Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim: Wanda Sykes

Original Air Date: December 2, 2025
Host: Ego Nwodim
Guest: Wanda Sykes

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of "Thanks Dad," Ego Nwodim sits down with comedy legend Wanda Sykes. The two share stories about growing up with (and without) hands-on parents, explore cultural and family dynamics, parenting styles, career longevity, and the nuanced joys and challenges of connection. As always, Ego's signature warmth, quick wit, and honesty highlights Wanda's own comedic brilliance and wisdom. The conversation is personal, deeply funny, and filled with advice — not only from Wanda, but also during the listener call-in segment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Receiving Compliments & Humble Beginnings

• Compliment Evasion: Wanda admits to being awkward with compliments, often downplaying her efforts or deflecting (08:13–09:01).

  "I, I. Sometimes I… deflect and go back to okay, what you up to?" – Wanda (08:20)

• Humility in Style:

  "Somebody dressed me." – Wanda (08:40)

2. Gratitude & Acknowledgements

• Chief of Staff Appreciation: Wanda thanks her chief of staff, Susan Cho, for her unwavering support in her personal and professional life (10:04–10:42).

  "She just does such a great job, and I’m just so, just blessed to have her." – Wanda (10:20)

• Funny Alternate ‘Thank you’:

  "I took a really good poop this morning…" – Wanda, jokingly (09:27)

3. Growing Up Military & Regional Identity

• Family Moves: Growing up with a military father and a working mom, Wanda experienced a major move from Virginia to Maryland (11:25–15:37).
• DMV vs. Baltimore: Ego and Wanda riff on the “DMV” cultural divide and Baltimore’s outsider status. This sparks a nostalgic, rapid-fire exchange about Maryland towns and regional pride (12:03–14:41).

  "Baltimore doesn’t feel like they’re a part of it [DMV]… It’s like they cut Maryland off at, like, Silver Spring." – Ego (12:08, 12:17)

4. Navigating Race & Community

• Racial Shifts Growing Up: Wanda talks about being one of the few Black families in her Maryland neighborhood after growing up surrounded by Black people in Virginia (15:07–16:09).
• Neighborhood Dynamics:

  "We lived in this neighborhood that was just developing … only one other Black family on our street." – Wanda (15:08)

• Dealing with Discrimination: Both share stories about encountering racism in their neighborhoods (16:09–16:35).

5. Family Relationships & Coming Out

• Parenting Styles: Wanda’s dad avoided bringing military strictness home, preferring separation of work and family life, and was financially savvy (17:24–18:51).
• Mom and Sibling Bonds: Wanda has an older brother, remains close with him, and describes her mother as being both close but having had struggles particularly during her coming out (19:16–20:59).

  "There was a moment … we kind of had some issues, and that all had to do with, you know, me coming out. That was hard for them." – Wanda (20:31)

• Coming Out Experience: Wanda shares details of coming out as a gay woman in her forties, her mother’s dramatic reaction, and the difficulties of making parents see beyond themselves in such moments (22:03–23:48).

  "She just had a big… breakdown. And why, God, what did I do?" – Wanda (23:24) "I can’t do this with you, Mom." – Wanda (23:47)

6. Parenting Children & Shifting Priorities

• Wanda as a Parent: She has 16-year-old twins, with one driving and the other less interested, much to her mild amusement (30:21–31:43).
• Parenting = Surrender: Ego and Wanda explore how parenting shifts your sense of self-importance, teaching surrender and patience — “It’s not patience, it’s just… okay.” – Wanda (31:52–32:23)

  "Being a parent… you have to put in your mind that you’re not the most important thing." – Wanda (31:53)

• Dogs as Training for Kids: Both compare raising dogs to having children, noting the humility and patience required (33:01–34:20).

7. On Twins & Large Families

• Twin Parenting Struggles: Wanda humorously recalls thinking she might have to “give one back” after the twins were born because of the overwhelming responsibility (36:12–37:28).

  "We might have to take one back." – Wanda (36:24)

• Family Size Generational Shift: Ego notes the dramatic change from her mom’s generation of nine siblings to her own "maybe one" child plan (37:53–38:45).

8. Current Phase of Life & Career Longevity

• What’s Next?: Wanda describes this stage as a time to create her own projects rather than just being hired, seeking new challenges (38:54–39:35).
• Stand-Up vs. Touring: Despite loving stand-up, she’s blunt about the difficulty of touring, “It’s hard. It’s a grind.” – Wanda (40:00–41:14)

  "I love doing stand up. I love touring. Well, I shouldn’t say I love touring, but I love doing stand up." – Wanda (40:00)

9. Parenting Philosophies & Generational Differences

• Listening to Kids: Wanda is committed to listening and explaining to her children, a departure from the "because I said so" style she grew up under (42:40–43:41).

  "I try to listen… You can ask me why I said no…" – Wanda (42:40)

• Boundaries & Intuition: Both discuss parental intuition and respecting boundaries, including gut feelings about letting their children participate in certain activities (43:59–45:46).

10. Faith, Spirituality & Family Practice

• Faith as an Anchor: Wanda aspires to share a sense of faith with her kids, noting she wishes she had done more but appreciates at least the traditions and access she received (46:43–51:55).

  "I want them to have that… to know that there’s always a place they can go." – Wanda (51:08)

• Online Church/Communion: Wanda and Ego joke about the modern conveniences of faith practice, i.e., "communion from bed" (47:10–47:36).

11. Maintaining Authenticity & Staying Relevant

• One Clear Goal: Wanda’s guiding star was always to be "one of the funniest comics — not female, male, just comics," leading her career’s organic evolution (55:07–57:20).
• Staying You:

  “I want to be one of the funniest comedians comics. Not female, male, just across the board, period. And that’s what I work towards, and that’s what I still work at.” – Wanda (55:06)

• Surviving Bombing:

  "Have you bombed… in the last five years?" – Ego "I'm sure. Yeah. And it hurts. It still hurts." – Wanda (57:35–57:47) "Usually it’s at a charity event… I didn’t have to do this shit." – Wanda (57:53)

• Focus on Criticism: The evolutionary compulsion to fixate on that "one negative person," despite all the positive energy, is discussed with humor and acceptance (60:00–60:55).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Deflecting Compliments:
  "I'm working on… being like, thank you. But then I don't know. It's like, where does the conversation go from there?" – Ego (08:50)

• On Parenting & Patience:
  "My patience isn't – I'm gonna sit here and be patient with them. My, my patient is, girl, I ain't got time for that." – Wanda (30:08)

• On Large Families:
  "My mom is one of nine." – Ego (37:58)
  "God damn." – Wanda (37:59)

• On Nepo Babies:
  Ego: "I cannot wait to have a nepo baby!" – (41:34)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Childhood, Regional Identity & Race: 11:25–16:35
• Coming Out to Parents & Family Dynamics: 20:31–23:47
• Parenting Twins & Real Talk on Family Size: 30:21–38:45
• Faith, Upbringing & Sharing Spirituality: 46:43–53:05
• Career Longevity & Advice to Ego: 54:53–57:20
• Bombing & Coping with Criticism: 57:35–60:55
• Listener Advice Call-in: 61:25–65:38

Listener Advice (Segment: "That Was Nice, But What About Me?") (61:25–65:38)

• Listener Problem: Best friend is engaged to a guy he doesn’t care for and feels replaced; the fiancé didn’t vote.
  • Wanda’s Advice: Maintain the friendship, be happy for your friend, and act as a sounding board if things go sideways. "Maybe he got good dick and that’s all… you don’t know what floats your best friend's boat!" – Wanda (64:14)

Tone & Style

The conversation is spontaneous, irreverent, honest, and supportive. Ego’s blend of playful vulnerability and curiosity allows Wanda’s candor and comic genius to shine. The two move easily between laughter and gravity, normalizing topics ranging from “DMV” regional beefs to the complexities of coming out, parenting, and faith.

Summary for New Listeners

If you didn’t catch the episode, you’d miss Ego and Wanda trading DMV (the region, not the agency!) jokes; candid, loving stories about parental quirks; hard-won wisdom about boundaries, patience, and parenting; and an unfiltered look at how to stay authentic — and hilarious — after decades in the business. Along the way: practical advice, lots of laughter, and the kind of honesty you can only get from two deeply self-aware, big-hearted women.

Selected Quotes with Timestamps

• On gratitude:
  "I want to thank my chief of staff, Susan Cho… just blessed to have her." – Wanda (10:19)
• On coming out:
  "She just had a big… breakdown. And why, God, what did I do?" – Wanda (23:24)
• On work ethic:
  "I want to be one of the funniest comedians comics. Not female, male, just across the board, period." – Wanda (55:07)
• On advice to friends:
  "Maybe he got good dick and that's all…you don't know what floats your best friend's boat." – Wanda (64:14)
• On self-care & feedback:
  "You could have a crowd of 400 people…and I am committed to getting you, demolishing you…" – Ego (60:00)

A genuine, insightful, and very funny conversation — a must-listen for fans of stand-up, people navigating evolving family relationships, and anyone who relishes a fiercely honest talk with two modern icons.