TCB Infomercial : Joanna Hausmann

Summary

The Commercial Break – TCB Infomercial: Joanna Hausmann

Episode Date: November 18, 2025
Hosts: Brian Green & Krissy Hoadley
Guest: Joanna Hausmann

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Commercial Break welcomes the irreverently brilliant Venezuelan-American comedian, writer, and performer Joanna Hausmann for her second appearance. Best known for her sharp comedic takes on Venezuelan culture and her work as a writer on Disney’s Phineas and Ferb, Joanna joins hosts Brian and Krissy for a hilarious, candid discussion about parenthood, diaspora identity, intergenerational culture clashes, and her career in animation. The loose, banter-filled chat covers everything from how the Venezuelan community has rallied around her, to the realities of starting a family far from home, to her journey in Hollywood—and plenty of silly, improvised tangents along the way.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Parenthood and Motherhood Surprises

(13:26 - 18:07)

• Joanna, now four months postpartum, confesses surprise at how much she’s enjoyed motherhood, especially compared to the dire picture painted by “the media”.
• She reflects on her lack of stereotypical maternal instincts prior to having her daughter, sharing:

  “It just came so naturally. I was like, what the hell is happening? Wow. Biology is strong.” (14:02 – Joanna)

• The hosts and Joanna poke fun at how parenthood doesn’t require any training, leading to a reflection on unqualified people raising kids:

  “You need a license to get on a fucking canoe and catch a fish in your local pond. But you need zero training to be a parent.”
  (18:07 – Brian)

2. The Phineas and Ferb Comeback

(19:17 - 24:26)

• Joanna shares her serendipitous route to the Phineas and Ferb writers' room, which she credits partly to her comedic videos about Venezuelan culture.
• The show’s rare multi-generational appeal is highlighted:

  “Phineas and Ferb did sort of the impossible...50% of its viewership was adult because the writers room treats it as a true co-viewing show.”
  (19:24 – Joanna)

3. How Community & Heritage Shape Opportunity

(22:06 - 27:32)

• Her connection to Phineas and Ferb’s co-creator, Dan Povenmire, began when he discovered Joanna’s content via his then-Venezuelan wife, leading to a decade-long professional and personal mentorship.
• The impact of the Venezuelan diaspora, both tragic and positive, is discussed:

  “Within all this tragedy, there's this diaspora…your culture starts permeating outside of the country…We've created an identity outside of…geographical constraints.”
  (26:04 – Joanna, paraphrasing her father)

4. Venezuelan Politics & The Meaning of Representation

(29:04 - 33:16)

• The hosts and Joanna delve into Venezuela’s political challenges and what it means when a Venezuelan woman becomes a global figure:

  “It felt like our struggle and our pain was a global topic…she’s our one and only hope…She’s doing everything right.”
  (29:34, 30:04, 32:09 – Joanna)

• Joanna pushes back gently on criticism of Venezuela’s political figures:

  “I don’t have the privilege of getting picky here.”
  (30:01 – Joanna)

5. Cultural Clashes in Parenting: Venezuelan vs. American

(33:28 - 42:52)

• Joanna’s mom is coming to visit, and she anticipates the contrast between her American-raised approach and traditional Venezuelan family practices.
• She laments the lack of village/community childrearing in the U.S. and admires the Latin American model of multi-generational involvement:

  “Latin culture is very much about community...Man, do you know how much I’d love to have my 75 family members fighting distance from me?”
  (35:49 – Joanna)

• She shares the differences in parenting philosophies, especially the generational divide over information:

  “We also have so much more research at the palm of our hand…My, my parents winged it...She was like, you were born and I just figured it out.”
  (39:45 – Joanna)

6. The Joys and Realities of Grandparenting

(40:42 - 44:44)

• Brian reflects on watching his own father grandparent, fondly noting the “benefit of hindsight” and the reduced stress:

  "One of the great joys of my life is watching my father grandparent my children."
  (40:43 – Brian)

7. Nature vs. Nurture, and Accepting Imperfection

(44:00 - 45:28)

• The conversation turns to the limits of parental control and the importance of love:

  “They're already cooked...All I have to do is just make sure that they don't set themselves on fire or drive the car through the front door...just shower them with love.”
  (44:00 – Brian, Joanna joins in)

  • The “air fryer” metaphor:

    “Your love is the air fryer.”
    (45:05 – Brian; 45:11 – Joanna, loving it)

8. Sharing the Mental Load—Or Not

(46:08 - 48:57)

• Joanna describes her husband as “programmed for parenthood,” meticulously handling logistics, whereas she’s more relaxed:

  “When it comes to taking care of the baby, I'm pretty good at it. But when it comes to like all the other minutiae...I'm like, I don’t know, it happens magically.”
  (47:15 – Joanna)

• Hosts commiserate about the different but complementary ways families divide mental/emotional labor.

9. Creative Work in Animation, Writer’s Room Life, and AI

(48:48 - 55:03)

• Joanna explains why she loves being a Phineas and Ferb staff writer:

  “It is so fun to show up and just be like, my job is to write and to make a joke funnier...there's something really liberating of being like, oh, my job is actually limiting. It makes me be a little bit more creative.”
  (51:08 – Joanna)

• A technical tangent on animation’s complexity and the future impact of AI:

  “When every technological advances happen, there's been fear...But I don't foresee the human element being something that we can take away from art...If I know that this is not made by a person, my brain automatically disengages.”
  (53:02, 54:45 – Joanna)

10. Joanna's Projects, Collaborations, and Shoutouts

(57:46 - end)

• Joanna confirms her previous Disney Channel show “Hamster and Gretel” is still available on Disney Plus (but, “Fun fact, I don’t [get royalties,] unless my voice is in it.” – 58:07).
• The hosts and Joanna banter about connections in the Latin American creative community, shoutout “Scuela de Nada” and fellow podcast guest Nacho.
• In closing, the hosts urge listeners to follow Joanna’s social media for her uniquely funny takes on Venezuelan and immigrant life.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On parenthood’s instant transformation:

  “It’s wild how your brain gets rewired in seconds. I just…it’s seconds. That’s why there’s what, 8 billion of us?...It’s biology.” (15:04 – Joanna)

• On childhood growing up in chaos:

  “What do you think dad made me? Growing up in Venezuela, we were moving all the time, coup d’etat coming…what do you think?” (43:33 – Joanna)

• On being “cooked” as a person:

  “They're already cooked...Their personalities are in there. Their destiny's in there...I have done my job.” (44:00 – Brian)
  “If you just shower them with love...the love element is so important.” (44:44 – Joanna)
  “Your love is the air fryer.” (45:05 – Brian)

• On community and diaspora:

  “We’ve created an identity outside of the geographical constraints, and we’re affecting culture outside of our country...that’s kind of cool.”
  (27:32 – Joanna)

• On AI and creativity:

  “I don’t foresee the human element being something that we can take away from art.” (53:15 – Joanna)
  “When you see something and you know someone made it, it inherently affects the way you perceive it.” (54:45 – Joanna)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 13:26: Joanna reflects on the reality of new motherhood, love, and surprise at being maternal
• 19:17: Inside the multigen appeal of Phineas and Ferb
• 22:06: Connecting with Phineas and Ferb via Venezuelan culture
• 26:04: Diaspora, “positive externalities,” and the global impact of migration
• 29:04: The Nobel Peace Prize, Maria Corina Machado, and globalizing Venezuelan struggle
• 33:28: Raising a child in America vs. Venezuela; missing the “village”
• 39:45: Parenting, generational shifts, and too much information
• 44:00: Nature vs. nurture, “cooking” your kids with love
• 46:08: Husbands, mental load, and division of labor in the household
• 48:48: Being a staff writer vs. producer in animation
• 53:02: The looming question of AI in creative work
• 57:46: Shout outs to projects, Disney Plus, and fellow creators

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Final Thoughts

The episode exemplifies TCB’s trademark blend of comedy, authenticity, and cultural curiosity. Joanna’s warmth, intelligence, and humor shine, whether discussing the peculiarities of her cross-cultural life, commiserating about millennial parenting, or weighing in on the anxieties and hopes of a people in diaspora. Listeners come away feeling both seen and thoroughly entertained—and grateful that, while the world may be absurd and difficult, it’s also full of possibility, creativity, and community.

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Follow Joanna Hausmann:

• Phineas and Ferb streaming on Disney+
• Hamster and Gretel available on Disney+
• @joannahausmann on social for more comedy and commentary

Catch more TCB episodes, and connect:

• tcbpodcast.com
• Instagram: @thecommercialbreak

(This summary skips ad reads and non-content interludes per instructions.)

Transcript

[Brian Green]

This episode is sponsored by five Hour Energy Caffeine. Just got a flavor upgrade with what they call tasty caffeine. 17 bold flavors that actually taste good. You know that midday moment when your brain just stalls out, but you still have a full list of things to do. Well, that's when I reach for a five hour energy shot. Each tiny two ounce shot has about as much caffeine as a 12 ounce premium cup of coffee. But with zero sugar and zero crash, it's big flavor packed into the smallest, easiest bottle. Perfect for tossing in your bag, in your car, really anywhere. And since it's still fall, they've brought back the ultimate seasonal favorite, pumpkin spice. Ah yes, pumpkin spice. A little cinnamon, a little swagger. Sweet, rich and totally cozy without being heavy. Fuel your day with tasty caffeine. Available in store and online at 5hour energy.com or get it delivered by Amazon. Give yourself a caffeine flavor upgrade with 5 hour energy shots. Get yours in store and online fivehourenergy.com or on Amazon today. This episode is sponsored by Jack Archer. Do you hate shopping for pants? You're not alone. Jack Archer's Jetsetter tech pants are basically the answer to every guy's closet struggles. With their customizable fit, wrinkle free fabric sourced from Japan and all day comfort, these pants can take you from work to the weekend without missing a beat. Seriously, these might be the only pants you'll ever need. Style them with the Jetsetter tip legacy button down shirt or the buttery legacy polo sweater and you've got timeless staples to meet your everyday wardrobe needs. Jack Archer is just better. For a limited time, get 15% off using the code [e-mail] Again, that's promo code getjackarcher.com for 15% off your entire order. And thanks to Jack Archer for being a sponsor of the commercial break.

[Trey Farrow]

On this episode of the Commercial break.

[Joanna Houseman]

My baby cries like at 6pm every day. But we have to wait a little bit before we feed her. So like inevitably we have to like you know, soothe her. But she cried and my mom's like, you're torturing the baby.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Give her the good.

[Joanna Houseman]

We're not sleep training. I didn't sleep train you at all. I just gave you what you needed. I was like, you know, and it's like a lot more intense. So it's, you know, we, we also have so much more research at the palm of our hand when it comes to so much of this.

[Commercial Break Announcer]

The next episode of the Commercial break starts now.

[Joanna Houseman]

Yeah, boy.

[Brian Green]

Oh, yeah. Cats and kittens, welcome back to the commercial break. I'm Brian Green. This is my dear friend and the co host of this show, Kristen Joy Hoadley. Best to you, Kristen.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Best to you, Brian.

[Brian Green]

Best to you out there in the podcast universe. How the hell are you? Thanks for joining us on a TCB infomercial as yet another repeat customer comes to the commercial break. And I could not be more excited to invite our friend, Joanna House.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

I love her.

[Brian Green]

I'm back again.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

So happy she's back.

[Brian Green]

She's one of our first interviews. Do you remember this?

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yeah, I do. Because Astrid was very excited about it.

[Brian Green]

Astrid turned us on to Joanna and her comedy online. And then we quickly. It quickly devolved into a love affair about Ticanos and cachapas and. And Disney Venezuelan parties and birthday songs that last too long. And Disney. That's right. And Disney. Joanna had a show on Disney. It's still available on Disney, I think. But now the big news is that Joanna has been writing and part of the creative team behind the return of Phineas and Ferb. That is the big news around Joanna. I think she's got other things in the work she may or may not be able to talk about, but my oldest just became infatuated with Phineas and Ferb over the last six months, and I. I can't tell you how many of those episodes I've watched. And I gotta be honest, I missed the Phineas and Ferb boat the first time around because I was too old. But now I'm on it and I'm like, ph. And Ferb is pretty entertaining, actually.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

I know my favorite episode nephews have watched.

[Brian Green]

Oh, they do? Yeah, they like it.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yeah, they love it.

[Brian Green]

My favorite episode is this one where they build a roller coaster through the entire city. And it's just like, it's the kind of imagination that adults and kids can get together and go, yeah, that would be fun. Cool, man. Good for you. Phineas and Ferb do it. And now my kid wants to wonder. He wonders how we can build a roller coaster in the backyard. And I say, no, no, I already have that pool. And that's enough. That's. That's enough money spent on one yard for a lifetime.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

He's good at building things.

[Brian Green]

He is. He's always building something. He's going to be something. He's going to be a Disney imagineer, architect something. He's got that bug.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

He's, you know, he likes to create.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. He's not into any of the. I mean, He's. He likes. We play baseball. He. The kids like when I throw the. Like a wiffle ball or a softball to him, a soft ball here to them in the house, and they hit it with a little plastic bat. We like to play soccer in the hallways. Sometimes we throw the football. But when it comes to building or puzzles or, you know, writing scripts for little YouTube videos that he thinks we're making. Really, really not making. I'm not letting him on YouTube.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

No, not yet.

[Brian Green]

But I'll tell you what, that children's programming is where it is at.

[Joanna Houseman]

Yeah.

[Brian Green]

There are all many children whose parents started YouTube channels.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yes.

[Brian Green]

Around the kids.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

They make a ton of money.

[Brian Green]

They're making millions and millions of dollars.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

It's crazy.

[Brian Green]

On the tube, on Roku, there's whole channels dedicated to some of these people, and they're YouTube videos, and they're presented like television shows.

[Joanna Houseman]

Wow.

[Brian Green]

And there's thousands of these videos from multiple different creators. And I think to myself, I know I have that rule about not wanting my children to be a face on the Internet or part of the Internet for a long time, but could I break it?

[Von Miller]

Yeah.

[Brian Green]

Maybe ruin their lives forever. It's tempting to make a million or a couple, you know, two. Just doing this, so I don't know. It is tempting. That is for sure. Also, speaking of children, Joanna is a new mom, so we'll talk to her all about that. This is yet another step in the direction of this podcast just becoming one where I talk about Venezuela the entire time. So just. Just sit back, relax, enjoy the show, learn, and learn a little something. It's only taken me 30 years to learn about Venezuela. I'll get you up to speed quicker than that.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Good old tutorial.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. The reality is, like when we had Nacho on, when we talk about Venezuela, when we cut those clips up, sometimes on my own personal Instagram, I'll talk about observations that I have about the Venezuelan culture. Shit goes haywire. It goes haywire. The Venezuelans are loyal to a fault. They love to hear about their culture. It makes them so happy. And I'm happy to bring the happiness. I really am. I'm a gringo.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Absolutely.

[Brian Green]

I was born this way. Nothing I could do about it. I'm just a gringo. Nothing I could do about it. But Joanna is one of the more popular Venezuelan Americans, and so we're happy to have her back for a second time. Is this our second or our third time with Joanna?

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

It's the second.

[Brian Green]

I feel like we had a second time scheduled with her. Once and it got rescheduled. Something happened. She had to go Phineas and Ferb it up or something. Yeah, yeah, you know, she's important. We're not. So sometimes you just gotta take the good with the bad. All right, so Joanna Houseman, all the links in the show notes below to her social media, of course. Phineas and Ferb available on Disney. I think there is a new season coming out soon. We'll talk to her all about it when we get her on. So let's take a short break, Chrissy, and when we get back, through the magic of tele podcasting, Joanna Houseman right here in studio on that TV with us. What do you think?

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

I think we should do. Do it.

[Brian Green]

We'll be back.

[Rachel (Voice of God)]

Hey, it's Rachel, your new voice of God here on tcb. And just like you, I'm wondering just how much longer this podcast can continue. Let's all rejoice that another episode has made it to your ears. And I'll rejoice that my check is in the mail. Speaking of mail, get your free TCB sticker in the mail by going to tcbpodcast.com and visiting the contact us page. You can also find the entire commercial break library audio and video, just in case you want to look at [e-mail] Want your voice to be on an episode of the show? Leave us a message at 212-4333, TCB. That's 212-433-3822. Tell us how much you love us and we'll be sure to let the world know on a future episode. Or you could make fun of us. That'd be fine, too. We might not air that, but maybe. Oh, and if you're shy, that's okay. Just send a text. We'll respond. Now I'm going to go check the mailbox for payment while you check out our sponsors. And then we'll return to this episode of the commercial break.

[Brian Green]

This episode is sponsored in part by Rula. You know, there was a time when I really needed therapy, but I could not find a therapist who took my insurance. I can remember feeling so stuck, like I had to choose between getting help and staying on budget. That's why I think what rule is doing is so very important. Rula makes therapy accessible and affordable by partnering with over 100 insurance plans. The average copay is around $15 per session, and depending on your benefits, it could even be less. They also take the time to find the right therapist for you, someone who understands your goals, your preferences and your background. There's no waiting weeks or months for an appointment. You can start as soon as tomorrow and Rula stays with you along the way, checking in, supporting your progress and helping you feel seen and cared for. Thousands of people are already using Rula to get afford high quality therapy that's actually covered by Insurance. Visit rula.com commercial to get started and after you sign up, you'll be asked how you heard about them. Please support the commercial break and let them know we sent you. That's r u l a.com commercial. You deserve mental health care that works with you, not against your budget.

[Commercial Break Announcer]

This is Free Range with Von Miller, the podcast where I step outside the lines and I take you with me. Each week we're talking everything from the biggest stories around the league to the biggest stories off the field. This isn't your average sports podcast. This is game meets culture, locker room meets living room. And no topic is off limits. So if you're in the good conversations that ruffle a few feathers, join me every Wednesday and follow Free Range with Vaughn Miller everywhere you get your podcast.

[Brian Green]

This episode is sponsored by our longtime sponsor, Squarespace. I am working on a new project Information tbd. It's very secret. It's very hush hush around here because you know podcast secrets are a thing. Anywho, there is only one all in one website tool that's designed to help my new project stand out and be successful and that one tool is Squarespace. Squarespace can help me through every step of the process. The launch, the scaling, the branding and the growth. No matter what part of the journey I am on. Squarespace is an all in one website platform so it'll cater to my needs every step of the way. There are so many benefits, services and tools built into Squarespace, I would need a 10 minute commercial to name them all. Cutting edge design, search engine optimization tools, domain management, analytics, email campaigns, the ability to host videos, and most importantly, the ability to get paid. So if you've been thinking about building or upgrading your website, now's the time to head to squarespace.com commercial for a free trial. And when you're ready to launch, make sure to use the offer code commercial to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or a domain. That's squarespace.com commercial. Then be sure to use the code commercial when you're ready to launch. Squarespace has been with the commercial break for a long time and we have been with Squarespace for even longer. This is a company we trust. It's a product we use. And there's one overarching reason why it makes my life easier. Go build yourself a beautiful website. Squarespace.com commercial. And thank you to Squarespace for being a sponsor of the commercial break. And Joanna Houseman, after a long time of denying our request to come back to the show, understandably, finally relented. She said no. I will not say no on one more email. I have decided I'm going to return to the commercial break. Joanna, it is so good to see you.

[Joanna Houseman]

Yes.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Welcome back.

[Joanna Houseman]

Oh, my God. Thank you guys for. For relentlessly pursuing you. Emailing me, pursuing me. I feel so wanted, and I feel like that's what I wanted at the end. I just. Yeah, I just wanted to see how much you wanted me.

[Brian Green]

Well, if it isn't. If it isn't clear, then, you know, listen, you're. You're married, so this is the most wanted you're ever going to feel again outside of your children.

[Joanna Houseman]

True. Well, I, you know, I do got to say, you know, I wanted to come here earlier, but there was something called the birth of my child. I know, so.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Little thing.

[Brian Green]

All the excuses we have heard. Birth of child, please. People do this at home and, you know, like, pools, inflatable pools that they blow. Can't be that big of a deal.

[Joanna Houseman]

Both podcast and giving birth.

[Brian Green]

Yes. True story. First of all, how are you feeling? You're months away from. How old is the baby now? Two months old? Three months?

[Joanna Houseman]

Four months.

[Brian Green]

Four months.

[Joanna Houseman]

Four months old. Yeah, she's old now. She's wise beyond her months. No, it was. It's been good. I mean, I think that the media, and I don't know why I'm saying the media is this abstract concept, but, like, every time I log on to the Internet, all I hear is how bad and hard motherhood is. And to be honest with you, when I was pregnant, I was like, I don't know if this is gonna go well.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yeah, I hope.

[Joanna Houseman]

I love her.

[Trey Farrow]

And.

[Joanna Houseman]

And I've been so pleasantly surprised at how, like, how much joy there is and how I've enjoyed it. I just.

[Brian Green]

Just.

[Joanna Houseman]

She is so cute. I mean, I also think she's a remarkable baby. I mean, I know I'm her mother or whatever, but I am being, you know, just very logical in saying I do think she's the cutest thing to have ever existed. And being a mom has been sort of like a new. A new part to play. It's like, I thought. I just. I'm not the most stereotypically motherly person. And it just came so naturally. I was like, what the hell is happening? Wow. Biology is strong.

[Brian Green]

It is. Yeah. You don't, would you not have considered yourself maternal before giving, before having a baby?

[Joanna Houseman]

Not at all.

[Brian Green]

You don't like, take care of your husband when he gets the flu? You don't like, dote on people.

[Joanna Houseman]

I'm like, why are you so sick? Like, this is for me. Like, I love taking care of people and, but in not in a motherly way and like I'm your equal type of way.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

Like I'm your mommy, but with, with my baby. I'm like, oh my goodness. Like, I, it's, it's, it's wild how your brain gets rewired in seconds. I just, it's seconds. It's like, it's, you know, this is why there's what, 8 billion of us? How many are there?

[Brian Green]

Yeah, there's eight. 8 billion. Probably three too many. Three billions too many. But there's eight of us hanging around I, around here. I felt the same way. I mean, fatherhood, motherhood, two totally different things. But there are some comparables, right? Some comparables. You're legally and financially responsible for their well being. But I feel the same feeling thing. I probably, I think I've always been good with children and I felt like it was in me somewhere. But I never had any desire to be a parent until I met Astrid. And then the second that that child came out of the womb, my brain was rewired and there's nothing else. There's nothing else in the heavens. It's like, that's it. It's her and him and my first child, and then we're gonna go for it. By the like 16th child, you know, it's almost, it's just second nature. You just become used to it and you're four months in. I'm dealing with four years and that's a whole different animal. But I love how you're describing this. It's just pure joy. It really is. And there is a lot of difficulties in parenting, but I think overall the pluses outweigh the minuses. And I wouldn't take it back. And that's good for my children.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Wait until.

[Brian Green]

That's good for my children. Yeah, wait until they're teenagers.

[Joanna Houseman]

You don't resent your children. What a blessing.

[Brian Green]

Yes.

[Joanna Houseman]

Yeah. And it's, it's interesting because like, when I, I, I, when I found out I was pregnant, I was like, oh, I'm. That I'm in. Like, you don't have like My husband was like, I guess I got nine months to think about this. Oh, no. The next day, I feel like trash, and I feel like I can barely exist. You know, I. I feel like being a mom is like being hazed into parenthood.

[Trey Farrow]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

For nine months. No, baby, your body's just going through a full body demolition.

[Trey Farrow]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And it's like, you think you want to be a parent, you know, but I'm. I. But I'm glad that you felt rewired immediately because I think as a mom, I was rewired immediately because it was like. It was like going through the most difficult hike of your life and then you finally get to the top.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And you're like. And like, you're like, okay, maybe it was worth it this night. This is a beautiful view, you know, so it's been. It's been a crazy experience, for sure. It's kind of bizarre that the dumbest people in my high school are also parents.

[Trey Farrow]

Yes.

[Joanna Houseman]

Yeah.

[Brian Green]

Oh, we've been saying this for years. Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

That's sort of like, been a relief.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

In this process, like, if they can.

[Joanna Houseman]

Do it, can I do this? And I'm like, britney is doing that.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

So relax with an I. Yeah.

[Brian Green]

Brittany with an I. Yeah. Former dancer, former shoe model. Brittany can do it, then I can do it. I. I agree with you. I've been saying it for years. I will always probably believe this to some degree, that you need a license to get on a fucking canoe and catch a fish in your local pond. But you need zero training to be a parent. There are zero qualifications to having a child. And there are shows. It shows. It shows. There are some people where you're like, holy shit, I can't believe you're a parent. I know some people. I have friends that. I'm questioning whether or not they should be parents. But they're already. Once they're there, they're there. What are you going to do? Put them back in? I mean, so it's. It's kind of like you can't do anything about it. How have. How has work been going? Because I have been dying to talk to you about Phineas and Ferb, which has quickly run up the charts in my household over the last couple of months. And I don't know how or why. I mean, Phineas and. How long has Finneas and Ferb been off?

[Joanna Houseman]

So. So it's. Phineas and Ferb was off for, like, a decade.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And it just recently came back this year.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And Phineas and Ferb, you know, when it came out. I was like in. In college, so I. I was in that weird age that I wasn't a parent and I wasn't a kid. So I had no idea what it was about right until later on in life when I started learning that Phineas and Ferb did sort of the impossible, which was it was technically a Kids show, but 50% of its viewership was adult because the writers room treats it as a true co viewing show, meaning, yeah, there's gonna be crazy fun action sequences and this, that, and the other. But the humor on the page is for intelligent audiences and treating your audience as the most intelligent person in the room. And because of that, it's been like a multi generational hit, which is unique, especially unique now with streaming, where I think now shows are so specific to a particular audience that you see a fragmented viewership in the same household. You have kids watching one thing, your wife watching another thing, the dad watching another thing, and this show, it sort of feels like everyone in the family actually enjoys watching it.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

Working on it has been crazy. It's been such an honor.

[Trey Farrow]

Honestly.

[Brian Green]

There are two shows in my house. When the kids put them on, I don't mind watching an episode. I also was way. I. I was way. At least I thought aged out of Phineas and Ferb. So it wasn't something that I ever. It ever took hold in root in my mind. I knew of it. I knew about it. Probably seen a couple minutes of an episode, but when my oldest started watching Phineas and Ferb, the other two quickly jumped on board. And then I was like, oh, I can watch this cartoon too. Just as I can Blue. So Bluey and Phineas and Ferb, those two shows, I. I don't mind watching an episode because I get it, and it's funny. And in some, to some degree, those jokes are for me, right? The. The comedy is for me, and my kids think it's funny for one reason, but I think it's funny for another reason.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

I think Big City Greens.

[Joanna Houseman]

For me, Big City Greens is another one too. Oh, I love this.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, it is good. It is good. Yeah, it is good. So how did you get involved with Phineas? And I mean, we knew you were in the Disney family, so to speak. Still waiting on that free trip to Disney World. But I knew you were in. You promised. Hey, listen, I know you have the. I know you have Bob's phone number, and so when you get a chance.

[Joanna Houseman]

Mr. Iger, my buddy.

[Brian Green]

Have you ever met Mr. Iger?

[Joanna Houseman]

I think, like, in passing, very Briefly in passing, it was like, oh, that's Bob. And I'm like, hello. Hello. And then he was just gone.

[Brian Green]

He didn't have time. Yeah, he didn't have time for you. He. So how did you get involved with Phineas and Ferb?

[Joanna Houseman]

Dude, it's kind of wild how being Venezuelan is the reason I love this. It's the reason I'm on this podcast.

[Brian Green]

Yes, I.

[Joanna Houseman]

Isn't it funny being part of a, like, collapsed Petro state actually helps you in the entertainment. The co creator of Phineas and Ferb, Dan Poffven Meyer, was married to a Venezuelan for many, many years. She's the mother of his children. They're still very close, even though they are divorced. But she, you know, as a Venezuelan, would show him my videos as a way to connect. Like, remember when we went to this party and you asked me about this Venezuelan tradition and he'd watch it and about. I don't know how many years ago. I think. I think it was like. Yeah, I think it was actually 10 years ago. Ten years ago, I get a message. I think it was on YouTube and it was like, hey, my name is Dan and I created this show called Phineas and Fern. My wife is Venezuelan, and we'd love to have you over for a rape buzz one day when you're in la. And I'm like. And I was like, this is so weird. So I, like, reached out and we. We talked, and then I had a trip to LA the next week and I texted him and I was like, you know, I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go to Pasadena to meet you and your family. And I'm in the Uber and I'm telling the Uber driver this story. And the Uber driver's like, I'm sorry, you're going to a random man's house who claims he's this famous showrunner. You have absolutely no proof. And I'm dropping you off there. And I'm like, yeah, that's not anything that's happening. And he was like, I am not letting you go in there by yourself. So he, like, waited for me, actually.

[Brian Green]

Oh, wow.

[Joanna Houseman]

Dan opened the door and I. Five stars running around. Yeah. And I gave him five stars and a pretty good tip. So that's how this started. And that sort of began a friendship between me and Dan. And Dan also has been sort of like a. A guiding light for me in my career, where anytime I had questions or. Or, you know, concerns or I had a new pilot or I had this, I always, like, felt like I could Ask him for advice. And then, you know, years later, I was able to join this writer's room. And it's been one of my favorite, I think, professional experiences ever.

[Brian Green]

That is amazing. It is part of the reason why you're here. So it's part of the reason why we connected, right? Because my wife showed me your videos, right. And I was like, oh, that's interesting. She's funny. She should come on. And I was just, we just talked to. I just had a chance to sit down and have some time with Nacho Red from Scuela de Nada. And we had a very long conversation. And the reason why he's on the show is because my brother in law introduced me to edn, right. So. And there is no.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

There's a whole network.

[Brian Green]

There's a whole network. There's no interactions. There's no level of engagement that we get. Like, when we talk about Venezuela, it is crazy how the Venezuelans are so loyal and willing to cheer anybody on who's willing to cheer them on and.

[Joanna Houseman]

Oh, a hundred percent. Yes.

[Brian Green]

It makes. It gives me the warm and fuzzies in a way that it's hard to describe because I feel, yeah, I feel like an honorary Venezuelan. First of all, even if you don't want me, I'm here and I'm the gringo Venezuelan. And it is kind of crazy how these. This is like disparate people, this displaced people all around the world have embedded themselves in these industries and these communities in these places, and they've now they're all connected by some tissue. And look at you, Phineas and Ferb. Not maybe because you're Venezuelan, probably also because you're funny and you know, all the other stuff, but. But originally started because you're making content about Venezuela that's relatable to some people across the pond. That's insane.

[Joanna Houseman]

Well, it's interesting because I remember a while ago I was going through this, like, existential crisis where, you know, I once again, it was like we lost another election in Venezuela. And by lost, I mean, like, obviously it was stolen from us. And it was like feeling of deep sadness and. And I remember my dad telling like, you know, yes, of course there's so much tragedy, but within all this tragedy, there's this diaspora and there's positive externalities to diaspora. You. And I'm like, I don't know what the fuck you just said.

[Trey Farrow]

What is it?

[Joanna Houseman]

And I was like. And he was like, no, because, you know, when, when a big migration of people leave a country, they affect the World. You see their food around the world, you see their humor around the world, you see them acting in movies, in. In different countries. They've. Their culture starts permeating outside of the country. And you see it in, like, cultures from the past. You know, the, the Irish after the potato famine, the Italians in the. In the 20th century. So, you know, all of these big cultural movements that sort of globalized certain cultures came with a lot of sadness and tragedy attached to it. And, you know, that's like the bit of the positive I see in seeing so many Venezuelans away from their home country is we are. We've created an identity outside of the geographical constraints, and we're affecting culture outside of our country. And that's kind of cool.

[Brian Green]

It's very beautifully stated, and I agree with you. And. And as someone who's married to a Venezuelan and, you know, my best friend is just being in the community, it is cool to see. Because immigrating has got to be the. The, like one of the most. Besides, parenthood has got to be the second most difficult thing that a human being can do. And I've seen it firsthand, kind of forced.

[Joanna Houseman]

Yeah, yeah.

[Brian Green]

You leave everything you know. Right. You leave everything that you know, and you have to start off from scratch in a new place where you don't know people, you don't have connections, you know, you're lonely, maybe tired.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

The language.

[Brian Green]

Maybe you don't speak the language. That's right. And so it's got to be one of the most difficult things that you can do to sort of rise up, to meet the challenge and then to rise above that and affect the people around you, the communities around you is the beautiful thing in Venezuela, as I. As I will attest to, to the day that I die, is a beautiful. They're such beautiful people in general company, not excluded here, because you are definitely one of my favorites. And so let me ask you this. So you. You did lose another election or stole another election or whatever, and then this lady wins the Nobel Peace Prize and then hands it to Trump. And I don't. I think I know. I think I understand she's playing the game here. I think I understand she's playing a game a little bit. I get it. I understand. I understand that this, this is probably not all is on the surface as it seems, but did you feel a sense of pride that they gave her the Nobel Peace Prize?

[Joanna Houseman]

I mean, of course, we have not received any good news in so long, and that felt like, wow. Our struggle, that usually feels separate from general Conversation. Venezuela almost feels like a niche country. Like, wait, what? Venezuela? That sounds beautiful. Like, you know, they don't know. And understandably so. It does. It's, you know, it's not on, on the front of everyone's mind. But it felt like we were a global topic.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

It felt like our, our struggle and our pain was a global topic. And I was so happy to see Maria Karina Machal when, I mean, and she's the one person peacefully trying to enact change in a dictatorship. And you know, I got a lot of messages from my American friends being like, what the. Like, this woman shouldn't have done this. Like, this is ridiculous. And I'm like, listen, I don't have the privilege of getting picky here.

[Brian Green]

Right.

[Joanna Houseman]

I'd love to have the privilege.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, I'd love that.

[Joanna Houseman]

I'd love to be like, I don't like that she said this one thing one time. I don't have that privilege. She's our one and only hope. And I know she's strategic and she's playing.

[Brian Green]

She's being strategic. A long game. Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And what. And I know that she's like, I'm gonna do whatever I need to do to make sure that this dictatorship topples and they're able to, to have democracy and freedom in this country. And I don't care what she does in order to make that happen.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And so, you know, anytime a friend would be like, wow, isn't that just so. You must be so upset. I'm like, girl, there are so many.

[Brian Green]

Other things to be upset about.

[Joanna Houseman]

I think I'm upset with the fact that my family lost their country and.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

Basically, you know, scattered across the world. So many of my cousins and aunts and uncles have to start from scratch and. Yeah. And are still struggling. And that's what I, that's what who I'm thinking of when these things.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

It's real life for me. It's not ideology and it's, it's not, you know, parsing through what is morally right and morally wrong in every aspect. I don't, I don't have the time and I don't have the bandwidth. I'm like, I. This is our one hope. Yeah. And that's it.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

So let's see, let's see what happens.

[Brian Green]

I agree with you. And I think you're. I think this is like, if I may, I think it's right headed thinking that you have because there are so many other things to be concerned about. And I think she is. There's There's a reason why she got the Nobel Peace Prize. There's a reason why she probably won an election. There's a reason why so many people are looking to her. She has a head on her shoulders and she understands globally that she needs to play whatever game she needs to play to make sure that things at home get fixed. And she's still living in the fucking country, too. So, you know, that's like the most insane thing is she's not like, you know, living a high on the hog in Aruba or something. She's still living in Venezuela and she's.

[Joanna Houseman]

Got hiding because if she, if they find her, she's in prison. She's in prison doing all of this with no calls for bloodshot. Do you know what I'm saying?

[Brian Green]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

This woman has. Has perfectly crafted a peaceful revolution. She. She was able to build with her team the technological necessities to be able to count the votes in the last election and prove that democratically, the opposition won. She did everything right. She's doing everything for our country. She's doing everything right.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And if she doesn't fit in your global politics for X, Y and z reason, great. I.

[Brian Green]

But it doesn't matter. Yeah, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter to Venezuela.

[Joanna Houseman]

It doesn't matter to the. It doesn't matter to Venezuelans. Venezuelans just want their country back. They want to be able to go back home. They want to be able to live in peace and freedom and not have, you know, a dictatorship censoring them and imprisoning them and killing them. So that's the priority for us, baby.

[Indeed Sponsored Jobs Announcer]

Right?

[Joanna Houseman]

And, you know, if you don't get it, step back is what I'm. Is what I'm saying. I said to many friends, actually, I was like, girl, let her do her thing. Let her do her thing. There's a lot of people's lives at stake.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, you are Venezuelan. So has your larger community now rushed in to co parent your child with you?

[Joanna Houseman]

That's hilarious. Absolutely.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

My mom is arriving on Friday.

[Brian Green]

Are you excited?

[Joanna Houseman]

I'm. I'm excited. It's interesting because there's a lot of, like, cultural differences I note from Venezuelans to, to honestly where I've lived most of my life, which is the United States. And you know, in the States, it's like you study, you, you know, you grow up in one city, maybe you go to college in another city, and then you move to another city for work. That's sort of like a natural progression, right?

[Brian Green]

Yes.

[Joanna Houseman]

In Venezuela. You, like, live at home with your parents until you get married, you know.

[Brian Green]

Or until your children get married. Yeah, until the grandchildren. Yeah, yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And so there's this, like multi generational raising of children, right? And it's like the grandparents are involved. The cousin, that's not really your cousin is involved. Like everyone. It's this. While here, you know, I moved to LA for a career. I. I'm following the American path of the American dream, which is like, I'm in a city. I started from scratch, the city. I don't know anything about this city. I actually lowkey, don't love it. But I'm here because it's. It's the right place for me, for my career. And, and. But I am. I'm alone here. I don't have any family. So it's. It's like, weird because, you know, my family's proud of me, but my family, you know, my mom will be like, oh, yeah, you must be so alone there with the baby. You don't have me next to you. Take care of her or whatever, whenever you want. So hard for you. And I'm like, yeah, no, it's hard, mom. I. For sure. And she's like, I better get. You know what I would love.

[Rachel (Voice of God)]

And.

[Joanna Houseman]

Be like, take care of the baby. And I do it. I'm a free nanny. And I'm like, mom, I don't know what to tell you. I live in la, so, you know, it's been interesting and it's been.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

And where is she very much?

[Joanna Houseman]

She's in Boston.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Okay, okay, okay.

[Joanna Houseman]

Which is funny that that woman lives in Boston, right?

[Brian Green]

I don't know.

[Joanna Houseman]

It's like. And she spends a lot of time in the Berkshires, which is like the, like, it's like the most preppy, kind of slightly uptight East Coast.

[Brian Green]

Oh, it's area. Yeah, it's area.

[Joanna Houseman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And everyone in the Berkshires loves my. My mom, like, goes into the library and they're like, oh, my God, Anna, you're here. And she's like, I'm back in the library.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

I love this picturing her.

[Joanna Houseman]

She know she knows everyone. She knows everyone in every market. But, you know, the point is that it's like there's community, sort of like Latin culture is very much about community. And we've. My mom has built community everywhere she's gone as a way to, like, sort of mimic what she has back home. And, you know, here I would love to have a bigger community to raise my kid, and I'm building it through Friendships and all this stuff. But, man, what. Do you know how much I love to have, like my 75 family members, like, fighting distance from me?

[Brian Green]

Yes. Yes.

[Joanna Houseman]

I have 17 kids. I'd be like, yeah, that's fine. You take this one.

[Brian Green]

Right, right. I. There is nothing I love more than when Astrid's parents, Astrid's parents come to the house because they are so good with my children. I, I believe they are the second parents of my children. Like, God forbid, you know, fiery plane crash, the whole nine yards. I want them, not my parents. Because first of all, my parents are a little bit older, but they're Irish Catholic. And it's like, check in, check out, punch in, punch out. My brothers live within a 20 mile radius of here. It's really, honestly, it's like a magic trick to get them to show up for more than 15 minutes to my house. Because it's just the Irish Catholic way. It's not because they're bad people. It's because they have no fucking clue. They don't what we're supposed to do. What, be uncle. You know, it's like, it's just something that doesn't come natural to them because.

[Joanna Houseman]

Irish Catholics have like 17 kids each and they're like, I don't have time for cousins.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, I, I honestly know the Catholic.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Thing because I grew up in an Italian family.

[Brian Green]

Italian Catholics are different than our Catholic. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe it's just my family. Maybe my family just are child haters. They hate children. I don't know. None of them have kids either. So that's another thing is when you don't have children, you don't know how to parent. You don't know like, how to parent default. Like, I walk into a household and there's other children in the room. I am now another parent in the room. So I know how I will. I know how to. And I'm not afraid to also be the another parent in the room. Hey, don't do that. Billy. Who are you? Fuck you. Billy, sit down. Stop setting shit on fire. Yeah, stop biting the cat. Right. Because I'm a parent and you anaw if I ever will be. My brothers, they don't know that. And I think like, in a Venezuelan community, everyone's parenting everybody, so it kind of comes natural. But in my family, we're all very isolated. And so when they come into a room, they don't know they're not parenting my kids. They're like, maybe they'll throw them across the room or, you know, give them a sip of Whiskey. But besides that, it's, you know, it's, it's a little weird when my in laws come. I fucking love it.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Oh yeah.

[Brian Green]

Besides the fact.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

And Gustavo.

[Brian Green]

And Gustavo, my brother in law, he also, he's another parent. He just walks in. He doesn't have kids, but he knows it also.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

He's seven foot tall.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, he's seven foot tall. So he's scary. Yeah. So I, I love it when they come and it's just like such a good, they have a good time. The kids are always laughing and joking. I have another set of eyeballs in the room and besides hearing I. But I. And from my father in law a lot. And he mumbles under his breath about me. Besides that, I think everything's. Everything's good. So you need your mom to come. Is she staying for a long period of time? Are you going to allow her to be here for many, many months?

[Joanna Houseman]

I mean I, I did tell her she can't stay in my house because we just don't have the space. So, you know, when she has her space, I think it's the perfect.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And, and yeah, I mean, I mean it's, it's. I'm like curious to see because there's, I don't know what happens with grandparents. I think grandparents have the privilege of perspective, of knowing that what you stress over isn't necessary. And like, truthfully, the most probable thing is that your kid's gonna be fine.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

But, but when you're in it, you don't know that.

[Brian Green]

Right? Yes.

[Joanna Houseman]

You know, my baby cries like at 6pm every day, but we have to wait a little bit before we feed her. So like inevitably we have to like, you know, soothe her. But she cried and my mom's like, you're torturing the baby. Give her the food. I'm like, no, we're not sleep training her. She's like, I didn't sleep train you at all. I just gave you what you needed, you know, and it's like a lot more intense. So it's, you know, we, we also have so much more research at the palm of our hand when it comes to so much of this. And I think, I don't know, My, my, my parents like winged it. My, my mom was like, what are you reading? Like, what's all this reading you're doing these books? And my, you know, I, she was like, you were born. And I just figured it out. Yeah. Because I feel like there's this like generational divide with information.

[Brian Green]

Yes.

[Joanna Houseman]

Which like, I think that will probably battle it out. You know, who knows if there'll be survivors, but we'll try.

[Brian Green]

You'll be okay. You guys will figure it out.

[Joanna Houseman]

There.

[Brian Green]

There is this need. I think I have always said that one of the great joys of my life is watching my father grandparent my children, because I think he has the benefit of. Of hindsight, and he understands. Maybe I always didn't get it right with my own kids. So I'm not going to miss.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

He's retired. He's less stressed.

[Brian Green]

He's less stressed. He doesn't. And he's not financially responsible for them. And I'm not, you know, smoking weed in the backyard. You know, the grandkids haven't gotten to smoking weed yet, so it's like. But I. I feel like it's one of the great joys of my life is getting to watch my dad be a grandparent to my children. That's. It's a beautiful thing to me, especially when I see them connecting and, you know. Yeah, they're not my grandpa. My dad's not spending days on end at my house taking care of the kids. But when it does happen, when they do get to connect, I think it's really beautiful. But I also understand he raised children in a totally different universe than I'm raising children. You're right. We have too much information on our. How many times have you called your pediatrician?

[Joanna Houseman]

You know, I.

[Brian Green]

A lot. But, yeah, me too.

[Joanna Houseman]

I decided to do something during my pregnancy which was like. I was like, I don't want to know. I don't want to know.

[Brian Green]

I want to know.

[Joanna Houseman]

Like, people be like, are you. Are you, like, doing the birthing classes? And I was like, I did one birthing class, and I was like, I don't want to know more. Yeah, yeah, I want to know. We used to. To do this in a cave.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And I think that there was some. There was some wisdom to that where you're just, like, blindly going into something because it's like. It's like. It's like you're about to jump from a. From a bungee jump, whatever chord thing, and they're like, over explaining gravity to you.

[Brian Green]

Right.

[Joanna Houseman]

And it's like, I know generally what's going to happen, and I'd rather just not overthink it.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And so I. Which is very unlike my character. I'm very neurotic and very anxious, and with this whole process, I've been sort of like my husband. My husband's the one that's reading all the books about sleep training. And I'm just sort of like, I'm gonna. I'm gonna listen to him, but I'm also just sort of like, I don't know. It'll work out. It'll work out. As I've said before, there's so many of us on this earth, so, you know.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

I think we're more resilient our parents than we get. Yeah.

[Brian Green]

Threw us in a crib and said, figure it the fuck out. They didn't say figure it the fuck out to any other adults in the room. They said, figure it out to the nine month old. They said, figure it the fuck out and keep it quiet in here so I can get some sleep. And look how I turned out. Just fine. I can't. I can't sleep for shit. And I have a bad anxiety problem, but besides that, I'm okay. But I mean.

[Joanna Houseman]

Oh, my God. Yes, I do think our anxiety problem. You know, my dad told me he had the audacity of being like, you know, I think I know where your anxiety comes from. And I'm like, yeah, what? Like, what do you think dad made me? Growing up in.

[Brian Green]

Growing up in Venezuela, we were moving.

[Joanna Houseman]

All the time, where the coup d' etat was coming, where there was instability everywhere, where you and mom were fighting over politics all the time. What do you, what do you think? He's like, no, I think it's because you had colleagues the first three months of your life and it rewired your brain in a crazy way like that. And I'm like, pretty sure that's not the case, but maybe.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, maybe. Yeah. You never know. It could be. Could be dad. That's the thing is you never do know.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

You don't.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, you never do know what. What's going to manifest further down the line. And you know, listen, I always. I've always thought about parenting this way is. And. And I don't always. I wish that I could listen to my own words sometimes, but I try is that they're already cooked. They're already fully baked. The personalities are in there. Their destiny's in there. Their abilities are not abilities. You know, the things they could do well or not well is already in there. All I have to do is just make sure that they don't, you know, set themselves on fire or drive the car through the front door. And if I can do that and generally get them through okay, then that, that, then, then everything, you know, I have done my job. I read and support, love and support, love, support.

[Joanna Houseman]

If you just shower them with love. I mean, I know that you have to like. Yeah, but the love element is so important. They just have to feel special.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. You know, that's how you cook them.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

And that you're the biggest fan.

[Joanna Houseman]

That's how you cook.

[Brian Green]

That's how you cook them.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

That's how you cook them, bake them up.

[Brian Green]

It's like a teenyo. You put it in the fry, you know, it's like you put it in the air fryer. Your love is the air fryer.

[Joanna Houseman]

You just put your love is the air fryer.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Fryer.

[Joanna Houseman]

What a beautiful metaphor. Okay, if you clip this Venezuelan are going to share it like crazy. It's like, oh, my God. He compared the love of parenthood. That is perfect. I feel seen.

[Brian Green]

Clip it, Kevin. Clip it. I just. I just. I'm excited for you because also four months old, four to one and a half the golden time now having some perspective. The golden time because they used to. They need everything. And that may seem. That's good and bad some days, but they need everything from you. You're the only thing they care about. You're the entire world. They cannot yet get into cabinets or your alcohol by themselves. So you don't have to worry too much. And it's just a lovely time to bond with the child. How is your husband doing? Let's talk about him. How is he doing?

[Joanna Houseman]

I think he was born as a dad.

[Brian Green]

That's good him out.

[Joanna Houseman]

Have you seen those memes of like, how I see my dad as a baby and it's like. Like a full grown man's face.

[Brian Green]

Yes.

[Joanna Houseman]

Like the baby body. I feel like when my daughter says that she's gonna be right. This man was like, programmed for parenthood and fatherhood. And so he's doing. He's doing great. He is, you know, he's like a little bit ocd and he likes, you know, the. The ounces and the schedule and the timing and he has like his little spreadsheets of information. So I feel like he. He's like, built for it. And I do think that we subvert the stereotype when it comes to, like, when women talk about mental load and how they carry so much mental load in the house, how they have to be responsible for so many other things, not just taking care of the baby. Like, the expectation is that a lot of this stuff is on them. And I feel bad when I hear these, like, podcasts and clips because I'm like, oh, my God, I'm the problem. I'm like, I'm sort of. I Mean, of course, when it comes to taking care of the baby, I'm pretty good at it.

[Brian Green]

But when it comes to like all.

[Joanna Houseman]

The other like little minutiae, like reordering the formula and like restocking the this, I'm so add. I'm like, I don't know, it happens magically. Yeah, I did all of that.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

That's great. You have that.

[Brian Green]

Astrid's currently listening going, why can't you be anything like Joanna's husband?

[Joanna Houseman]

But you know what I was thinking? If my husband was married to someone like him, they would die.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

Why did you.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yeah, right. You didn't order the right color. You didn't do that.

[Joanna Houseman]

Right?

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yeah, yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

But I told you I wanted this and some of that. And I'm just like, whatever, man, I'm good.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, that's me. That's me with Astrid. Yeah. I'm like you. Yeah, I play that role in the family too. I'm like, I don't worry because I know Astrid's worrying and two of us worrying isn't going to help this situation. So, like, you know, Halloween's coming. The baskets and the kids and the dresses and the Halloween costumes. What are we gonna do and how are we gonna do it? It's already handled. It shows up by Amazon and it's already handled. And the kids are walking around with their costumes and I'm like, oh, you're gonna be R2D2 this year. Cool, dude. Yeah. And meanwhile, Astrid's like, we've been talking about this for six weeks. And I was like, we were. We did. Well, thanks. Thanks for that. It's just the way that I am. I don't, I don't want to die on a bunch of hills. So I let. And she is great at that stuff. That is her strong suit. She is fantastic. Left up to my own devices, those children would be loved and they would have so much fun. But they would be naked and hungry and probably hair tangled, not know how to read. Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

Dreadlocks or the flies.

[Brian Green]

We'd be growing up in a commune. Let me ask you this. You said you're not loving laughter. Well, or is it like a double edged sword?

[Joanna Houseman]

It's a double edged sword. Like I, I. Maybe one of the reasons I don't love LA is how much I love New York. Like, it's like trying to date someone wonderful new. But you're still in love with your ex. Yeah, like I, My heart's somewhere else. And that's not LA's fault necessarily. Louisiana is very different from New York. I always say that, like, New York is like someone who was born ugly and had to build a personality and that sense of style. And LA was born hot.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Beautiful.

[Joanna Houseman]

LA is so hot. It's beautiful. But then, like, the architecture is not great. It's not well thought out as a city, it's sort of a mess. But, like, you know, the nature spectacular.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

So it's just getting used to something that's, like, vastly different while my heart's somewhere else. And it's a. It's just a quirky interest. It's also a city that's difficult to get to know. It's. It's like an introvert.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yeah, it is.

[Joanna Houseman]

It's an introverted city. Hey, New York is an extrovert. New York's like, hey, I'm being a bitch.

[Brian Green]

Trump Tower, Central Park. Come on down, eat some food. Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

LA's like, hey, welcome. I don't know where I even am, actually. Yeah, just drive around aimlessly.

[Brian Green]

Right. Maybe you should call San Fernando Valley. Maybe they'll know. Yeah, thanks.

[Indeed Sponsored Jobs Announcer]

Maybe they'll.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

But there's a lot of magical parts of la, and it is a very interesting city. It just takes a lot of effort to get to know. That's true. So, you know, I'm starting to have feelings for a little bit.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

It's growing on me.

[Brian Green]

Okay, so, Phineas and Ferb, you are now in the writer's room. Do you also have producer credits on Phineas and Ferb?

[Joanna Houseman]

Not on Phineas and Ferb. I'm working on other stuff that I.

[Brian Green]

You'll tell us the day before. Right.

[Joanna Houseman]

But let me tell you, being a staff writer. Oh, my God, how fun.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

I bet. I can imagine. It's so fun.

[Joanna Houseman]

It is so fun to show up and just be like, my job is to write and to. And to make a joke funnier and to this. Like, I love producing and I love that side of things. Of course. But there's something really liberating of being like, oh, my job is actually limiting. It makes me be a little bit more creative.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

So that's been fun. And, you know, producing other stuff on the side is like, oh, right. There's. There's, like, things. Other things have to happen for things to be on a screen that aren't just like, what if. What if the goat is wearing a T shirt?

[Brian Green]

Right.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

There's a freedom in that.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. Like, we gotta get a distribution deal and I gotta get the color artist paid.

[Joanna Houseman]

Oh, God. This actor we cast isn't the right voice. Every cast. Oh, my God. We already have the, The. The footage back from overseas, which means we have ADR everything. Like, there's so many elements. And, you know, cartoons in particular, like live action, of course, but cartoons in particular. Every millisecond takes so much effort.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

It takes so many people, so many cooks in the kitchen. There's even people called timers. I don't even know what they do. Okay. And the timers, like, time something. Like there's someone for. For every element. Like, there's no background without someone painting it. There's no, you know, spoon without someone ideating what a spoon looks like. This world.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

It's so much creative input in. Are you such a short period of.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Time, are you seeing anything to do with AI? Like, how has. Is that a thing? Do you see it being a thing down the road?

[Joanna Houseman]

Yeah, it's like a. It's like a. It's like a fear that's looming for us at all times. Right.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Unknown. It's the unknown.

[Joanna Houseman]

I mean, I'm also of the opinion that, you know, when. When every technological advances happen, there's been fear and there's had to been. There has to be adjustment in, in society.

[Brian Green]

For sure.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

We talked about that. Yeah.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And so I just. And. And ultimately you become more efficient. I'm hoping and I'm hopeful that AI is going to help us make more things quicker, but I don't foresee the human element being something that we can take away from art.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And take away from. From podcasts like these. If someone's like, you know that there's a podcast that can be perfectly crafted for you with fake people, I'd be like, I want to listen.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yeah, exactly.

[Joanna Houseman]

What is the human experience if it's just crafted around.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Right.

[Brian Green]

Well, I also, I agree with you, and I think human creativity is the one thing. And if. Even if you talk to people or if you listen to people who are in the world of AI, human creativity and some of our logic just may be a generation 2, 3, 4 away from being something you can replicate with any degree of, like, accuracy. It's just. It's our mat. It's our X factor, it's our umami. It's the thing that we have that makes us human. That unfortunately for people who want to.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Think we're flawed, humans are flawed. And that's also what makes us interesting.

[Brian Green]

Well, that's what. Yeah. And we have the ability to make certain types of. Certain types of thinking that we have is really hard to replicate because we don't even understand how it Works. So therefore, AI can't understand. Not yet, at least. Can't understand how it works.

[Joanna Houseman]

Also, when you see something and you know someone made it, it inherently affects the way that you perceive it.

[Brian Green]

Agreed.

[Joanna Houseman]

I am. That's. You connect. If I am, if I know that this is not made by a person, my brain automatically disengages. I'm not interested.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Right.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. I see AI on social media and it's. Yes, it's getting better at looking real, but at least for right now, a lot of it is flagged, tagged, or people identify it as AI I just don't have a lot of respect for it. Right. And so, you know, we use AI Here at the show. It makes little songs for us, but I write all the lyrics. I just get it to play an instrument. Right. And that's because I don't have a full band. I'm not Jimmy Kimmel. I can't just put a full band in the back of my thing. So it's a tool. It helps, right? It helps me be more creative. And if I look at it that way, I don't have any problem with it. But is it going to replace me? I'm sure that you could make a show funnier than ours, better than ours for you, with my voice through A.I.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yeah, you're right. It would be weird.

[Brian Green]

Why would you want to listen to that?

[Joanna Houseman]

Yeah, why would you want to listen to it? It's like, oh, I actually. I want to be in a simulation.

[Brian Green]

Yes, I'm already in a simulation. I don't want to be in another one that's double secret probation, and that doesn't exist. Okay. I. Joanna, I love you so much. I know. I. I know it's taken us a long time to get to. To number two, but I hope it doesn't take us a long time to get to number three, because I really enjoy talking to. You were one of our favorites the first time. You haven't ruined that by coming on the second time. So, you know, sometimes you held your place. You held your place.

[Joanna Houseman]

I mean, I was like. I was like, do they really want me? Well, made them work for it. And now I gotta prove I'm not a waste of time.

[Brian Green]

I'm like, well, will she be better than Nacho? We'll have to see. But I have to say, I still hold you close to my heart.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

So you never forget your friends.

[Joanna Houseman]

Well, me and Nacho can. Yeah, I mean, I was first. And Nacho and I, we can fight about it.

[Brian Green]

Yeah. You guys get in the comment section and Fight about it. Do you know Nacho? Do you listen to edn?

[Joanna Houseman]

I do, Yeah, I do know Nacho. I met him many, many, many years ago. And, yeah, I've just followed his career. It's like one of those. It's like when you go to call or high school with someone.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

And then you see them parallel succeed, and it's like, oh, my God, I know that guy that well. But. But almost like living similar experiences, exiting the country and sort of finding your footing has been really wonderful to see. Yeah.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, he's done great. Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

We.

[Brian Green]

There's a few podcasters I've known. Like, I know them from 20, 25 years ago, and I don't speak to them on a regular basis at all, but I watch their career and I go, I know them. And they did it. They did something very similar. I cheer them on. Unless they make more money than us. Then I don't cheer them on.

[Joanna Houseman]

Then I say, get out of here.

[Brian Green]

You owe me money. Yeah. Joanna Houseman is currently writing for Phineas and Ferb. I'm sorry, because I'm old and my brain farts. The name of the other show that you have on Disney. Oh, yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

Hamster and Gretel.

[Brian Green]

Hamster and Gretel. Yeah. Yeah. I don't want to.

[Joanna Houseman]

What?

[Brian Green]

I wanted to call it, like, John and Apple or something. I don't know what I was thinking. Squirrel and Apple.

[Joanna Houseman]

Maybe if it was renamed, they wouldn't have canceled.

[Brian Green]

But it's still on Disney plus, right?

[Joanna Houseman]

It's still on Disney plus. Yeah.

[Brian Green]

Okay.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

It lives on.

[Brian Green]

Go, go watch it. Put some. Do you get royalties from Hamster and Gretel if I watch it?

[Joanna Houseman]

Fun fact, I don't. Unless my voice is in it. Unless my voice is in it. In which case, we watch all of them.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Yes. Okay, go ahead and watch them. We'll put it on the background.

[Brian Green]

Watch episode. Yeah, watch episode. 13 minutes it 4 through 6 so that Joanna can get a check and then fuck the rest of it. Who cares about those other people? Hamster. No, I'm kidding. Of course. Bob. Settle down. Settle down. The Polynesian for a week. Park Hopper tickets. That's all I want, Bob. So tell. Talk to Joanna.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Set it up.

[Brian Green]

Say Joanna. You just say Bob. I know a needy family. I know a needy podcaster who wants to come down to Disney Seat.

[Joanna Houseman]

I'm sure he'll listen. I'm gonna email him. I'm gonna slack him.

[Brian Green]

Slack him.

[Joanna Houseman]

Yeah.

[Brian Green]

I wonder if you. Yeah, I wonder. But here's the thing. You working for Disney is going to end up being the best thing in the world to your children. Oh, yeah. If. I mean, if you continue to work for Disney.

[Joanna Houseman]

Yeah, we'll see. I. We'll see what happens. But I love that I'm gonna be able to share with her soon my content because a lot of my other comedy, I'm like, yeah, you gotta. You gotta wait till you. But those shows, hey, it's gone through. It's gone through. Copious amounts of checking from Disney Legal.

[Brian Green]

Yes.

[Joanna Houseman]

So to make sure you can see it.

[Rachel (Voice of God)]

Yeah.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Congratulations, too.

[Brian Green]

Yeah.

[Joanna Houseman]

Thank you, guys.

[Brian Green]

Congratulations on the baby. Let's do this again in another couple of months. Give us the exclusive and give us the exclusive. Yes.

[Joanna Houseman]

Oh, yeah. I got something coming out and I think it's going to be very fun to talk about once.

[Brian Green]

Okay.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

We're excited.

[Brian Green]

Okay. If we're not. If you're not here to allow us to put that out a day before him, we are going to put you in the Nicky Jam category, which is. I don't know.

[Joanna Houseman]

I know.

[Brian Green]

We'd love to know.

[Joanna Houseman]

I'll text you, I promise.

[Brian Green]

Okay. Joanna Housman. All of her links are in the show. Notes Phineas and Ferb available on Disney plus. Thanks, Joanna.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

We appreciate it. Thank you, Joanna.

[Joanna Houseman]

Thank you, guys.

[Brian Green]

Love you.

[Rachel (Voice of God)]

Let me do something Brian has never done.

[Von Miller]

Be brief.

[Rachel (Voice of God)]

Follow us on Instagram at the commercial break. Text or call us 212-4333, tcb. That's 212-433-3822. Visit our website tcbpodcast.com for all the audio, video and your free sticker. Then watch all the [e-mail] thecommercial break and finally, share the show. It's the best gift you could give a few aging podcasters. See, Brian, that really wasn't that difficult, now was it? You're welcome.

[Joanna Houseman]

Hey, Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a.

[Brian Green]

Very happy half off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half price, not half the service.

[Joanna Houseman]

Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means a half day. Yeah. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow hacker 35 gigabytes of networks.

[Brian Green]

Busy taxes and fees extra.

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[Brian Green]

All right, Joanna Hausman.

[Joanna Houseman]

Yes, I do love.

[Brian Green]

I do love her.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

See, I know she's just got.

[Brian Green]

She's a ball of energy.

[Joanna Houseman]

Yeah.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

I just love talking to her.

[Brian Green]

Yeah, she's sweet, she's kind, she's funny, she's sharp. She's now a mama. So she's got mama brain. And there's nothing like a mama brain. Mama brains get smarter. Daddy brains get dumber. We can't handle all the minutiae.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

I was going to say. There's so many things to remember. Yes, it just happens.

[Brian Green]

Thank God for Mama brains. Thank God for Mama brains. Joanna Housman is a writer and a think voices some things on the new episodes of Phineas and Ferb. They are available on Disney plus. I think they also run on Disney Channel. I think they do. I'll put it in the show notes. I want to double check, make sure that's correct. And then of course, follow Joanna on her own social media for more commentary on Venezuela and Venezuelans. You'll love it.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

That stuff is really funny.

[Brian Green]

Yes, it is. She took an idea that. That I. She didn't take my idea. She. She presented an idea that I also had, which was the differences between the two birthday songs.

[Joanna Houseman]

Oh, yeah.

[Brian Green]

If you've ever heard a Venezuelan birthday song, you'll know it because you'll have to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner while they're doing the Venezuelan birthday song.

[Joanna Houseman]

It's long.

[Brian Green]

Six hours long. It's the craziest thing you've ever heard. And it.

[Joanna Houseman]

That's.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

I like their celebration of birthdays.

[Brian Green]

I do. They get very, very excited.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

Me too.

[Brian Green]

Very excited. Yeah, you do too. But I'm Irish. We just wit. You know, we bang ourselves with a pot, stop growing old. We're born with original sin.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

There's got to be an Irish jig for birthdays.

[Brian Green]

I'm sure there is, but since I'm not really Irish, since I just had. I just say that. But my family's been here for a hundred years, you know?

[Joanna Houseman]

Yeah.

[Brian Green]

All right. 212-4333. TCB 212433. 3822 questions, comments, concerns, content, ideas. Would you take them all right there? Make sure to follow us on Instagram at the commercial break so that you can get informed about when Chrissy and I go live on Twitch, YouTube, maybe tick tock and Instagram. We'll see if we can figure it out. YouTube.com the commercial break is the place where you can find all all of the video the same day. It airs here on the audio, including this episode and tcb podcast.com for more information about the show and your free sticker. Okay, Chrissy, that's all I can do for now. I think so I'll tell you that I love you.

[Kristen Joy Hoadley]

I love you.

[Brian Green]

Best to you and best you out there in the podcast universe. Until next time, Chrissy and I will say we do say and we must say goodbye. Think advertising on TikTok isn't for your business.

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