The goop Podcast – Nikki Glaser (Best Of)

Host: Gwyneth Paltrow
Guest: Nikki Glaser
Date: December 16, 2025
Theme: Honest Humor, Vulnerability, Body Image, and the Power of Authentic Conversation

Episode Overview

In this “best of” conversation, Gwyneth Paltrow sits down with comedian Nikki Glaser for a candid, funny, and deeply human exploration of body image, self-talk, vulnerability, therapy, and the impact of radical honesty—onstage and off. Glaser shares how her self-criticism drives her, how personal experiences and therapy shape her comedy, and why her fearless approach to taboo topics is both empowering and fraught. The episode is a journey through perfectionism, self-acceptance, sexual identity, and the often paradoxical pressures on women in comedy and culture.

Key Discussion Points, Insights & Memorable Moments

1. Preparation, Perfectionism, and Self-Talk

• Nikki describes her intense preparation for performances (notably the Golden Globes and Tom Brady roast) and how it borders on obsessive, driven by her need to never leave potential "on the floor."
  • "If I leave any potential on the floor, I failed myself. Like, I wanna go out there ... the only way I’ll be able to sleep at night ... is if I can say I did everything I could to be great." (Nikki, 06:11)
• Self-punishment and kindness rituals: Nikki shares how she tries to interrupt negative self-talk with gestures of kindness to herself, like kissing her own arm in the morning, and how keeping photos of her childhood self fosters self-compassion. Gwyneth relates with her own practices.
  • "This gentle kiss on my arm like literally grounded me ... remember that ... that's who's really struggling in there and trying, you know?" (Nikki, 07:30)
  • "I talk to my little girl in there ... to go in and re-parent yourself in that way, and like show your little self that you are a grown-up ... incredibly powerful tool." (Gwyneth, 10:20)

2. Hormones, Anxiety, and Self-Forgiveness

• Both women discuss new or heightened self-criticism and anxiety as they age and undergo hormonal shifts.
  • "I've had anxiety and I've never had it before ... mine comes in self-punishing thoughts as well." (Gwyneth, 08:50)
  • "I talk to myself so meanly ... Why is it okay for me to talk to myself this way?" (Nikki, 11:00)
• On breaking self-critical cycles: Nikki advocates for letting go of shame over choices (like using weed or overeating) and comparing ourselves to rigidity, perfection, and binary self-judgment.
  • "If I'm gonna smoke weed, why don't you enjoy it instead of ... beating yourself up while you're high. Like, you're already high." (Nikki, 11:31)

3. Honesty in Comedy and Culture-Shifting Conversations

• Nikki’s comedic style is rooted in radical honesty—even when it’s taboo or uncomfortable. She draws a direct line between humor and healing societal shame, especially around sex and abuse.
  • "Really what funny is, is saying the thing no one else is saying, and it's being honest." (Nikki, 13:32)
  • Gwyneth notes the importance of "breaking paradigms" with honesty (15:17).
• Nikki discusses her current act, which includes challenging, stigmatized topics about sexual abuse, and her determination to blow the lid off secrecy and shame.
  • "I'm like, I think we need to talk about this ... it's not like what you would normally go to for a comedy routine ... but I think it just needs to be talked about more." (Nikki, 17:42)

4. Navigating “Too Far” in Comedy

• The challenge of determining when a joke crosses a line, especially with personal targets (e.g., Tom Brady roast, referencing exes). Nikki weighs comedic duty against empathy and future relationships.
  • "There’s some things ... that I do regret ... the joke isn’t making fun of her at all, but it does put her in a sexual scenario ..." (Nikki, 24:55)
• On becoming friendly with celebrities: Fame changes the calculus for Nikki, making her more careful with material about people she may now know personally.
  • "When I was just like a nobody, it was like free range ... now I walk with ... I just don’t want to talk shit about someone I might have to meet." (Nikki, 25:33)
• A memorable story: JLo’s response to Nikki joking about her face cream:
  • "She sent me her face cream and said, this is for your feet. So funny." (Nikki, 27:11)

5. Body Image, Aging, and Beauty

• Both recount personal experiences with plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures (Gwyneth's “monster” over-Botoxing at 40).
  • "I literally will show you pictures—like I was a monster." (Gwyneth, 35:17)
• Nikki’s journey through body image issues, struggles with anorexia, pursuit of validation through thinness, and the cultural brainwashing around beauty.
  • "Anorexic and hospitalized my senior year of high school. ... It was the first time I was like, good at anything. ... It seemed like thinness and beauty were two things that had to happen." (Nikki, 46:46)
• Both women reflect on the paradox of wanting to love themselves while also desiring (and sometimes pursuing) cosmetic enhancement.
  • "Women have had this kind of moment of getting really honest ... now I’m looking for the next thing I can talk about honestly." (Nikki, 54:10)

6. Sex, Intimacy, and Non-Monogamy

• Nikki opens up about her views and experiences with non-monogamy, sexual fetishes, and the intersection between competition, validation, and sexual desire.
  • "I mean, I wouldn't mind if my boyfriend were to fool around with other people." (Nikki, 36:31)
  • "It’s always been a part of our foreplay for me to ask him about past girls." (Nikki, 41:54)
• She connects these interests to her tendency to gamify intimacy, her late sexual bloom, and the lingering impact of low self-esteem.
  • "I think a lot of my sexual desire was wrapped up in, like, I have to prove myself to him..." (Nikki, 43:11)

7. Therapy, 12-Step, and Self-Care Rituals

• Nikki and Gwyneth affirm the value of therapy, couples therapy (“Obsessed. ... I can't recommend it enough.” Nikki, 62:47), and friendship rituals like “girls chat.”
• Self-care routines include Lagree Pilates, gentle incline treadmill walks, meditation, and journaling.
  • "Doing one thing a day, even for 20 seconds that you’re like, in agony ... Everything else seems easy.” (Nikki, 58:48)
  • "That’s what’s most important, is just being able to talk to someone. And therapy." (Nikki, 62:58)
• Advocacy for everyone to try 12-step or support groups as a way to foster honesty and community—even for non-addiction issues.

8. Wellness Lightning Round (61:15–65:45)

• Gwyneth and Nikki discuss quirky wellness practices: bee venom facials (both decline, Nikki's vegan), leech therapy (“I’d have to look into the ethics, but yeah, I’d be down if they like it,” Nikki, 63:43), moon bathing (“Yeah, but no,” Nikki, 64:51), Tom Brady Diet (“Yeah, I could probably do it for, like, fifteen minutes. No, I can’t do no coffee.” Nikki, 65:30), and more.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "If I leave any potential on the floor, I failed myself..."
  —Nikki (06:11)
• "I talk to my little girl in there...re-parent yourself in that way, and...it's incredibly powerful."
  —Gwyneth (10:20)
• "If I'm gonna smoke weed, why don't you enjoy it instead of...beating yourself up while you're high."
  —Nikki (11:31)
• "What funny is, is saying the thing that no one else is saying, and it’s being honest."
  —Nikki (13:32)
• "You're breaking paradigms. It's really important to do that."
  —Gwyneth (15:17)
• "I think we need to talk about this...It's not like what you would normally go to for a comedy routine..."
  —Nikki (17:42)
• "She sent me her face cream and said, this is for your feet. So funny."
  —Nikki (27:11)
• "I think a lot of my sexual desire was wrapped up in, like, I have to prove myself to him...and now he's won over. He loves me for me."
  —Nikki (43:11)
• "You can love yourself at every part of the process...I can still want to get a brow lift and be able to accept myself without one."
  —Nikki (52:59)

Additional Highlights

• Sarah Silverman’s influence: Nikki credits Sarah Silverman as inspiration for mixing beauty with raunchy, honest humor (56:03–56:48).
• Girls in comedy: Experiences of competitiveness, being labeled a “high school cheerleader shouldn’t be doing standup comedy,” and the importance of not losing touch with her outsider perspective (56:50–58:14).
• Wellness vs. beauty: The relationship between wellness rituals, self-acceptance, and external practices (58:14–62:58).

Episode Flow & Tone

• Warmth, self-deprecation, realness: Both host and guest strike a tone that is humorous yet vulnerable—unafraid of discomfort and always quick to turn self-examination into a punchline.
• Empowerment through honesty: A recurring theme is the communal power of sharing what “isn’t supposed to be said,” especially for women.
• Self-care as ongoing process: Acceptance, therapy, ritual, and humor (and, yes, Botox) all have a place.

Suggested Timestamps for Key Segments

• 06:09 – The drive for perfection and obsessive preparation
• 07:30 – Self-kindness rituals and “re-parenting” oneself
• 13:32 – Honesty as comedic and healing act
• 17:42 – Taking on taboo subjects in comedy
• 24:55 – The emotional calculus of telling risky jokes
• 27:11 – The JLo face cream story
• 36:31 – Glaser’s candid take on non-monogamy and sexual dynamics
• 43:11 – Competition, desire, and self-worth in intimacy
• 46:46 – Anorexia, cultural pressures, and the thinness trap
• 52:59 – The paradox of beauty work and self-acceptance
• 62:47 – Therapy, support groups, and honest conversation as self-care
• 63:15 – Wellness lightning round

If you’re seeking a conversation that’s equal parts hilarious, disarming, and searingly honest—about women’s bodies, sexual politics, fame, aging, and the power of vulnerability—this episode delivers.