college and parental support. Fans of behind-the-scenes comedy and real talk on life’s transitions will find lots to savor.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Saving Social Content & Aspirational Planning

• Both Ego and Taylor discuss their habits of saving TikToks, Instagram reels, and restaurant recommendations for places they may visit (“Paris, Japan, LA, NY”—[02:41]).
• Quote: Ego: “Every once in a while, I will be like, I know I saved a video about this. And then I'll scroll and scroll endlessly.” ([03:15])
• They humorously note that the process is more about the comfort of collecting than actually using the resources (“Never look back!”).

2. Feeling Gratitude for Collaborators

• Taylor expresses heartfelt thanks to Dan Levy (Big Mistakes, Netflix, April 9th) for creative partnership and support.
• Quote: Taylor: “He was like my partner through the whole entire thing... he’s just a really wonderful, creative person to work with.” ([06:00])
• Both agree it’s vital to tell people directly when you appreciate them, even if it feels awkward ([07:13]).

3. Compliments & Artistic Self-Worth

• They discuss how difficult it can be to accept compliments, especially public praise, referencing impostor syndrome common in creative careers.
• Quote: Taylor: “When someone will say something kind about you that hadn’t crossed your mind about yourself—that always feels kind of good.” ([09:23])
• They joke about being both their own biggest critics yet buoyed by community feedback ([10:17]).

4. Friendships In and Outside 'The Business'

• Taylor speaks about maintaining longtime friendships, including her best friend from middle school who works in film makeup ([11:34]).
• They reminisce about theater kid antics and finding your “people” in creative communities ([12:48], [13:15]).

5. Parental Influence & ‘Hustle’ Pathways

• Taylor shares her parents’ blend of support and practicality: they encouraged creativity but didn’t have industry connections—so initiative was key ([16:13]).
• Quote: “If you want a job as a child, you gotta go and get yourself your own job.” ([17:06])
• Both reflect on being bad at day jobs and how getting fired is sometimes a blessing in disguise ([19:45]).

6. Change, Emotional Regulation & Astrology

• They dive into coping with change (Taylor: “I have my dramas, but they happen really quickly and I move on.” [22:28]), cycling moods, and the impact of astrological signs (Taylor is a Gemini; Ego a Pisces) ([23:24]).
• Emotional range and coping mechanisms—crying versus stoicism—feature in a raw discussion around breakups, work distractions, and the pressure to “feel” ([24:27]–[26:22]).

7. Acting, Auditions, and the Business

• Tangible contrasts between acting classes, improv, TV, and musical theater auditions.
• Quote: Taylor on Broadway auditions: “It feels like they’re going to line us up... it really is, like, scary.” ([40:57])
• They wax nostalgic for in-person auditions and commiserate over the stress, subjectivity, and unpredictability of the process ([41:24]).

8. Improv Roots & Day Jobs

• Both got their start in improv, agreeing on its purity and joy—even if it pays nothing ([44:17]).
• The allure and the trap of “comfortable” day jobs as potential obstacles to pursuing creative careers ([47:27]).
• Memorable Anecdote: Ego shares her experience being called out by a casting director for being “comfortable” because of her cushy day job ([47:45]).

9. LA vs. NY:

• The hosts contrast LA’s laid-back, beautiful vibe with NY’s intense, fast-paced environment.
• Quote: Taylor: “I forget that the east coast, one of the ways it’s different is that like, people stay in New York. Like, it is way less turnover, way less transient than LA.” ([48:58])
• They compare FOMO, social habits, and the seasonal nostalgia rooted in East Coast living ([53:07], [55:11]).

10. Homebody Philosophy & Self-Care

• Extensive, relatable riff on the joys and “shame” of being a homebody, spending time in bed, watching TV from a laptop despite owning a big screen, and managing the logistics of adult life (furnishing apartments, FaceTiming from bed—[59:10], [60:41]).
• Ego’s “chaotic” but effective nightly routine—using a “nap-alarm” to get up and actually prepare for bed ([62:13]).
• Taylor: “I have a second moisturizer next to my bed and wipes if I need. But I don’t believe in the wipe.” ([63:03])

11. Teeth, Retainers, College & ‘Advice’

• They swap tips on flossing, the absurd cost of braces, and their parents’ shifting perspectives on the value of college ([65:49]–[66:26]).
• Quote: Taylor: “If you’re anyone else, consider beautiful teeth.” ([66:28])
• Final thoughts on the pros/cons of college versus improv, and the joy of making your own path ([67:43]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Creative Partnership:
  “He was like my partner through the whole entire thing... and I’m really proud of the job that both of us did.” – Taylor ([06:00])

• On Expressing Appreciation:
  “Even if they cross your mind, and you just have a nice thought about them—you should tell them.” – Ego ([07:13])

• On Childhood Aspirations:
  “As if I was once again saving videos you’re never gonna watch again.” – Taylor ([14:30])

• On Getting Fired:
  “I got fired from nannying… I felt really relieved to get fired. But it was the first time.” – Ego ([18:48], [20:07])

• On Auditioning:
  “I really miss when it used to be in person, because you could go do it for 15 minutes and be like, I gave it my all, I'm an actor!” – Taylor ([38:12])

• On FOMO & City Living:
  “New York is so fun…it really occupies your brain a lot. And unfortunately, people in New York are doing like, 19 things a day…” – Taylor ([53:59])

• On Nightly Routines:
  “Will take a nap… and set the alarm for 1:30am to wake me up, to properly get ready for bed.” – Ego ([62:13])
  “I do that all the time.” – Taylor ([62:26])

• On Teeth vs. College:
  “If you’re anyone else, consider beautiful teeth. Because… There’s nothing like presentation…” – Taylor ([66:28])

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Useful Timestamps by Topic

• Saving Social Content & Restaurant Lists: [01:44]–[03:38]
• Giving & Receiving Gratitude & Compliments: [06:00]–[09:34]
• Childhood, Theater Kid Stories, Career Paths: [11:17]–[14:45]
• Getting Fired, Day Jobs & Creative Motivation: [16:31]–[20:07]
• Acting, Auditions & Improv: [32:11]/[38:12]–[45:30]
• NY vs. LA, FOMO, Homebody Habits: [48:21]–[60:41]
• Nightly Routines & Teeth Conversation: [62:13]–[66:28]
• College vs. Improv, Parting Thoughts: [66:45]–[68:09]

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Tone & Style

Warm, self-deprecating, honest, and funny—Ego and Taylor keep things flowing naturally, blending industry insights with personal anecdotes and mutual support. The rapport is easy and intimate, with sidebars that capture the tone of two friends trading stories after a long day.

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Takeaways

• Express gratitude—the little moments count.
• Creative careers are turbulent: embrace resilience, and don't fear change (or getting fired!).
• There’s no shame in being a homebody or needing a “nap-alarm” to survive bedtime routines.
• Maintaining friendships outside your career grounds you, and it’s okay if your trajectory is nonlinear.
• Sometimes, the big lesson isn’t in school—but in a rigorous flossing habit or an improv class.

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For anyone navigating the ambiguities of a creative path, or just enjoying witty, honest conversation, this episode is a comforting companion.

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Transcript

[Ego Wodem]

This is an Iheart podcast.

[Taylor Ortega]

Guaranteed human. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month Required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan opt and fees extra. See full [e-mail]

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Ego Wodem]

Be cool, be cool. Be cool. Be cool, be cool, be cool. This is all gonna be part of the the show. Good. Okay. Every not the sock talk.

[Taylor Ortega]

Professional. Okay. Yeah. People really want to hear about that.

[Ego Wodem]

Well, we, I mean they might be intrigued. You never know what to do. And I think what you said about like doing basing it on how you feel.

[Taylor Ortega]

I know. Well, you know when you' at. You're looking at the outfit and you go some something's a miss something's and

[Ego Wodem]

I don't know, something's off and I

[Taylor Ortega]

don't have time to look it up. But something's wrong.

[Ego Wodem]

Do you ever look. Do you ever have time to look it up? Honest?

[Taylor Ortega]

No. You know what I do? I'm like if I'm spending, if I'm doing big screen time.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

I will save them to then an album that I never refer back to.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay, great.

[Taylor Ortega]

In case I are like do you ever save like tiktoks like reels?

[Ego Wodem]

I save a lot of reels.

[Taylor Ortega]

And do you look back to your collections and say I'm going to learn today.

[Ego Wodem]

Rare, rarely ever. Rarely ever. And mainly my the things I save are like restaurants I should try that.

[Taylor Ortega]

I'm doing a lot. I have in New York.

[Ego Wodem]

I have la. Yeah, I have.

[Taylor Ortega]

And then I have vague travel for, like, Europe. Anywhere in Europe or Asia that I think I might want to go same.

[Ego Wodem]

I have. Well, I have like, Paris, which I do spend time that Paris. I have New York, I have la, and I. I want to go to Japan.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes.

[Ego Wodem]

So, like, I have a lot of Japan, obviously, like Tokyo, Osaka.

[Taylor Ortega]

But then I also have, like, out of the way places where I go, probably. You're not taking like a side trip to this place.

[Ego Wodem]

But what if, like, what? You never know. It's gonna be in your saved files.

[Taylor Ortega]

What if we're at a restaurant one day and you go, I watched a video about this. I saved a video about this.

[Ego Wodem]

Wait.

[Taylor Ortega]

Oh, my God. I knew this was gonna rock.

[Ego Wodem]

But then the scrolling forever to try to find it. Because every once in a while I will be like, I. I know. I. I saved a video about this. And then I'll scroll and scroll endlessly on my saved. And I do have my saved kind of organized. And even still, I'm like, it's not organized enough.

[Taylor Ortega]

You can't. Because I can't be making new albums all the time. But then I will see something where I go, this is so useful. Like taking passport photos at home. Did you know that girls can do it?

[Ego Wodem]

You can take your own passport photo?

[Taylor Ortega]

Allegedly. Allegedly. And I know that I saved a video about it.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

I know that I saved a video about it. I'm hearing, not only can you take them at home, you don't have to have your ears out. Which is why all this

[Ego Wodem]

was a first for me when I moved to New York. So time for me to renew my passport. This is the year is 2018. We're going back. This man insisted I had to have my ears showing. And I was like, I've never heard this in my life. And you're the second person I've ever heard.

[Taylor Ortega]

My ears are out on mine. But it doesn't look good. It's really weird. It's like the. Like, it's not that my hair is never behind my ears, but it's just in such a way. And you're not allowed to smile. So you're kind of like, it's bad.

[Ego Wodem]

It's giving. It's giving.

[Taylor Ortega]

I think there's girls with, like, soft bangs in front of their ears, like in their passport photos.

[Ego Wodem]

That's the thing I had never just done.

[Taylor Ortega]

They took it at home.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah. Okay, we gotta look into it.

[Taylor Ortega]

I'LL scroll and I'll send it to you when I find it.

[Ego Wodem]

But it.

[Taylor Ortega]

I am hearing that people are doing that.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

I don't know if it's just strict here or what.

[Ego Wodem]

How often are you, like, I'm hearing that people are doing a thing, and it's basically just something on the Internet. Because I do that with Yelp reviews. I'm like, I heard this place was really good.

[Taylor Ortega]

I heard. Or I'm saying, I read. Yeah, I read.

[Ego Wodem]

I read is more accurate.

[Taylor Ortega]

I read this. I. And then people are kind of like, now people are going, did you watch a video?

[Ego Wodem]

Did you watch? Yeah. And the truth is. Well, I should do an intro for you.

[Taylor Ortega]

Oh, my gosh. Thank you.

[Ego Wodem]

Oh, how disrespectful of me.

[Taylor Ortega]

I just will come in and start talking.

[Ego Wodem]

No, same. Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

Pretend I'm not even here.

[Ego Wodem]

Pretend mine. I don't even know where to look. Okay. My next guest. My next guest. Every time I say my next guest, it's not that I didn't know what I was gonna say next. Every time I say my next guest, I. I just keep thinking of David Letterman's my next guest needs no introduction, and I feel like I'm ripping that off. But I'm like, my next guest. He doesn't have. That's not a trademark.

[Taylor Ortega]

It's not. He doesn't own it.

[Ego Wodem]

My next guest.

[Taylor Ortega]

And he'll let you know if he does. He'll come for me. He'll come for you.

[Ego Wodem]

If you tried to sue me, he would get. Oh, a C. At least you'll get a C and Z. I'll get a C and C. Okay. And that's fine. That's kind of cool. Chic.

[Taylor Ortega]

I don't think he would do that. I don't think you do that too.

[Ego Wodem]

My next guest is an actor and writer who you can see in Big mistakes on Netflix. April 9th. It's Taylor Ortega.

[Taylor Ortega]

Thank you so much. That was really good.

[Ego Wodem]

Thank you. I struggle with that.

[Taylor Ortega]

Really well, because suddenly you have to think about what you're saying.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah, exactly. I'm mostly not thinking.

[Taylor Ortega]

Me neither. Never, never, never.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay, Taylor, wait. Who do you want to say thanks? Who or what do you want to say thanks to?

[Taylor Ortega]

Right now in my life, I'm feeling a lot of gratitude for Dan Levy, which I feel is pretty. But we're doing a lot of promotion right now for this show, and it's sort of the first time we've, like. It's so weird to say that you're doing kind of like a Retrospective on something that no one's seen. But that is how it feels for us, and I'm sure even more for him. And I'm really grateful for the prod, obviously, like, making this show and then casting man and changing my life. But I also. He was like my partner through the whole entire thing. And a lot of it was just the two of us for, like, long stretches of it. And he's just a really wonderful, creative person to work with. And I think it's. I'm really proud of the job that both of us did. And he's just been so. Had such kind words for me throughout our, like, promotional stuff, which we don't really do for ourselves a lot. So then when somebody else is describing what it's like to work with you, you're just kind of like, I should

[Ego Wodem]

cry a lot of my time at work.

[Taylor Ortega]

And, you know, you hope that everyone else enjoys having you there as much as you enjoy being with them. But it's. It's nice to hear it. Sometimes we gotta tell people we appreciate

[Ego Wodem]

that they're good at. I know. I feel like that is such a good practice to have to go. I want to tell someone especially what. Even if they're crossing. They cross your mind, and you're just like, have a nice thought about them. You should tell them.

[Taylor Ortega]

You should tell them. It's really hard to do. And I think sometimes we think it's like breaking character for us to. Or, like, we're weirding people out.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

But when I have the. The. When I have that, like, one second of bravery to, like, send the text or something, I do try to do it.

[Ego Wodem]

Oh, that's such good practice.

[Taylor Ortega]

I try. It's an encouragement other people have had for me, because I don't. I always never want to say anything ever, actually, but, you know, I'm trying.

[Ego Wodem]

How are you with receiving compliments? So you're saying Dan had nice things to say about you.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes. And what's so specific and wonderful about it? And I think I'm pretty. Honestly. You know what? It depends on the compliment, probably. Like, if you're someone who's very, like, comfortable, you're like, I know I do a good job at work. I really pride myself that probably you're comfortable taking. I don't know. But then public adulation is really crazy.

[Ego Wodem]

It's different. How do you. Okay. How are you bearing with that?

[Taylor Ortega]

I mean, so far, obviously, it's like, just us. Like, no one's seen it yet. It's not out. It's right now. As we're recording, it's not out in

[Ego Wodem]

this exact moment, but mere days. Mere days. But then it will be, it will be out.

[Taylor Ortega]

So yeah, it feels kind of like very safe in a way. Cuz it's really just like up to us and like a small group has seen it. So that feels great. But I think once it comes out on a grander scale, there's always that rule of like, you have to believe the good things and the bad things. So you just shouldn't listen to any of it. Any of it. I think you can listen to your peers and your friends and your co workers also.

[Ego Wodem]

I think if you are in this, chances are you're already your own harshest critic.

[Taylor Ortega]

Totally for sure. Which is so good. It's really healthy and it really keeps you in good boundaries to remind yourself you're bad.

[Ego Wodem]

You're bad at everything you do. And why did you even get into this? Do you think you are?

[Taylor Ortega]

And never forget to do that? Never let that voice in your head die. Yeah, it's really, that's.

[Ego Wodem]

I mean it, it's so, it's so hard to do that. But. So then when people do compliment you though, it's like, I want, I actually do want to take this in. But it's, it can just be a slippery slope.

[Taylor Ortega]

It's overwhelming. Or what's the. The craziest is when, and usually this comes from friends. Someone will say something kind about you that actually hadn't crossed your mind about yourself.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

And it's like, can be a simple thing. I had a friend one time be like, we were like newer friends and it ended up being like a little bit of a backhanded compliment. But she was like, you're such a welcoming person. She was like, you're really welcoming and you really don't give that off the top. You don't really expect that that's gonna be coming. She was like, but then it is. And I thought that's a really specific sweet compliment. Terrifying. Don't need to know what I'm giving, you know, don't know what I'm giving from far away. No one is sort of.

[Ego Wodem]

I think you're giving pure joy, love, kindness, gentleness.

[Taylor Ortega]

Thank you so much.

[Ego Wodem]

Thank you so much.

[Taylor Ortega]

But it is really like when you get sweet compliment from a friend that you hadn't considered, where you go, I guess I hope I'm. I guess I hope I'm giving that. That always feels kind of good. Yeah, that's always kind of like, oh, people are having nice thoughts about me.

[Ego Wodem]

When that does feel nice, like I'm doing something right. It's resonating. Something is resonating. That's what the way I think I engage with compliments and even like pub public adulation is like, it's just nice to feel like whatever you're doing is resonating with somebody. Somewhere, someone's getting it. Yeah. You're not on an island. You're not an alien.

[Taylor Ortega]

You're not an alien. And you probably, like, there's a lot of feeling like an ALIE in the world in general.

[Ego Wodem]

Oh, yes.

[Taylor Ortega]

The opposite is worse when you actually think where you go, I've really found my people. These people really get me. And they're like, you're the weirdest girl I ever met.

[Ego Wodem]

You're straight and you're going, okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

Like, I was thinking we were here.

[Ego Wodem]

I was exhausted.

[Taylor Ortega]

And that's happened as well. I think in like this time of being in comedy and stuff, where you go. I mean, we're all so similar. We're all. And we are. And that is true. I do think comedians are like, you spend enough time around other comedians and you forget that you're. You're all living very similar lives that are very different from everybody else's day to day routines.

[Ego Wodem]

Do you have a lot of friends who are not in comedy and entertainment still?

[Taylor Ortega]

Yeah, I would say for an adult. Yeah.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

For like someone in their 30s. Yeah.

[Ego Wodem]

Yes.

[Taylor Ortega]

I have like hometown friends, college friends, like different phases of life friends.

[Ego Wodem]

Oh, you've stuck with them. Like, how long is your oldest friendship or how old is your old friendship?

[Taylor Ortega]

I would say, like, that I speak to super regularly. My best friend from middle school. Yes. But what's really interesting is she's also in the business, which was totally random.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

She, like, also works in film, so that's crazy.

[Ego Wodem]

That's right. Where are you from?

[Taylor Ortega]

Yeah, it's Jersey.

[Ego Wodem]

Jersey. Okay. So she in New York as well?

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes. Well, Jersey technically, but yeah. Works in New York. And we've always really wanted to work together and it hasn't happened yet, and I know that it will, but that makes things easier. I think there's like an understanding of like, okay, our jobs are really weird.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

And so there's like, you don't have to explain those things. And then it keeps us kind of in the same space and on the same weird schedules.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

And she's on like one. She's a makeup artist and like, particularly like a special effects makeup artist, does like really cool prosthetics and like all like, really Crazy applications. Every now and then I'll get like a crazy series of photos of like, just like severed heads or something.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

Okay.

[Ego Wodem]

Where are you the prosthetics? What are you doing? Did she do art? Was she like an art into art growing up?

[Taylor Ortega]

She's been into like a million things. Like, we. She was into art growing up, but we both did theater and we were both like, disruptive theater kids.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay. Disruptive in what sense?

[Taylor Ortega]

Oh, my God. Like, just like, obviously, like in ensemble. Talking in ensemble. Just being in the ensemble of something and talking and sort of be like, y' all are not the stars. Yeah, you need to be quiet so the stars can do their. Can rehearse their scene. Yeah. You know, we're playing like the swamp people in like, Once Upon a Mattress, and we're like full, full volume talking in the back of the rehearsal. I know it was probably tough, but we saw ourselves as like, you know, we're having an important conversation back here.

[Ego Wodem]

Well, you guys were the main characters in your own lives.

[Taylor Ortega]

Totally. It's hard. Did you do theater growing up?

[Ego Wodem]

Like, I did one play. Okay. I did maybe one or two plays, but I was not like, in high school.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yeah, it's intense to. You can't kind of be one foot and one foot out.

[Ego Wodem]

And I was very one. Me and my two girlfriends were one footed, one foot out. I think it was Beauty and the Beast. And we did a couple rehearsals and we were like, not for us.

[Taylor Ortega]

Did you, did you do the show?

[Ego Wodem]

No.

[Taylor Ortega]

You said we can't.

[Ego Wodem]

Early. Early, though gave them enough time to find replacements for three of us.

[Taylor Ortega]

And I Let me know even, I'll let you know. Like, even giving them enough time for replacements. Like, theater. When you're in high school theater, you're like, oh, my God, the show's coming up and we just had three dropouts. Like, they're really thirsty. You also gave them like, a drama that they probably.

[Ego Wodem]

Yes. And it was. And we quit. So, so, so, so early. But I, I was like, oh, I think I'll like this. And I was like, I don't love this and I'm gonna get out.

[Taylor Ortega]

You guys ensemble or did you have, like, spe little, like, songs to do?

[Ego Wodem]

We were ensemble.

[Taylor Ortega]

Oh, okay. And. And still that. And that's better. But it's still.

[Ego Wodem]

That's, you know, it still was.

[Taylor Ortega]

There's gonna be a huge gap in the choreo.

[Ego Wodem]

The. The teacher, it seemed. And the director seemed absolutely unfazed by our exiting and probably relieved was like these little Bitches don't care. They don't care. They didn't care. Did you always know you wanted to be an actor?

[Taylor Ortega]

I used to. Like, there definitely was a phase in my childhood where I was videotaping the Oscars or something, you know? Oh, yes. As if I was once again saving videos that you're never gonna watch again is a real. Just in case. Just for security.

[Ego Wodem]

It's a thing.

[Taylor Ortega]

It's a security thing.

[Ego Wodem]

It's a comfort.

[Taylor Ortega]

One day I'm gonna have to look back on Renee Zellweger giving a speech about.

[Ego Wodem]

For what?

[Taylor Ortega]

I don't remember, but I have it on tape. Yeah, I think I was. I always did theater, but it's kind of. When you're a kid, that's like, the only outlet for, like, a lot of kids is you're just. You're like, I have to figure out how to make musical theater work for me.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

Even if I don't particularly. Even if I'm not watching it on my time, I have to find a way for it to work. So I was always doing theater, and then I did, like, theater camps and would do, like, improv at theater camp, you know, and that was really fun.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay. It was a new book to learn.

[Taylor Ortega]

Because when you also. When you're a kid and you're going to theater camp, you're doing, like, they're giving you. When you're at school, you're doing musicals, and when you're at theater camp, you're doing, like, Divorced women monologues, and you're 12, and you don't know what you're talking about kind of thing. And so there. It's like, there's not. You're not doing a lot of stuff that you understand.

[Ego Wodem]

Right.

[Taylor Ortega]

You're just excited to be on stage.

[Ego Wodem]

Right. I feel that way about song lyrics. So many songs growing up, being like, I didn't. This woman is, like, has been through divorce or emotional abuse, and I'm. And I'm singing about it full volume.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes. And back then, the songs that men were singing were, like, terrifying to women. Like, especially, like, the big, like, emo era of high school. I think they were singing things that were like, I'm on a killer tonight. And you're like, I have to. There's no other. I have to, like.

[Ego Wodem]

I have to like it. This is what the kids do. I like music, too. So were your parents supportive of your theater endeavors?

[Taylor Ortega]

Yeah, I would say they were. I. They were kind of like, they were always supportive of my sister and I being, like, creative Doing theater, all of that. But they were very like, if you actually want to do it for money, you do have to, like, you have to take some initiative.

[Ego Wodem]

Oh, okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

Because we weren't. We don't know anybody who's in the business. So it would have been a full outside to inside situation. And in that case, it's sort of like, my. Both my parents worked full time, and they were not about to, you know, move, like, move to Nashville so I could be a songwriter type type thing,

[Ego Wodem]

you know, I know kids with those parents. I'm like, lucky you.

[Taylor Ortega]

They really. But then they. The pressure is really on the kid to be like, you're. We gave up ev. The family has decided you're the main character of the family. And, yeah, our family was kind of like, if you want a job as a child, you got to go and get yourself your own. Your own job. Job.

[Ego Wodem]

Dang.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yeah.

[Ego Wodem]

So when did your. Your true hustle and grit would you

[Taylor Ortega]

say, oh, my God, as an adult, like, okay, I definitely couldn't have been a kid with a job. I don't think. I think I couldn't have. I think that, like, I look, when I work with, like, kids now, I. I say they have something that I don't have. They have a focus, a determination.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

They also maybe have, like, past lives or something where they remember going to work.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

Because when I started going to work, I work. You know, I worked, like, jobs in my town. I. It was like, I have never. I have no ancestral knowledge of this. I've never done this before.

[Ego Wodem]

What is this? Yeah, not me punching in and punching out. Were your parents creatives? Are they.

[Taylor Ortega]

They're creative people, for sure. My. My dad's a chef, which feels like a very creative job.

[Ego Wodem]

You've got to talk.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes.

[Ego Wodem]

Well, that's what we're doing now. Yes.

[Taylor Ortega]

He's a chef. There's also very, like, a very laborious job. So it's kind of. It's a little bit of both. I don't know if he would say that he feels that his job is, like, the most creatively fulf part of his life, but he's a very. But they're both very creative people, and I think it, like, excites them that my sister and I are both doing creative things for a living. Like, I think that was their hope, is that it worked out. But they also are, like, they very much pride themselves on being hardworking people. So then you have to, like, we always had to have jobs. Not all, like, and I always. I have had Some. I've been really bad at a lot of jobs. A lot of jobs.

[Ego Wodem]

Have you been fired from a job?

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes.

[Ego Wodem]

Someone was just.

[Taylor Ortega]

I was just having a conversation where I was in a table full of people and they were like, have you ever. Someone said, have you ever been fired? And. And everyone was like, no. Oh, God, no. No.

[Ego Wodem]

I used to think it was a rite of passage as an actor. Like, you have to have been fired from at least one job. I. I had never been fired from a job. And then I feel like I sought out a job that I could get fired.

[Taylor Ortega]

What was it?

[Ego Wodem]

Nannying.

[Taylor Ortega]

Okay, you got fired from nanny.

[Ego Wodem]

Yes, I got fired, but just because I was like, I did the job, but it was like giving bare min. It wasn't bare minimum. It was above bare minimum. I would stay later than I needed to at times to help the kids with homework. But I just was like, these kids are wild. Yeah. And, you know, and I love kids and I love them. And even more then, yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

Everyone who loves kids also understands, like, sometimes you hit a wall and you go, you need to get.

[Ego Wodem]

You need to go, yeah. And so they were like, you're fired. And I was like, thank you. This means my dreams are gonna come true. And Taylor, here's the thing. They low key did like two years later.

[Taylor Ortega]

Getting fired is actually really good sometimes. Or like jobs not picking up, like, things not going. I do really feel like forward motion always does feel good in some way. I also used to feel like that way about breakfast. I would always be kind of like a little. Have a little bit of excitement about, like my life is moving forward, you know, but that's kind of crazy to be staying late and getting fired. I was, I was never fired for staying late.

[Ego Wodem]

What did you get fired for?

[Taylor Ortega]

It's sort of like whenever I've been fired, I got fired from a theater camp. I kind of. And there was times where I'm giving my all, but anytime I've been fired, you know, restaurants. I think anytime I've been fired, it's sort of been like, yeah, I can't really argue this. There's never been a time I've had friends be fired. Where I go, you need a Sue. Yeah, you need to call the aclu. Something. Anytime I've been fired, it's sort of like, okay. And I was sort of skating by and wondering when.

[Ego Wodem]

Yes. And listen, I had. Basically I was staying late. And then it was a very quick thing. It was like a month. And I was like, okay, I'm gonna give it my All. And then very quickly, I was like, I'm not Mary Poppins. I can't save these children and anything bad. Yeah, it's really hard. And I was like, full presence all the time, and I got to go home. But I was like, they are. Whatever has happened before. I arrived at the ripe age of. Gosh, how old was I? 26 or something. I was like. Like, whatever happened here in someone else's family, nonetheless. Exactly. I was like, you're not a member of. I'm not here often enough. I'm. I do not aspire to be Mary and so Poppins, that is. And so I'm like, yeah, I got. I'm gonna. I. I felt. I felt really relieved to get fired, but it was the first time. So you've been fired a bunch of times, and how do you take it on the chair? I fired a couple times.

[Taylor Ortega]

I mean, one thing I do like about. I feel like jobs in entertainment is that you do kind of even if you're on a job for a while, it is like, ultimately, you're like, I'm doing this for a couple months, then I'm doing something else, then I'm coming back for a couple months. That, like, that is a nice rhythm as much as it also makes you feel insane. Yeah. The times where you're. You don't have a place to clock in. Yeah. I think it is, when you get used to the rhythm, a good thing. When I've. Yeah. I mean, getting. I mean, getting back from other jobs, it always was sort of like, I'm tired of being here. God, I come here every day, and then I leave. Like, I. I really feel for. And this is most people, but, like, going and spending most of your waking hours at a job, and then you only get a little bit of time to go home, and then you're there again tomorrow. And you're doing that every week of the year except for, like, Christmas or something or, like, two weeks off in the summer. Like. And it's the same people over and over again. That is tough. You.

[Ego Wodem]

Well, that's why you were never. You were always gonna be a star, frankly. I'm just saying, if I may say,

[Taylor Ortega]

my transient nature to your nature is

[Ego Wodem]

such that you couldn't do that. And that's what. It's. It in you.

[Taylor Ortega]

You have, to.

[Ego Wodem]

Some people, I think, like, that stability and, like, the predictability. How do you do that? Yeah. How are you with change? Just as a general concept, I'm good

[Taylor Ortega]

with it, but I, like, obviously have my little meltdowns you have to. Like, I think even people who are good with change, like, then I don't know anyone who doesn't have like a bump on it in some way.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

You know, like, you are scared to let go. You have all those things. It's just like, can you. Can you tighten your reaction time a little bit? And I think I do. I think I like, like, have my dramas, but they happen really quickly.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

And I move on really fast. You know, I. Yeah. I don't like to, like, stew if I don't have to. But then every once in a while, one hits you, obviously where you go, I'm so overwhelmed.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

And I'm going to be like, maybe, maybe like a nightmare for three weeks, a month, maybe.

[Ego Wodem]

That's it. See, I'm going like two full months.

[Taylor Ortega]

Well, you're. I looked this up. You're a Pisces, I'm a Pisces, you're a Pisces. I. My partner's a Pisces. And I feel like our mood difference is kind of that. That I will be on a more even keel for longer and then I'll hit a dip and it'll be like weeks, months apart.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

I think for water signs, Pisces, it's like you're experiencing the range of emotions in a day.

[Ego Wodem]

It's. You're hitting 3pm it's ever. I felt. I felt everything.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes.

[Ego Wodem]

Today. Even every image.

[Taylor Ortega]

Much more. The spectrum is, like heightened for a place.

[Ego Wodem]

I wanted to ask you your sign while you were talking about how you engage with change. And I go, don't be that girl. Don't ask. But I was like, how does Taylor, her sign. Do not ask.

[Taylor Ortega]

I'm a Gemini.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay. Gemini. Spooky.

[Taylor Ortega]

But we're both mutable signs.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

So we both are really technically good with change.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

Changes are constant. So, yeah, I'm good with change. But then I also. My rising is Aries. So I'm very like, forward, moving person. But then, of course, then I go, sometimes I'm not checking in with the. I can go a long time without checking in with feelings.

[Ego Wodem]

Really? That's kind of nice. As a person who I feel overwhelmed sometimes. And this is. No therapist would stand by this advice, but sometimes feeling all the feelings, it's just like too much.

[Taylor Ortega]

It is.

[Ego Wodem]

That's how I feel as a. As a Pisces.

[Taylor Ortega]

Sometimes I witness it and I say, that does seem. It seems really hard. And obviously our feelings are like, sometimes my partner will be like, we'll say like, you're a logical person and, like, logic is your truth. But, like, for me, like, feelings are the facts. And I go, that's not true to me, that feelings are the facts.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

But obviously I know how it feels to be like, my mood is my. I. I can't. Like, I can't see that I'm loved by anyone. I can't see that I have any good in my life. I can't see it. My feelings won't let me.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

I have to wait for it to be over.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

When you're like, I just have to wait for it.

[Ego Wodem]

You just have to ride it out. It's. Yeah. As I'm. I'm such a proponent of feeling your feelings. And then in the Pisces of it all, I am a little like. Like last week and the number of times I've said this, it's not just last week, girl. It's been several weeks in a row. But I'm like. Like, I don't feel like crying. And it's like. And I'm like, I have no problem with it. I used to. But I was like, I have no problem with it. I'll do it, whatever. I'll happy cry, I'll sad cry. But I'm like, it's exhausting. And someone's like, somebody said to me, like, you can cry if you want. I go, no, no. I know. I just. I just don't feel like it. I just don't feel, like, so exhausting.

[Taylor Ortega]

I had a breakup, a bad breakup once. Or like, it was meant to be, like, this very big breakup. And. But it was also, like, a time where, like, everyone was really stressed out and I was doing a job, and I had a friend who is a Leo, which is a really. People wouldn't guess, like, fire signs, they sneak by. A Leo is a really emotional sign. And this friend is a Leo who loves to cry and was almost sort of like, you can cry if you want. And I can see them getting excited. They're sort of like, you can have a little cry.

[Ego Wodem]

You shade on a little cry.

[Taylor Ortega]

And I'm like, I just don't want to right now. I'm just feeling like, kind of like, dead inside, kind of.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

I don't think crying would make me feel better. I think I'd be angry.

[Ego Wodem]

I love that you said it was meant to be a big break, meaning it was meant to be, but that's just not how you experienced it.

[Taylor Ortega]

It was a big breakup. But you know when you're like, you know, in the. In the moment when it's happening or like, right after it's. Something big is happening to you where you're just sort of like, I wasn't planning for this right now, and I don't know that I can make the space for it in my feelings. And, like, I'm sure. I'm sure weird behavior is going to surface at some point. And it did.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

You know, I'm sure that this will take me a long time. Like, it takes everyone. I'm sure I'm not over it, but sometimes you're just kind of like, I have to go to work.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah, I gotta go to work.

[Taylor Ortega]

I have to go to work.

[Ego Wodem]

Oh, my favorite thing is having to go to work.

[Taylor Ortega]

I love having to go. Then again, sometimes, most of the time, you can go to work. Have you ever been like, I have to go to work. Recently, I was like, I have to go to work. And I'm like, on set and I'm looking like. It's a time where I was, like, looking silly. I'm in a wig, you know, and you want to be able to jump into it, but I'm sort of like. Like, I'm like, between scenes, I'm, like, looking at the ceiling. I'm like. Like I actually am trying not to cry. Everything's making me feel, oh, I've been

[Ego Wodem]

to work like that too.

[Taylor Ortega]

And you're just like, yes. Everything anyone says, you're like, if only you knew how I feel.

[Ego Wodem]

That was suffering in those moments. Does anyone come up to you and is like, taylor, are you okay? Is everything okay?

[Taylor Ortega]

No, I really. I think I'm good at not making that apparent. I think, oh, my goodness. But then you'll see someone else. Like, especially you'll see someone else because set is toug, like, jobs like that. You're just. You can try to not let it be apparent, but you're there for so many hours.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah, it's.

[Taylor Ortega]

Once it gets 12 plus hours. I'm a big believer in, like, if someone has something in them. When people are like, oh, that person's scary. Whatever. If someone has that in them and you are working on set with them, like, their feelings will come out one way or another. Like, their personality, their feelings, all of it will.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

So I do think I'm pretty good at hiding it. But, like, it comes out. You'll see somebody else kind of like, have their, like, weird little moment. You're like, oh, they were feeling weird today. And I. I didn't know. I wouldn't have seen it. But it pops out. They were stuffing it down inside, you know, it's true.

[Ego Wodem]

I mean, maybe that's the nice thing about the acting of it all time. It's such a distraction. Not just because, like I have to go to work, I'm here, but it's like I also have to now emote a different thing than whatever I'm feeling. It's. That's nice.

[Taylor Ortega]

God, you ever feel this is such toxic actor. But like when you're like actually feeling kind of happy and excited and you have to re. You have to really be giving an emotional spectrum where you go, I just don't feel that way.

[Ego Wodem]

I'm sorry.

[Taylor Ortega]

This, it's not actually couldn't cry in a million years if I want to. Things are going great for me. I have this amazing job.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah. Sorry. I feel really, really good.

[Taylor Ortega]

I'm sort of exhilarated. Feeling actually exhilarated.

[Ego Wodem]

Anyway, I. I have again because I think like crying is exhausting at times. Been like, I just don't feel like going there. Not on a job. Not on a job, but like in acting class. Just been like, yeah, I can't do that right now. I can't. I can't serve that.

[Taylor Ortega]

Or you do. I. Sometimes I feel almost like indignant a little bit where I, where I'm like, I can if I want to, but I just don't want to. Just.

[Ego Wodem]

It's a choice. I'm making a choice.

[Taylor Ortega]

You're trying to manipulate me and it's like that's what an acting class is.

[Ego Wodem]

That's exactly it.

[Taylor Ortega]

Manipulating you. And you're paying to go there.

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[Ego Wodem]

Did you study theater college?

[Taylor Ortega]

No, I didn't. I studied like a bunch of stuff. I studied broadcasting for a period of time which was really interesting. Never wanted to work in news.

[Ego Wodem]

Sure.

[Taylor Ortega]

I kind of didn't want to go to school. I see. Yeah. So I. I was never a school person, but I feel like right at the time I went to college it was sort of like this it was this sprint of years that they made seem like an attorney, where it's like, you have to know, you have to.

[Ego Wodem]

There's no choice.

[Taylor Ortega]

You can't live indoors for the rest of your life.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

Right now. And it was sort of like, I guess I will. Yeah. But I didn't really. I really took me a long time. I was. I had a bunch of majors as an English major, broadcasting major. I was briefly an acting major, but. But I found it very expensive and I needed to see a little more. Like, I love an acting class. Because you're like, okay, we're going. It's this many hours a week. And we are. We're doing. We're doing. We're doing scene work. We're doing whatever. Sometimes theater school is a bit like, you're zapping my spine. We're breathing. And I'm sure that there is. I didn't stay long enough to see what the payoff was, but at 18, I'm kind of of like, yeah, maybe we should read it.

[Ego Wodem]

I know. I took a. I took one theater class in college and I was like, yeah. And I planned on maybe being a double major. Like, where I. That was definitely in my head. When I had gone to college, I was like, even I was a bio major and I was like, I'm definitely. I don't know anything. Don't be impressed. Don't be impressed. It's not good. I don't know anything.

[Taylor Ortega]

That's real. That's real school, though.

[Ego Wodem]

No, it was real. That's real. It was actually school.

[Taylor Ortega]

You were doing real, like, you had, like, real course loads.

[Ego Wodem]

It was real course loads.

[Taylor Ortega]

It was real early double major would have been like, you would have been, I think, angry at the people in your theater major where if to hear them complain ever.

[Ego Wodem]

Maybe that's what happened. I did one class and I go, yeah, I don't like this. I know. I still want to be an actor, but I don't like this. But I think for me, being entrenched in all. Even like in pursuing comedy, being like, oh, my goodness, all the people I know, the only people I know right now at this stage of my life are comedians and actors. That's crazy.

[Taylor Ortega]

It's really crazy. I think it's on some level, it's not necessary that they all be. But I do think it's so weird I've come so, like, round trip on seeing theater school, being really young and going, you actually don't ever need to do this. Yeah, Never need to go there. You never need to, like, it really is person to person.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

It's not gonna make you good. It's not gonna make you whatever. But then I do really think, like, acting classes, like, doing shows, if you're a comedian or doing whatever, like, that stuff has made me. Obviously, obviously. It's only been like a net positive.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

Being around other creative people all the time, that's such a net positive.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

I think feeling. Feeling like when I used to live here, I live here now, but I lived here, then moved to la, then lived here. And sometimes I would be feeling, like, never jealous of other people and what they were working on, but sometimes I would be feeling kind of like stuck myself.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

And then it was nice to be in community with other creative people because you wouldn't want to do what they were doing, but you'd see someone, like, do a solo show. You'd see someone do whatever they were doing and you'd go, okay, let's. Like, if that person is, like, exhausted and tired and probably wants a job they're getting paid for, but they're putting in all this work to make something that they like and feel proud of, I could do it too. You know, I'm here too. And then it kind of, you know, you start doing. Then you feel good about yourself again and you kind of like. It's like you need to. You really need to, like, see it to do it. See it to be it.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah. Kind of thing. That's the vibe. Honestly. I had a friend who booked a pilot. My goodness. I'm gonna say the year is 2016. And I just seen.

[Taylor Ortega]

Great year to book a pilot.

[Ego Wodem]

Great year to book a pil.

[Taylor Ortega]

It was.

[Ego Wodem]

It's. That was a different time.

[Taylor Ortega]

That was.

[Ego Wodem]

Meaning the pilot season very much a thing. Yes. But, like, she booked the pilot and I was. For me, it was like, oh, that's possible. Like, you don't come from this industry. You're not born of this industry. You just kind of hustled and did class and had this audition and you booked this pilot. It was so cool to see. It's inspiring. And I do think to your point, I'm like, it is. It is helpful to be around other creatives to be like, oh, the momentum, the creative energy, the people who are pursuing their passions in this way. And you get your own ideas.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes.

[Ego Wodem]

Become inspired. It's a good. It is.

[Taylor Ortega]

Annette, did her pilot get picked up?

[Ego Wodem]

No.

[Taylor Ortega]

And that is also. Wait. That is also really important to see, is see your friend get her dream, then lose her dream, then go back and do another.

[Ego Wodem]

And do more live shows. Oh, let me tell you, Taylor, I. When I had done a vision board later that year, my first ever, I was like, let me be real specific.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yeah.

[Ego Wodem]

The show. It's multiple seasons. Multiple seasons. To be very clear here. It's not just a pilot. It made me get real specific because that isn't. That is.

[Taylor Ortega]

And back in 2016, it would be. Be like, your friend would get a show. Someone, you know would get a show, a pilot, whatever, and you'd go. And they never have to write a word again. And they never. She's free. She's moved on to the next. And then it's really important to see them on the same shows as you.

[Ego Wodem]

Absolutely.

[Taylor Ortega]

You know, promoting and doing that. Where you go, oh, I'll be doing that forever.

[Ego Wodem]

Yes. That's just part of the job.

[Taylor Ortega]

I'll be doing that forever.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

And that's really a hard. That's. That pill goes down. Really. That goes. Pill go down. That goes on dry.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah, yeah. When you see that, that's crazy.

[Taylor Ortega]

You're like, I have to. No one ever. Like, I have this con. I feel like I'm always having this conversation with friends, and they're having. They're reminding me that. Of that, and it's like, and we love what we do, and we're lucky to do it, and it is true. And then sometimes you go, I hate this. I want. I give.

[Ego Wodem]

Someone should give me something at this point.

[Taylor Ortega]

At this point, someone should give me something.

[Ego Wodem]

I know. But you know what? I feel like that is true of every single career. And as gorgeous, fabulous, wonderful as this all appears, and in many ways always is.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes.

[Ego Wodem]

Dreamy. It's like, yeah. You go through those moments, you're like, what the am I doing? Why did I send. This is awful. This is what a show.

[Taylor Ortega]

And it's at the worst when it's, like, up to you. When it's, like, on you, and it's like your time to create something new. You're just kind of like, what do you want me to do?

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah, I've done it all. What do you want from me? Actors.

[Taylor Ortega]

You're, like, putting on a little wig. You're like, what do you want?

[Ego Wodem]

People lot. Well, how are you with auditioning, though?

[Taylor Ortega]

Auditioning? I think I. I love. I think it's. I really miss when it used to be in person, because it was like, you could go do it for 15 minutes and be like, I gave it

[Ego Wodem]

my all that I'm an actor.

[Taylor Ortega]

I'm a working actress today.

[Ego Wodem]

I went into an office building.

[Taylor Ortega]

I think when you're, like, doing lot, like, when you're writing takes so much discipline. Showing up to, like, shows at night. If you're a comedian, like. Like agreeing to a show and then having to leave the house when it's dark out in the winter. That's way harder than daytime audition. Oh, my God.

[Ego Wodem]

Oh, yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

Oh, my goodness. And someone else wrote it.

[Ego Wodem]

Someone else wrote it. God bless.

[Taylor Ortega]

Someone else wrote. I'm schmoozing a little.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

That actually makes me go. I worked really hard today. Something really happy day. I love it. I did do once, because I had been auditioning a bunch, but for. Yeah, like, sitcom pilots, that type of thing. Like, hard comedy. This was, like, pre pandemic. And my sister is a musical theater person by original trade, and she was really hard on herself with auditions. And I'm like, good girl. You're not even getting paid. Like, have fun, whatever. But she's doing, like, 16 bars. Like, all these pages of. They have them do it really intensely. I know.

[Ego Wodem]

I've seen.

[Taylor Ortega]

And we went in for a rare audition where we were, like, back to back, which, like, was not happening at the time. And it was for a musical film. And she was so nervous, and I was so like, oh, I never get to do this. Like, I felt so prepared. I'm like, I sound amazing. She's a way better singer than me. We go in, and I go in first, and I. Oh, she goes in first. She does her audition. It's flawless. She sounds amazing. She comes out, she's already beating herself up. She's like, I don't know if that was gonna go. That was the best audition I've ever heard. Because I'm thinking, like, used to, like comedy auditions. Way loose.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

I go in. It's stern in there. Okay. And I'm sure they're perfectly nice people, but it's austere. It's a different vibe. I go in and I'm kind of using my usual, like, hey, so good to see you today. You know, And I do my sides or whatever, if there are sides. And then I do my song, and I. You know, I'm at the end. I think I've killed it, and I. They kind of are looking at me. They're like, are you gonna keep going? And I guess I had, like, missed a whole page, and I was not getting that. I was meant to feel like. I was like. I was like, oh, my gosh. My bad. Do you guys want me to start from the top or just go Right from there, they're like, you can start from the top. And I was like, incredible. And my sister's probably out there listening to this auditioning, thinking, this girl is bombing so hard. I still left going. What I did today was incredible.

[Ego Wodem]

Incredible body. I feel like that's such good perspective to have because it's so easy to be down on auditions, though.

[Taylor Ortega]

If I was in. If I was in musical theater, I probably would. I would have a different. They. They are, like, very. It's a much more. More intense space. It is a much more like, if we don't, like, truly. It feels like when. When musical theater, like, Broadway auditions, it really does feel like they're gonna line us up and, like, it really is, like, scary. But I think coming from. Yeah, I think doing, like, TV auditions is way more like, good to see you again. You're like, it's so good to see you. Yeah. The sun is shining. We're gonna read half a page of dialogue.

[Ego Wodem]

Exactly. Any questions? No. Let's try. Let's play. Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

They go, I'm just gonna give you another one because I'm having fun with you. And you're like, I'm having fun with you.

[Ego Wodem]

I love that you love. I feel like, rare. Rare breed. But to your point, though, if I walked into an audition and it's giving. Save the last dance. Energy, intense. The table. They're all seated there, like, do your thing. There's no warmth coming from them. That would. That would really throw me. It would. And that's not. That's not fun.

[Taylor Ortega]

It's not fun. I think it's gotta be fun. It's probably. They just. I think that the theater world. Probably. It's particularly musical theater because it's a harder thing to land.

[Ego Wodem]

Like singing.

[Taylor Ortega]

Singing is so scary. I think for them, it has to be a version of, like, what we get from feeling like we did a good job in an easier audition.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

You know, where you kind of. When you go in and you don't have to belt at all, and you don't have to sob and you don't have to do any of that.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

And you're doing the thing you feel comfortable with, but it's still that. Is that, like, a little hit of, like. That was brave of me. Yeah.

[Ego Wodem]

Well, look what I did. I was pretty brave, but I did. How do you feel about now? We're getting so deep in the actor talk of it all, which I tend to do sometimes. How are you about getting off book for an audition? Are you committed to it or Are you like.

[Taylor Ortega]

I'm really trying to be more of, like, a preparer and a reader.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

Like, this past year and, like, the years to come, I think I have a crutch.

[Ego Wodem]

I love how you're whispering.

[Taylor Ortega]

I don't want to admit it kind of, because I. I have a bit of a crutch of, like, I can. When I would do smaller roles on things, it was easy for me to be like, you know how you'll go. And when you do a re. Like, you do a blocking rehearsal, and then you do a camera rehearsal, and then you film it 19 times. So for me, it's kind of like, after those two reads, I kind of got it in my head, especially if it's like, good script. People are giving you, like, good stuff. You're kind of like, oh, it's in. And I think the problem with memorizing really quickly is, like, it. It becomes something you can kind of lean on to not be preparing as much. So I am trying to be. I honestly want to do theater a lot more now that I'm back in New York, because I think it would really serve me to do something off book for an hour and a half, two hours, over and over and over and over and over again. Like, I really want to do that and, like, you know, discover if you can discover things on camera, doing a bunch of takes or someone else's coverage. It's. It's interesting to see what. But you got to build up that discipline. And I am really starting from a place of, like. I came from improv.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah, me too.

[Taylor Ortega]

I came from. Me too. Which is like, boom.

[Ego Wodem]

So we do a little bit of. You do a team practice once a week or something. You do. I mean, granted, you put in your hours. I don't want to trivialize this.

[Taylor Ortega]

Oh, it's a lot of time.

[Ego Wodem]

But at the same time, I think I've said to people, I think one of my favorite thing about improv, one of my favorite things about improv is that you don't really rehearse.

[Taylor Ortega]

You don't.

[Ego Wodem]

And I'm like. And you do the thing one time. It's satisfying. It also pays $0 the least.

[Taylor Ortega]

It's like, you cannot. There is no art form. You can monetize less. No. And I wouldn't have it any other way. It's so pure.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

It's like. And. And it. It's almost the way that it exists makes it so that you can't capitalize off of it in any way. It's just built that way. At its best.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

And you can't capture it, and that rocks. But certainly when you say one rehearsal a week, which is true, when you're on a house team, you're doing, like, your rehearsal. You're doing your one practice team practice a week. And that. That is as diligent as it gets.

[Ego Wodem]

Yes. For improv and I. But. But then I got on a sketch team at ucb, and I was very much like, I don't feel like rehearsing. I mean, I showed up. Same. I'm like, we don't need to run this scene again.

[Taylor Ortega]

Same, same. No, I lasted four months. I lasted four months. I went, this is all lot. I go, you guys are beating this.

[Ego Wodem]

I'm like, we. It's not gonna feel as fun and fresh out there if we keep running these lines.

[Taylor Ortega]

I feel like it doesn't like. I think there's, like, amazing sketch out there, an amazing character work out there, but to me, as the one doing it, it's kind of like sports versus watching sports. It's like, okay, well, if I'm the one doing it, like, I. You know, we've. It's like this. I've done it a hundred times. I've done this a hundred times now. It's, like, fun for you to watch. You can't tell the difference. And in fact, you're probably liking watching sketch more than you're liking watching improv, because we figured it all out. It's only the hits.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

But as the person doing it, it's obviously way more fun to get, like, one good improv joke off.

[Ego Wodem]

Oh, yeah. So satisfying.

[Taylor Ortega]

Even if the audience is suffering more.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah. But that. It's so satisfying getting that one big improv win.

[Taylor Ortega]

There's no amount of sketch that can.

[Ego Wodem]

That can. It's simply. Simply true. But I think we have this in common. But I have to say that theater actors are athletes. I think about them. I did a run at the Lincoln center, and I. I was like, this is crazy.

[Taylor Ortega]

I saw that show.

[Ego Wodem]

Yes, you did. Oh, my gosh. Mayhem. Yes.

[Taylor Ortega]

I loved it. But that's what I mean. That's exactly what I mean is, like, it really, like seeing somebody else do something where you go, this person put, like, all their time into it. It's not scary when it's good. It's like, you know, it's not. When you see it pay off and you see it be funny, it's not scary.

[Ego Wodem]

Yes. Well, thank you. It was very stressful going into. But it is. There's so many barriers to getting Started. But I needed the pressure of like, this is the date.

[Taylor Ortega]

It's on the book.

[Ego Wodem]

It's on books. And as it crept and crept and crept, I was like, oh, I don't have anything. But I. I need that kind of pressure because I'm a big time procrastinator.

[Taylor Ortega]

Well, it doesn't sound like it if you're putting dates on the books.

[Ego Wodem]

I rarely do, though. Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

I'm like, but you. You're putting dates on the books.

[Ego Wodem]

You're doing two dates on the books. And then. And then I'm mad about it, that there's a date on the book. It's.

[Taylor Ortega]

I'm always mad there's a date on the book. I'm always bothered to. But then when there's nothing on the book. I'm sorry. Sort of at my lowest. I think that's. Most people that I know are at their lowest when there's nothing, when they're. And that's where the day jobs become comforting. But. And also then you can kind of use the day job to say, this day job is the only reason that I'm not achieving something bigger than this. This day job is holding me back. I would be. I would be diligent on my own, but unfortunately, I'm employed.

[Ego Wodem]

I have. I have a day job.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yeah.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

The lie of day job.

[Ego Wodem]

I did a casting director workshop. Had you ever done any of those before they became illegal?

[Taylor Ortega]

Wait, I don't think I have.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

I don't think that I have done

[Ego Wodem]

a casting director workshop. And I did a scene and this casting director was like, that was great. And she was like, turned my headshot over and was like, yeah. So I. You know, that was really good. But I feel like you don't have representation because you're comfortable. I don't know your life, but you must be comfortable. And I was like, damn.

[Taylor Ortega]

Oh, my God.

[Ego Wodem]

But she wasn't wrong. I had the most cushy day job. Oh. I had my own office.

[Taylor Ortega]

She was saying she was one of those who was like, you have to tear up.

[Ego Wodem]

You have to tear. Yeah, you have to tear up. Plan B. And I was like, well, I'm this. I don't really have a plan B, but my day job was way too comfy, cozy. I had a. An office with a view. The view was of a cemetery, but.

[Taylor Ortega]

But still, I Like, that's actually one of my most favorite beautiful views, so.

[Ego Wodem]

But it was a view nonetheless. And so I.

[Taylor Ortega]

Which cemetery, can I ask?

[Ego Wodem]

It was the one by Howard Hughes center in LA off the 405. There's like a cemetery.

[Taylor Ortega]

I don't think I've been to that one.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay, but you also, you lived in la.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes. Yeah.

[Ego Wodem]

Thoughts on LA versus New York. And maybe your thought is that, God,

[Taylor Ortega]

it's like they're so hard to compare and. But yet I talk about it all the time.

[Ego Wodem]

I want to know what your experience was in that because you did a brief stint in la. Was it how long?

[Taylor Ortega]

I did four years.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

And all my stuff is still there. So in a way, I, It's. I'm. I'm living in spirit, in a.

[Ego Wodem]

Did you break up with someone there?

[Taylor Ortega]

No, I got a job here, the Netflix show. I'm on films here. And so I, I came back thinking it was kind of the opposite. I started dating someone and we were long distance.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

And U L A then in New York.

[Ego Wodem]

Gotcha.

[Taylor Ortega]

I said, okay, I'm going to go. We had been dating for a couple months. I'm going to go to New York, I'm going to film this show and then maybe we'll just like go back to LA and like live together and that'll be the plan. And it just of kind, kind of like snuck up on me. Like, New York, I hadn't been back for a long stretch of time since I left, I feel like. And I, I think I was expecting that everything would have changed and that would be hard to accept, but I forget that the east coast, one of the ways it's different is that, like, people stay in New York. Like, it is way less turnover, way less transient than la. And I think I'd become accustomed to that schedule. And LA is like both. Like, you'll have people move away, but you'll also just have people who like, are there a couple months and then they're gone and they're back again. And you, you run into people and you go, I may not see you again for a couple months, but I know I will again, which is now how I am with la. But I, I came back and I like, really just missed everybody. And I was having a lot of fun here. And it also had become kind of convenient. Like I was working in Canada and it's like shorter travel from LA is tough, I will say.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah, it's tough.

[Taylor Ortega]

It's like a lot. It's a full travel day and then you're going right to a job or something. And it is the most comfortable place to live. Every day is gorgeous. There's nothing more I love than, like, wait, wasting a day in la.

[Ego Wodem]

Oh, and everyone's so good at it.

[Taylor Ortega]

Oh, and knowing that it doesn't matter if tomorrow's gonna be gorgeous too. It's a. It really offers something beautiful in the way of, like, everybody. And it slows down the pace. It really makes everyone go, we did one thing today. Let's not make each other feel bad. Let's not anyone push too hard. Let's all agree. If we all agree. Yeah. To do one thing a day, no problem. It can be done.

[Ego Wodem]

And then we're going to Runyon.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes. I'm not gonna go to that, but I. I've been.

[Ego Wodem]

I lived in LA for 12 years, and I think I went to Runyon Canyon my first time. Like, nine years.

[Taylor Ortega]

Okay. You weren't hiking at all. I wasn't.

[Ego Wodem]

I wasn't. Because also, the hikes are like, walks. I'm sure there are real hikes to the hiking community. Don come for us.

[Taylor Ortega]

I feel like I went to Runyon once, and I felt like I was climbing vertically up the mountain, whatever thing I went to.

[Ego Wodem]

I took my cousin on a hike, who is from Jersey to. At Runyon. When she came to visit me when I was there, she was so mad at me. She was like, we are way too high.

[Taylor Ortega]

What do you mean? Like, the altitude.

[Ego Wodem]

I. She just was like, I'm scared of heights. Like, when we got to the top, beautiful view. It was like pure panic from her and was like. And I was laughing. She's like, this is not funny. This is scary.

[Taylor Ortega]

It is. I guess you should have told her that. It's. But it's all in my mind. It didn't even occur to me.

[Ego Wodem]

But it didn't occur to me because. Because I'm like, none of these hikes are for real.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yeah, they're soft.

[Ego Wodem]

Like, they're soft hikes.

[Taylor Ortega]

They're soft hikes. And the whole point of it is that when you're living in la, you're living in. Just in California at all. It really is the most beautiful place. You can't believe it. The biodiversity merely among succulents is, like, crazy. You're like, I've never seen one that color. I've never seen one like that before. Like, this is. Be outside my house. A lemon tree in every yard. Imagine it is. You have to. I mean, if you can, you have to experience living in California. But then I am sort of, like, there, you know, I'm sure there's, like, a lot of, like, parables written about, like, living in paradise and, you know, the lessons there are for everything being so perfect. And what that means. And I asked my part, my partner's from San Diego. And I was like, do you have. They've lived in New York since 2018, but before that, like always, like, lived in LA, lived in San Diego. I was like, do you have, like, when the seasons change on the east coast, do you get nostalgic pangs of like, memories and like, sense memory? And they were like, no, I don't have any of that from growing up. And I was like, whoa, rock, that's rocked my world for weeks.

[Ego Wodem]

Not having seasons is. I grew up in Baltimore and I'm like, we had seasons, all four. Very hard.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yeah.

[Ego Wodem]

That we went hard on winter, hard on summer, hard on stuff, spring. So when people are like, no, it's the tracking of time just feels different. Yes. There. Because of the numbing.

[Taylor Ortega]

There's a numbing for sure. And the holidays aren't a thing. It numbs you out a bit.

[Ego Wodem]

Do you miss LA in a real way or in a kind of like, I'll be back in kind of both.

[Taylor Ortega]

I feel like lately it's been getting warm here and it's making me think of la, of it. Like today is like a gorgeous spring day and I am being like, that's what they're experiencing over there. That's so fun.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

But I also think, I don't know, it's also a place that even though it does change a lot and people cycle through a lot, then you go and it's the same feeling of like, oh my God, it's like, I'm not missing anything the way I wasn't missing anything when I was there and y' all were here. Like, I'm, you know, I, like, I'm definitely probably missing fun times, but you guys aren't gonna tell me exactly what happened and what I missed. You'd never be so cruel.

[Ego Wodem]

Do you. When you see people getting together on Instagram, you're not there. Do you feel any semblance of FOMO in general as a concept?

[Taylor Ortega]

It's so hard. Cuz New York is so fun.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

It's such a fun place to live and it really occupies your brain a lot. And unfortunately, people in New York are, and this has not changed. Like, people in New York are doing like 19 things a day back to back to back to back. So time is passing. So that I have noticed since being back, I am kind of like, time is moving really, really, really fast.

[Ego Wodem]

Too fast.

[Taylor Ortega]

Way, way, way too fast.

[Ego Wodem]

I, I, when I lived in LA and I just romanticized living in New York. I wanted to live, live in New York so badly. I'm like, I'm an East coast girl. I have to get to New York. I want to be in New York. I used to feel fomo. I don't. I'm not a person who suffers from fomo, but I would just, like. I'd look at the clock in LA and I'd be like, it's. It'd be. It'd be 5 o' clock. And I'm like, but it's 8pm in New York. They're already into.

[Taylor Ortega]

Think about. I will go. It's only. I will sometimes have that feeling of like, it's only one there, it's only one in la.

[Ego Wodem]

It's like, okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

They have so many chances to make better choices than I have. The last three hours, I've wasted another day. Yeah, New York. I would get FOMO sometimes because I had context for living here when I lived in la, where if I saw really good New York night or like, somewhere, somewhere really fun, like, yeah, I would get New York fomo. Yeah. But I don't really get that about a Louisiana. Doesn't really do that, though.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

LA doesn't. New York, I think, thinks a bit more about the comparison. People always say this, like, people in LA are not thinking about New York. They're not, they're not. If you haven't lived there, they're not thinking.

[Ego Wodem]

I think if. I think the comparison comes, if you've lived in either place or you've had close people come. So I'm like, if you're from New York and you've never been to la, don't give a damn about la. You're not. You don't care.

[Taylor Ortega]

You're not.

[Ego Wodem]

You're not worried about the comparison. Same for people in LA who, like, this is home. I love it. Would never want to live in, like. I'm not interested in comparing the two. Fair enough. I do think, though, having lived in both, have an adoration for both places. I like, I did feel New York, fomo. I'm like, oh, they're having. It's fun over there. And being in New York, it hasn't so much occurred to me, except for like maybe once or twice when I was working on a Saturday and like seeing all my friends in LA got together and it's nice.

[Taylor Ortega]

I know, I. But I also think because we're from the east coast, there's also, like, I think probably my partner is experiencing that for LA in a way that it would take us too long to catch up to that. Like, to feeling familiar about a place that I think probably for people who aren't from the east coast who move to New York as their big city, if you're from California, something, you move to New York, maybe it's taking you forever to adjust to, like, what being on the east coast feels like or living on the east coast feels like. Where I do feel like, that's another thing. I think that, like, everyone. I always felt like everyone who lived in New York for the most part, was from New York, New Jersey, Maryland.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah, it's true.

[Taylor Ortega]

Like, everyone.

[Ego Wodem]

It's true.

[Taylor Ortega]

And. And so you're seeing people who, like, were raised really similarly to you, who have really similar context for things. LA is not like that as much. You have, like, your LA people and your California people, but then you have people from truly everywhere. So it is way more like, take it or leave it. It's here. It's. It's here whether you want it or not. If you don't get it, that's okay.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

And in New York, it feels a lot more like I. When I feel like I'm feeling fomo, it's like. But those people, like, we have so many similar touchstones and we have such similar childhoods. It's like that feeling. It's like that, like, I feel kind of defensive of the east coast in a lot of ways. And then now I have a bunch of, like. Because of comedy, like, Midwestern friends who add like a third Chicago element to it, and they're experiencing both cities. Like, right now, the Midwesterners I know are doing New York for the first time.

[Ego Wodem]

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

I've seen a lot of that.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

So it's fun to be here because you're kind of feeling like, oh, everyone's here.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah, yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

But. And then I'm. I go. And then I feel bad. I go, am I just following the swing of where the party is? Am I just going, Am I being fickle? Am I following the.

[Ego Wodem]

Taylor, how are you doing without your stuff? I'm also.

[Taylor Ortega]

It's really hard not having stuff.

[Ego Wodem]

Your stuff is in la.

[Taylor Ortega]

I need my stuff. I need my stuff. When is the last time you've had to furnish a whole apartment? Because it's like, not it.

[Ego Wodem]

The last time I had to furnish a whole apartment was 2020. No. So I. I moved here and then I lived in a spot for two years, and then I moved to.

[Taylor Ortega]

You saw Blooded furnished for two years.

[Ego Wodem]

No, I got.

[Taylor Ortega]

You got Stu.

[Ego Wodem]

Heidi Gardner, like, gave me her couch or yes. She was trying to get rid of her stuff and was like, you can have it if you want. And I was like, yes. I live in a shit studio. I live in Midtown. I'll take whatever. Midtown, wow. Equivalent, L.A. equivalent of Hollywood and Highland. Why would I move there?

[Taylor Ortega]

I kind of get it. Like, you're there for work. And then it's also, like, I was on, like, near, like, 23rd street the other day, and I used to work around there so much, spend so much time there, and I was feeling, like, nostalgic for Madison Square park, and I was like, I live here.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

I live in Midtown.

[Ego Wodem]

I. Listen, it was a special time. It was. I did covert there. Okay, that's wild.

[Taylor Ortega]

That's really crazy.

[Ego Wodem]

But it's years ago, so it's been, like. It's been like, five, six years since I furnished. So you're furnishing a whole new.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yeah, I don't have, like, any chairs, and that's. Yeah. Super crazy. You think? I don't need chairs? I have a couch. I have a bed.

[Ego Wodem]

I can sit on the bed.

[Taylor Ortega]

You need chairs.

[Ego Wodem]

The funny thing is, I might not need chairs, because I don't. I. I want to sit in my. I want to be in my bed at all, all times.

[Taylor Ortega]

And I am functionally in my bed a lot. But living with, like, when you live with someone who's not. Who is like, I can't sit in my bed all day. You go, totally. I would never sit in my bed.

[Ego Wodem]

That's crazy. Who sits in bed all day?

[Taylor Ortega]

Only a slovenly animal. It's in their bed all day.

[Ego Wodem]

Like, I feel like I am in bed so often that. That when I. And I FaceTime a lot. I'm embarrassed, but I'm embarrassed. Well, I'm lying. I'm not really embarrassed. I think this is what I feel. I feel like a part of me should be embarrassed. Embarrassed that someone who's FaceTimed me last week is FaceTiming me again, like, three weeks later. And it's like, oh, this is in bed again.

[Taylor Ortega]

Like, they know you're on bed the whole time.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

Did you ever have Be Real?

[Ego Wodem]

I didn't, but I know. Be Real.

[Taylor Ortega]

Be Real.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

I started it. Stopped using it, like, everything. But my. A friend of mine said something that, like, I think about now every day where she was like, I really like it because you get to see how many people are just, like, home mostly of the time.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah. It's. I mean. Yes.

[Taylor Ortega]

And before someone said that, I went, I'm the most at home who's ever existed.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah. Yeah. But did you any feel any shame about it? Because I'm like, I. I love being a home body.

[Taylor Ortega]

I feel, it's. I feel shame about going out. I feel shame about being at home. I don't know what the balance is. The older I get, the less I care.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah. Okay.

[Taylor Ortega]

The older I get, the more I'm just like, I'm tired.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah. No matter where I am, it doesn't matter.

[Taylor Ortega]

I'm kind of tired.

[Ego Wodem]

This is my thing is I'm pro homebody. But the fact that I'm in bed all the time, like, if I'm not out and about, I'm getting in bed. I'm changing out of my street clothes. Yes. Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

I like being in my bed. I like my bedroom. I like eating in there.

[Ego Wodem]

I eat in my bed.

[Taylor Ortega]

I like watching stuff on a screen that. There's bigger screens in the house.

[Ego Wodem]

Same.

[Taylor Ortega]

But I'm on a little screen.

[Ego Wodem]

Taylor, are we kindred spirits? Because I'm like, laptop on my belly. Yes. The heat of the laptop on the belly screen right in front of my face right here. I also then have a heating pad for my shoulders. Hot. Hot all around.

[Taylor Ortega]

I have that as well.

[Ego Wodem]

But then my tv in my living room, I got the most massive tv. I had a neighbor help me like, like unbox it when I got it five years ago, and he was like, it's a big tv. And I'm like, for a girl who don't watch TV and has to watch on laptop, that's for guests. It was. It's for the guests.

[Taylor Ortega]

That's for guests. That's where. When you have a lot of people sitting in the room, everyone needs to see the tv.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

But when it's just me watching tv, it's like I want to be like laying all the way down, like legs and I want the cool sheets. I don't want the couch.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah, I don't either. I got a couch that feels like a bed because I was like, this is going to incentivize me to get out of bed. And guess what? Didn't work.

[Taylor Ortega]

If anything, it's. It becomes a problem. Like now this is a problem I haven't had before where I'm falling asleep. I mean, I've had it in the past other places, but falling asleep on the couch instead of in the bed and then having to do the.

[Ego Wodem]

To get up in the middle journey. Yeah, I see. Well, here's. I also, here's the thing. Sometimes I don't feel like getting Ready for bed period. Say long day. I have makeup on, have to brush my teeth. But I'm so tired. Tell me if this is crazy. Perhaps this is a great segue into the segment. Okay, that's nice, but what about me? Okay, okay. Okay Is every once in a while we'll just not have the energy to get ready for bed. Can't conceive of it. Floss, brush my teeth, wash my face. It takes crazy. Wrap my hair. What are you talking about?

[Taylor Ortega]

So long.

[Ego Wodem]

So I was. Will take a nap. It will be like a 1am Nap.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes.

[Ego Wodem]

Set the alarm. It's like 12:57. I'll set the alarm for 1:30am to wake me up, to properly get ready for bed.

[Taylor Ortega]

I do that all the time. Or I do it like 4am I'll get up at 4 and I'll do it. But I go, I'm washing my face tonight.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah, you got to. I'll break out.

[Taylor Ortega]

I go, if I do this for three more hours every. I'll. I'll turn into just an absolute hideous beast. But.

[Ego Wodem]

But it works.

[Taylor Ortega]

It really works.

[Ego Wodem]

And people are like, that's so chaotic. Just do it and be done with it. And I'm like, I. I'm that tired. I need to.

[Taylor Ortega]

And I full get ready for bed. I do believe in the full get ready for bed. I think on a night where I cannot, like a really hard. Like you worked, like long day, whatever. Really hard day for once in a while. I have a second moisturizer next to my bed and I have like wipes if I need. But I don't believe in the wipe.

[Ego Wodem]

I don't believe in wipe only.

[Taylor Ortega]

I don't believe in the wife.

[Ego Wodem]

I don't. I don't know. I was gonna say. You're so brave. I'm. See, I also, yeah. I'm like, the wipe is not enough. The wipe is simply not enough. I will break out. This will break a problem.

[Taylor Ortega]

I will.

[Ego Wodem]

So we.

[Taylor Ortega]

It'll come later. I have one right now.

[Ego Wodem]

You have one from. From sleeping in makeup or from hair from.

[Taylor Ortega]

Actually it might be from hair. From touching. From hair touching. Have you seen the videos where it's like a girl and I. She can't really be asleep, but a girl comes home and then her boyfriend puts what looks like this little. It's like a little plastic tub, like soft inflatable tub under her neck in her bed and does her like, oh,

[Ego Wodem]

no, she's got to marry him.

[Taylor Ortega]

Full face wash. Does the whole. Getting ready for bed while she's sleeping. And then puts one of those, you know those, the hair dryers that you put on and then you stick the thing in and it is like oh

[Ego Wodem]

yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

Salon dryer. Then puts one of those on. So she also has dry hair for bed. It's crazy. It's like my dream. I see those videos like I, I've.

[Ego Wodem]

I would be. Is that, is that AI or. It's real.

[Taylor Ortega]

I think it's real. I've seen a couple creators do it. I think the most. My partner has brushed my teeth in bed for me.

[Ego Wodem]

Marry them.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes, marry them. Has brushed my teeth in bed for me. But it only happened one time cuz it's like hard to do it.

[Ego Wodem]

Is everybody. You spit into cup.

[Taylor Ortega]

I probably swallowed it. I think I swallowed it.

[Ego Wodem]

Damn. Can't be swallowing toothpaste.

[Taylor Ortega]

You can't be. That's the thing. It's not an every night toothpaste with

[Ego Wodem]

the plaque in it.

[Taylor Ortega]

I know it's not an every night solution but I, but it at the time I go, yeah, I wasn't going

[Ego Wodem]

to get up to get up. I've. I've romanticized someone getting me ready for bed. I think it's so messed up that after a long day you're expecting.

[Taylor Ortega]

I know it is so messed up cuz also getting ready for bed is different. Like it's different for everybody but mine. I would say like takes too long for me to justify sometimes I, I

[Ego Wodem]

have a whole process and my friends will be. I, I call friends on FaceTime to do it because it's a nice distraction from me for me. And I'll be like, you stay on the phone with me while I do this. And my one friend was like, you were. You are the most face washing person I've ever seen. I mean there are steps. I'm flossing every single night.

[Taylor Ortega]

Flossing every single night.

[Ego Wodem]

Every single night. I want to keep my teeth for as long.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yeah, yeah. I want to keep my teeth too. And it's something you don't think about in your 20s that much.

[Ego Wodem]

It's just that I had braces and because I saw what braces did to some people's teeth. Like maybe they're straightened but like there's a lot of other things going on now. I just, that's when I picked up on flossing and dying. Dental hygiene was having braces. So it was like a gift and a curse. I mean mostly gift frankly, having braces.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yeah, well it's never a gift. They're so expensive. Yeah.

[Ego Wodem]

And I was 14 and insurance didn't cover it back then. So shout out to my mom.

[Taylor Ortega]

Oh, my God.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah.

[Taylor Ortega]

I actually don't know how much braces cost, but our parents make it sound like it was a lot. As much as the house.

[Ego Wodem]

$5,000. That's like the mortgage times whatever. I don't even know how many. Yeah, and that was.

[Taylor Ortega]

And that was back then. Like then. And that was back then. What do braces probably cost now? 50k.

[Ego Wodem]

They're college.

[Taylor Ortega]

50k for racing, probably.

[Ego Wodem]

Getting your seats fixed.

[Taylor Ortega]

Get your teeth fixed.

[Ego Wodem]

Honestly, I would say get your teeth.

[Taylor Ortega]

I would say get. Get your teeth.

[Ego Wodem]

And I were zooming yesterday and he was like, he essentially, who was such a proponent of college for all of us, was low key. Like it's a scam and the schools cost too much. And I go hearing him say this all these years later, I was like, yeah, get your teeth fixed.

[Taylor Ortega]

Get your teeth.

[Ego Wodem]

And that's it.

[Taylor Ortega]

If you're. If you're gonna be like a doctor, a lawyer. Lawyer. Consider school.

[Ego Wodem]

Yeah, consider.

[Taylor Ortega]

If you're anyone else, consider beautiful teeth. Because it's. People are. You know, there's nothing like presentation, obviously such an important part of being taken seriously. You know that in psychology, that is a big. That is c. Because you went to school for real stuff. Because you were taking like math, sciences.

[Ego Wodem]

Well, this was in high school. Gratis. Public high school. My God, school was grati. I mean, taxpayers paid for my school.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yeah, that's really good. We didn't have that, but yeah, that is. I think for most things. It's like you. We learned. We all learned that you don't need to go to school. And then so many of us went to college that it kind of became like, oh, everyone has a college degree. It's not even like a competitive edge anymore. Why did I get this thing?

[Ego Wodem]

Unnecessary. But also maybe good for you. So don't listen to me. Right.

[Taylor Ortega]

Also, some people love.

[Ego Wodem]

My sister loves school. My sister with school. I've talked about this on the podcast. Everyone's different.

[Taylor Ortega]

Some people really like. And thank God that exists.

[Ego Wodem]

Yes.

[Taylor Ortega]

That you can say I'm not sure yet because there's been so much in my life where I'm not sure what's next. God. Like most of your 20s, you're just sort of like, someone should let me know what I should do next. And. And thank goodness for improv class. I know improv class was. Is really. If you find your path in improv class. Yeah. I mean, it's a lot cheaper than college. College.

[Ego Wodem]

Yes.

[Taylor Ortega]

Try that out.

[Ego Wodem]

Try that. I. I did improv with someone who was, like, telling their parents they were getting their masters. It was a lie, but because they were in improv.

[Taylor Ortega]

Wow.

[Ego Wodem]

Getting a master's. Oh, my God.

[Taylor Ortega]

Your math. Your masters only cost 375 bucks.

[Ego Wodem]

We support this. It's so great.

[Taylor Ortega]

It doesn't cost that anymore. Improv, it costs a lot more now. But back then it was like you could get, you know, you could talk a parent into getting it for you for Christmas or something.

[Ego Wodem]

Yes. Improv degrees. Look at us go. Well, I'm happy to have had you today.

[Taylor Ortega]

Thank you so much for having me. You have the most beautiful teeth of maybe anyone I've ever met. So it's really working.

[Ego Wodem]

Emulsing is working. I still wear my retainer sometimes. The wire, but that's for another time.

[Taylor Ortega]

Are you wearing it now? No, no, no.

[Ego Wodem]

Okay. No, no, no. I need to put it. I haven't. I haven't worn it in some time. Cuz I thought like, surely after 16 years without, I wear my retainer for math. Sixteen years. And I stopped during COVID which I feel like during COVID other people like, pandemic lockdown. I stopped.

[Taylor Ortega]

You were kind of saying, like, when do I take the retainer out?

[Ego Wodem]

I was like, why do I have to. Yeah, I was like, why am I wearing this? And I. And I stopped wearing. And then dentist recently was like, no, you need to. That's forever.

[Taylor Ortega]

Yes. People. That's so funny that, like, there were people who were like, coming out as, like, gay during pandemic, fully transitioning. You're like. And I kind of decided. I'm like, I'm not a retainer person anymore.

[Ego Wodem]

I'm done with this.

[Taylor Ortega]

I learned about myself as well. I'm not wearing a retainer.

[Ego Wodem]

I've decided this is not.

[Taylor Ortega]

But I also had kind of like a big awakening.

[Ego Wodem]

Huge. I still have it, but for when I want to dabble. But yeah, yeah, keep it. Thank you. Taylor, I'm so excited to see you in your show and thank you for us joining doing this. Watch it. April 9th Netflix.

[Taylor Ortega]

Watch it. Please.

[Ego Wodem]

Taylor is begging you.

[Taylor Ortega]

Please, you guys.

[Ego Wodem]

That was my conversation with Taylor Ortega. That was very fun for me. I hope you enjoyed. If you want advice from me and my next guest, we haven't given out advice in some time, but we'd love to give out advice. I'm speaking for me and my family, future guests. Please call us and leave a voice message at 502-thX-Dads 502-thX-Dads. That's 5. 02. Thanks dads. We'd love to give you advice. Thank you for listening. See you next time. Thanks dad is a production of Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and iHeart podcast. I'm your host, Ego Wodem, our producer is Kevin Bartelt and our executive producer is Matt Apodaca. Foreign.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Taylor Ortega]

Don't use if allergic to Skyrizi. Serious allergic reactions, increased infections or lower ability to fight them may occur before treatment. Get checked for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor about any flu like symptoms or vaccines.

[Commercial Announcer]

Thanks to Skyrizi, there's nothing on my skin and that means everything is everything. Ask your doctor about Skyrizi, the number one dermatologist prescribed biologic in psoriasis. Visit skyrizi.com or call 1-866-Skyrizi to learn more. This episode is brought to you by Bobcat. They started the compact equipment industry through grit, determination and a whole lot of think we can't do that.

[Taylor Ortega]

Watch us.

[Commercial Announcer]

They set standards, broke records empowered people to build bigger and higher, to dig deeper, to make the impossible possible. We've all been there with doubters telling us what we can't do. Who cares what they think? We don't need their permission or forgiveness. We just get things done. So go ahead and doubt me. Just judge me. Challenge me. But when the time comes, watch me. Bobcat if you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Grainger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible. So when a conveyor motor falters, Grainger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and fix the problem. With Grainger, you can be calm, confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-granger clickranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done,

[Ego Wodem]

this is an iHeart podcast.

[Taylor Ortega]

Guaranteed Human.