Nikki Glaser at the Top of Her Game

Summary

The New Yorker Radio Hour: Nikki Glaser at the Top of Her Game

Hosted by David Remnick | Release Date: April 22, 2025

In the April 22, 2025 episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour, host David Remnick engages in an in-depth conversation with renowned comedian Nikki Glaser. The episode delves into Glaser's meteoric rise in the world of comedy roasts, her creative process, personal struggles with self-worth, and her perspectives on political humor. Through candid discussions and insightful anecdotes, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of Glaser's journey to the pinnacle of her comedic career.

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Nikki Glaser's Rise in Comedy Roasts

David Remnick opens the discussion by highlighting Nikki Glaser's significant impact on the traditional format of comedy roasts. He remarks on her exceptional performance in the Netflix-hosted roast of NFL quarterback Tom Brady, calling it "a phenomenon" and commending her as an "overnight sensation."

David Remnick [00:18]: "Over the past few years, Nikki Glaser has breathed some new life into this old ritual. In fact, she really owns the roast form these days."

Glaser reflects on her unexpected ascent, emphasizing her long-standing dedication to comedy over 22 years.

Nikki Glaser [02:09]: "I really come from a place of, like, I probably don't deserve to get noticed. I'll just keep working."

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Preparing for a Roast

The conversation transitions to the meticulous preparation behind Glaser's acclaimed roasts. She unveils the collaborative nature of her work, involving her team in crafting and refining jokes.

Nikki Glaser [04:26]: "So you start writing jokes, and then you start getting jokes sent in from the people that are on your team. And by the way, everyone does this. No one admits that they do it." [04:26]

Glaser explains how she tests her material in various settings to gauge audience reactions, ensuring her performance resonates effectively.

Nikki Glaser [05:37]: "You just read jokes all day, you try to make them better, and then you put a set together and then you start going out and you." [05:37]

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Challenges of Success: Self-Worth and Anxiety

Despite her outward success, Glaser candidly discusses her ongoing battles with self-worth and anxiety. She acknowledges that newfound fame has not alleviated her internal struggles.

Nikki Glaser [09:35]: "It's done nothing. I'm trying to let it in." [09:35]

She delves into her imposter syndrome, revealing a persistent fear of being exposed as less talented than perceived.

Nikki Glaser [10:25]: "I just have imposter syndrome. I just, you know, constantly feel like I've tricked someone or someone's gonna realize that I'm not as talented as I am or as people think that I am." [10:25]

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Navigating Public Perception and Social Media

Glaser shares her experiences with public scrutiny and social media criticism. She recounts a specific incident where outdated photographs sparked negative comments, leading her to confront harsh perceptions of her appearance.

Nikki Glaser [15:16]: "I did Jimmy Fallon and I saw one of the pictures where I'm like walking, like I'm walking out and I'm like, ah. Like, my face is like, eh. And I was like, where have I seen that face?" [15:16]

Despite her efforts to remain detached, she admits moments of vulnerability when encountering derogatory remarks online.

Nikki Glaser [17:35]: "It's really. I go, oh, they are being mean." [17:35]

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Political Comedy and Censorship

The dialogue shifts to Glaser's cautious approach to political humor. She expresses concerns about potential backlash, including doxxing and death threats, emphasizing the importance of safety in her comedic expression.

Nikki Glaser [18:24]: "I'm not saying it's happening right now. I'm not saying it's happening anytime soon, but it's within the scope of possibilities." [18:24]

Reflecting on a past performance, Glaser contemplates her delivery and the balance between humor and sincerity.

Nikki Glaser [21:29]: "I would have chosen different jokes and different delivery. I feel bad about the delivery and I feel bad like, I didn't go harder." [21:29]

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Personal Life and Living Situations

Glaser opens up about her personal life, particularly her choice to live in St. Louis with her parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. She describes the supportive yet humorous dynamics of her family life, highlighting the challenges and comforts of living at home at the age of 36.

Nikki Glaser [23:28]: "I live in St. Louis. Because I went back for Covid. I was living in New York during..." [23:28]

She candidly discusses the tension between her successful career and the "failure to launch" narrative, illustrating her reliance on family for emotional support.

Nikki Glaser [24:08]: "It was awesome. I didn't want to go. They kind of were like, listen, you got to move on." [24:08]

---

Future Aspirations and Self-Acceptance

Concluding the interview, Glaser shares her aspirations for personal growth, focusing on self-acceptance and exploring spiritual journeys such as ayahuasca and mushroom trips.

Nikki Glaser [25:34]: "I want to work on my self-acceptance. I want to do like ayahuasca. I want to do like mushroom trips. Like, I want to do some spiritual journey." [25:34]

She humorously addresses the physical challenges of such endeavors, linking them to her past experiences with bulimia.

Nikki Glaser [26:10]: "Do you know how bulimic I was in college? I can handle it." [26:10]

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Conclusion

David Remnick wraps up the conversation by acknowledging Glaser's continued success and her multifaceted approach to comedy and personal well-being. The episode offers a nuanced portrayal of Nikki Glaser, balancing her public achievements with her private vulnerabilities, and underscores her relentless pursuit of growth both on and off the stage.

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Notable Quotes:

• Nikki Glaser [02:09]: "I really come from a place of, like, I probably don't deserve to get noticed."

• Nikki Glaser [04:26]: "Everyone does this. No one admits that they do it."

• Nikki Glaser [10:25]: "I just have imposter syndrome... feel like I'm not as talented as people think that I am."

• Nikki Glaser [18:24]: "It's within the scope of possibilities."

• Nikki Glaser [25:34]: "I want to do some spiritual journey."

---

Nikki Glaser continues to tour and expand her comedic repertoire, including hosting the Golden Globes again next year. Her journey exemplifies the complexities of balancing public acclaim with personal introspection, making her a compelling figure in contemporary comedy.

Transcript

[Nikki Glaser]

Listener support WNYC Studios.

[David Remnick]

This is the New Yorker Radio Hour, a co production of WNYC Studios and the New Yorker.

This is the New Yorker Radio Hour. I'm David Remnick. Now, a comedy roast is a pretty strange ritual. A celebrated person submits to public humiliation voluntarily. Old wounds are poked at, foibles are mocked. Scandals re aired, usually with great obscenity. The celebrity just sits there, showing what a fantastic sport they are. But the discomfort is obvious. The roaster can't pull a punch if the thing is going to work. Over the past few years, Nikki Glaser has breathed some new life into this old ritual. In fact, she really owns the roast form these days. I probably needn't tell you about Glaser's roast of the quarterback, Tom Brady. It's a phenomenon, and if you haven't seen it, it awaits you happily on Netflix. Nikki Glaser has been on a hot streak ever since hosting the Golden Globes earlier this year and touring the country with a new show. So I knew your work just a little bit here and there, you'd be on this show and that show. And one night I just. I was fried. And so I went on Netflix looking for something to watch. And there's this Tom Brady roast, and I thought, you know, this seems particularly mindless. Let's do this.

[Nikki Glaser]

Exactly.

[David Remnick]

And then there you were, and I kind of barely knew you, and you killed it. Killed it. I hadn't seen anything like that since. I don't know. Prince playing wild. My guitar gently weeps on an Awards show 20 years ago. I know you're right.

[Nikki Glaser]

Rock and Roll hall of Fame. That's Danny Harrison and Tom Petty.

[David Remnick]

You got it.

[Nikki Glaser]

What a comparison. That's so nice.

[David Remnick]

Overnight sensation. What goes into being an overnight sensation?

[Nikki Glaser]

I mean, like, 22 years of, you know, doing it all the time of work and of honestly of just not really ever thinking it was going to happen. Just really just one foot in front of the other. Just. I was not really in a place of, like, when is this going to happen for me? When are people going to notice? I really come from a place of, like, I probably don't deserve to get noticed. I'll just keep working. And tricking people along the way is kind of what I thought. Like, people seem to just, like, kind of fall for my bs, I guess. And then this came about, and I actually. I did advocate for myself to get the Tom Brady roast. I knew it was gonna be a huge deal. Didn't know how huge, but I knew I had it in me to, like, put the work in.

[David Remnick]

You say you advocated to get that gig.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yeah, I did.

[David Remnick]

How does that work?

[Nikki Glaser]

Well, I heard it was happening, and then I just texted the guy who I assumed was gonna be in charge of it, Robbie Prah, who is head of comedy at Netflix. He had scouted me for the Just for Laughs festival in, like, 2007. So I had known him since we were both kind of starting out in the business. And I just texted him and I said, I really wanna do this roast, and I think I'd be great at it. And he said, you know, actually, I'm going to talk to Tom about it today.

[David Remnick]

And Tom Brady had control over who gets to be.

[Nikki Glaser]

I think he had a roaster. I think he was. He's an executive producer on it. And so I think, yeah, he was gonna have a say in it.

[David Remnick]

And did you have to perform in front of him or did he watch tapes or.

[Nikki Glaser]

I think he watched tapes. I think he was very well versed in roasts. Getting into it, you know, that guy watches tapes.

[David Remnick]

What was he thinking saying yes to it?

[Nikki Glaser]

I think he was just going for the next challenge, the next thing that other people go, I could never do that. Because most people know, like, has there been another one?

[David Remnick]

You think that was the end of roast?

[Nikki Glaser]

I don't think it's the end, but I think it's a really hard spot to fill. I think that people aren't brave enough to do it.

[David Remnick]

So talk to me a little bit about what goes into the preparation for something like that. I think there's still a mythology that comedians, like singer songwriters, sit at home at the kitchen table and they sketch out one joke after another. But it's a lot more complicated and a lot more collaborative than that, isn't it?

[Nikki Glaser]

So you start writing jokes, and then you start getting jokes sent in from the people that are on your team. And by the way, everyone does this. No one admits that they do it.

[David Remnick]

Why?

[Nikki Glaser]

Because you get talked about on podcasts and different things where people say, oh, well, she had Ryder. You know, you don't get all the glory. I don't have a lot of shame in saying that. I have help because I know everyone does it. But the problem is people on the outside that don't know that everyone has it. They look at me, they can just excuse my talent. And since when is it not a talent to be able to say, here's what I want, and, oh, actually make that better. Here's where I want to redo that. And every script you have seen a movie of besides Mike White, you know, on White Lotus.

[David Remnick]

And maybe this season could have used a little bit.

[Nikki Glaser]

I will not say that I love it, but. And then I look at like late night hosts and I'm like, we never steal anything from their glory. And they have a whole writer's room. We don't take anything from them.

[David Remnick]

You and writers that you select write endless amounts of jokes. Many, many, many more minutes than seven minutes.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yes.

[David Remnick]

And then how has it worked out? How do you. You go to clubs, you see what works, what doesn't work.

[Nikki Glaser]

Well, yeah, you just read them. You read jokes all day, you try to make them better, and then you put a set together and then you start going out and you. You know, I think the first time I ran the Tom Brady, I was doing a corporate gig in Sedona or something. And I just, you know, my act for corporate gigs is not always the best. They're kind of confused at some of the themes I'm talking about. It's just not what they expect. Cause they've all. They know me from roasts or they know me from late night appearances where it's a little bit cleaner or, you know, not so absurd. And so I was like, oh, yeah, I'll just. I'll bring them in on the process. Cause it's really a cool thing for audiences to see the beginning of this thing where I go, okay, I'm doing the Tom Brady roast. Can I try out some jokes? And then you start reading off jokes, you see what hits and you go, okay, let's try that again.

[David Remnick]

And the audience doesn't lie. If you go to the Comedy Cellar and you're working out stuff, what may or may not be in a roast.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yeah.

[David Remnick]

What works in the Comedy Cellar is gonna work on the roast.

[Nikki Glaser]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[David Remnick]

But what struck me, the New York Times did a piece where they followed you around for, I think, a few weeks. The degree to which it was so organized, this process and. And how long it took and how careful and in a way unfunny. I mean, so serious. It was like a piece about the Jet Propulsion Lab or something.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yeah, yeah, it was that exact. And that. Because it's live, you know, the first three roasts I did, it's a live performance, but they. It goes through an edit. All the laughs can get beefed up after. Like, I.

[David Remnick]

What did you know would kill? And what were you worried about?

[Nikki Glaser]

Well, roast and Tom Brady, not worried at all because, like, they were live. So I. There was no margin of error. There Was no one that I was like, this might not work. Like, you can't have those. The others, the three roasts I did where you could edit. Yeah. I put in some B jokes that sometimes are A's, Golden Globes and Tom Brady Roast. It's live, so you can't have those. It might. This could be cool if it works. And that's not to say that they all did work, but I was really sure of all of those.

[David Remnick]

How do you pace it out? I noticed that in the Golden Globes monologue, the opening joke is incredibly short.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yeah.

[David Remnick]

Which was.

[Nikki Glaser]

It was welcome to the Golden Globes Ozempics biggest night. Yeah. Yeah. Which. Yes. You know, for the Ozempic's biggest night, I just knew it was like, welcome to the Golden Globes. Da da da da da da. Like, I just knew that's the cadence. I wanted the rhythm, and I knew that I wanted a joke immediately. I don't want them to have to wait for it. That's something that I talked to. I was doing a podcast with Lori Kilmartin and Jackie Cation, two amazing standup comedians, and I was talking about how I just never understand when comedians go out on stage and don't have a really quick joke right away to win over the audience. They kind of dawdle a little bit. Any late night set you've seen of mine, you can go back and look. Any set. I have a. I have a laugh right away. Like, I don't waste any time. And it's not because I'm like, that's what the audience deserves. It's because I don't want them to be like, what are we doing here? And they said they go, well, that's being a female comic. Because as. And I don't play that card often, but I will play that on that one. Because how come when a man gets on stage, you're like, that looks like a comedian to me. I'm gonna give him a little bit more leeway to make me laugh. Okay. I bet he's gonna make me laugh. So I'll sit and listen to him. Not make me laugh. To. I trust the laughs coming. Well, it just never goes away, that feeling of not being worthy or being thought of as less than. And it's wrapped up in also a other underlying lack of self worth that I have that permeates everything I do. But I think part of it is I just know that people think women aren't as funny. So I have to prove it right away and be like, see? And then can we all just relax and you can trust me kind of thing?

[David Remnick]

So this leap in success seems to have done only a modest amount to alleviate problems with self worth and anxiety.

[Nikki Glaser]

It's done nothing.

[David Remnick]

It's done nothing.

[Nikki Glaser]

No, I would say nothing. I'm trying to let it in. There's moments where I get, you know, compliments from people I really admire, and they say it in a way that I'm like, oh, that's the way you say it. When you mean it, they're not just being nice and they'll break through a little bit and I'll go, okay, yeah, I'll take that in. Like, this person wouldn't lie to me. I just don't. I don't really bask in things. And it's not because I like to be tortured. I just. I don't know, I just don't feel like. Well, I think part of it is I don't want to take it in because when it goes away inevitably, I don't want to be sad. And I'm inevit.

[David Remnick]

You say inevitably.

[Nikki Glaser]

I mean, it doesn't. There's no one who's been immune to success being kind of pulled away from you. Like, you're only on top for so long. It's going to descend, and it's. And I just wanna be okay when it's.

[David Remnick]

But you're surrounded by comedians who have had. Sure, they've had ups and downs.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yeah.

[David Remnick]

But you know, somebody like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yeah.

[David Remnick]

And, you know, from year to year, it might vary, but these are long careers that are developing.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yeah, yeah.

[David Remnick]

You're scared to admit that that might possibly be you.

[Nikki Glaser]

Um. I mean.

[David Remnick]

Cause here's the thing, Nikki, it seems like that's exactly what's happening.

[Nikki Glaser]

I mean, that's. It's un. I'm starting to let that in. That, like, okay, I might be reaching a level where it's not gonna go away and it's always gonna be there, and it might go up and down like you're saying, but it's immense pressure. And I almost am tired of hearing myself say it. But I just have imposter syndrome. I just, you know, there's. I don't know how to beat it, but I just constantly feel like I've tricked someone or someone's gonna realize that I'm not as talented as I am or as people think that I am.

[David Remnick]

I'm tempted to begin the question by saying, join the club. And I think it's an enormous human club. But also, is there anybody that you talk to in your world specifically, who sets things right for you, makes you feel a little bit better about what the possibilities are. I mean, and I think you've said elsewhere that you sometimes or constantly wish you were someone else.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yeah, a lot of times. I mean, today I'm in a great mood and I love my life and I'm happy with, like.

[David Remnick]

But it's day to day.

[Nikki Glaser]

It's day. It's hour to hour. Like, it really is. I wish I wasn't like this, but I can be so intent.

[David Remnick]

This isn't a bit.

[Nikki Glaser]

This is cool. This is annoying. Like, I don't like talking about all of this because it seems like I'm just trying to garner sympathy or something or that it's, I'm trying to be like, relatable. Oh, it's the famous girl that doesn't think she deserves it. Like, we've all seen that. Of like. No, I don't. I'm just like you. Like, it's not a bit because there are some times where I'm like, well, you nailed that. Like the Golden Globes. I nailed the Tom Brady roast. I nailed. Can I watch those back? Absolutely not. Because in my mind they went great. But you know, the clips I have seen or come across when I just quickly go, oh, God, there's things that I go, why did you say it like that? Like, you, why did you look like that? There's. There's a million things that I would correct, but. And yes, there are people in my life that make me feel amazing about where I'm at and, and ground me and, and all those things.

[David Remnick]

I'm talking with comedian Nikki Glaser and we'll continue in a moment on the New Yorker Radio Hour St.

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[David Remnick]

So in an earlier Part of your life. And I hate this phrase. But you would take the edge off.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yeah.

[David Remnick]

By drinking.

[Nikki Glaser]

Oh yeah.

[David Remnick]

You quit drinking. How do you relieve things now?

[Nikki Glaser]

I say, I text my friends and my boyfriend and I really say crazy things. I think drinking or whatever I would do to self soothe that anxiety or that self hatred to make that voice go away. It's not there anymore. I don't have that. So I just let that voice rage and I just say crazy stuff about myself and I just like bully myself. Like, you know, a lot of sometimes my self hatred has to do with my looks because it's not really about my looks, but it's just something I can focus on. And so I will like Photoshop things to. To prove to my friends, like, I am ugly. Look how much I look like this person. I'll do like side by sides and.

[David Remnick]

Well, just recently you put some photographs out. How did that happen?

[Nikki Glaser]

Oh yeah, that. Okay, this is.

[David Remnick]

Explain what I'm talking about.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yes. Okay, so I did the Tonight show on last Monday. And by the way, I was so depressed that early morning. And then I just started wrapping my head around you have to be on Jimmy Fallon. And then my mood starts lifting. Cause I just have to turn into. It's not even a character. It just. I have no room to be depressed anymore. I can't go out on Jimmy Fallon. Sad or. Yeah, you just can't do it. It's like so it went away on its own. So I did Jimmy Fallon and I saw one of the pictures where I'm like walking, like I'm walking out and I'm like, ah. Like, my face is like, eh. And I was like, where have I seen that face? And I was like, oh my God, that's the same face I made when I walked out on the first Tonight Show I ever did. There's like a picture of me like.

[David Remnick]

What year is that?

[Nikki Glaser]

2009. January 2009. And then cut to March 2025. And I was like, oh, let me just do side by sides and put out this Instagram post of like me and Jimmy at the desk, me and Jay Leno at the desk, me and Jim, you know, and just it was more a thing of like how adorable was. Look at this young girl. And look where I am now. It wasn't about like, look where I've been. It was also to be like, hey, I've been around a while. Like, isn't this funny? Like, I was on the Tonight Show. You had no clue who I was until last May. And I've been around this long and it was just like, all right, I'll just put this out. And I didn't read. I don't read comments. I don't read any of my Google alerts. I don't.

[David Remnick]

I'm possibly calling bullshit on that. I think you do. It sounds like you do read comments.

[Nikki Glaser]

I don't. I. The. Here's. I will. I will. I'm being 100% honest with you. I do. And you can check with my. My social media manager knows sometimes I will post something and I'll just be in the mood because it's just something lighthearted that they can't really go after. So I'll just. The. I'll read the first comments that pop up because it just went up and I'm like, I'm on it and I'll see it and then I'll stop immediately. A second something upsets me. But that is maybe once every three months. I will do that. Otherwise, zero. And you know, sometimes you can't help it. You're on Reddit and you see your own name and you go. And then. But I don't. I don't click on the comments. I just don't. But then I was. I don't even know how I saw it, but it was some. Some posts. I'll look at my tagged photos or something because I need to just write thanks for coming to the show. And there was one that was like, Nikki Glaser used to be ugly. Like fat and ugly. And she had this glow up and she's. This is her new Ozempic body, which I'm like, you're conflating. I don't take Ozempic body.

[David Remnick]

But this crap is all over the web.

[Nikki Glaser]

It's all over. But I didn't know. I thought I saw it was going like kind of mid viral of like, oh, Nikki Glaser, she changed through the years. I didn't know it was like she was fat and ugly. And now she's not. And then people are commenting, this is what money will buy you. And I'm like, yeah, that's what I tell you. Come see my show. I tell you everything I do. I'm not claiming that this is like, oh, I'm just loving my life now. Like, people are commenting shitty things about me that I'm like, yeah, I said that first. You don't get to say that. And so it was really. I go, oh, they are being mean.

[David Remnick]

You've talked about not making political work too often. And you were recently quoted saying this oh, God. You just are scared that you're gonna get doxxed and death threats or who knows where this leads. Like detained.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yes.

[David Remnick]

Honestly, that's not even like a joke. It's like a real fear. You said that.

[Nikki Glaser]

But I said it.

[David Remnick]

And I wonder what you make of Elon Musk talking about the need to legalize comedy at CPAC in February.

[Nikki Glaser]

I mean, I don't think anything of it. I don't believe anything. And I will say for that quote, I feel like, taken out of context, I seem alarmist. Have you had that experience taken out of context?

[David Remnick]

No, no, no. Getting doxed and death threats, no, but.

[Nikki Glaser]

I, you know, I've seen it happen. We see it happen to other people. I don't think I'm gonna be detained for talking about my vagina on stage or something. But there you look at other countries where things have gone haywire and people have lost their freedom of speech. And if you speak out about the leader and if you don't hang his portrait in your house, you end up like Lenny Bruce. You worse, you just disappear. It's not. I'm not saying it's happening right now. I'm not saying it's happening anytime soon, but it's within the scope of possibilities. And so, yeah, I mean, like, at this point, I've been. I'm not like one of the most outspoken people against our president, but I have definitely, you know, if you're paying attention, you know how I feel. And that sometimes scares me to be like, well, how do. What's gonna be my defense? And my defense is that he's so hot. I really think he's. I mean, I might not agree with what he does, but he's really like. I'm really attracted to him. I wanna go on record as saying that I think he's one of the hottest men that's ever lived. And, you know, like, you just hope that things don't get worse, I think. I mean, right now I feel very safe. I'm not like worrying for my life. I was just talking about, you know, that quote was from the Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center. It was in the air that night. And I think people fun of me for being like, nikki Glaser thinks she's gonna be detained. I don't. It's just. It's happened before in the history of the world a lot.

[David Remnick]

Nikki, you don't do political material all that much. But some years ago, I think it was eight years ago at the Rob Lowe roast, you offered some pretty searing political Commentary when it came to Ann Coulter. Let's listen to a clip.

[Nikki Glaser]

Oh, do we have to?

[David Remnick]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

And without furer ado. Ann Coulter.

[Nikki Glaser]

Oh, Anne, what's it like to be.

[Unknown]

Like a real life supervillain? You know, like, I'd ask you how you sleep at night, but I'd assume just upside down in a robe of 101 Dalmatians. Ann Coulter has written 11 books. 12 if you count Mein Kampf. Yes. Ann's been called things like a racist, anti Semitic, homophobic, a white supremacist, and that's just while getting plowed by Bill Maher.

[Nikki Glaser]

I don't remember that joke.

[David Remnick]

I put it in there.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yeah, that's. That was hard to listen to.

[David Remnick]

Why? You seem like you feel bad about it now.

[Nikki Glaser]

No, I don't feel bad. I just. I would have chosen different jokes and different delivery. I feel bad about the delivery and I feel bad like, I didn't go harder. Like, I would have just liked to just really say it bluntly. Like, you're a terrible person. Like, what, what I think, you know, saying, like, what's it like to be a real life super villain? I wish I wouldn't have really, like, laughed in between. I can tell that I was, like, nervous that she was like, not gonna like me, but I probably would have done the same thing now because it's. It's hard to tell these things to people who you're looking at and who you actually feel that way about.

[David Remnick]

You saw that they canceled the gig of the comedian at the White House correspondence?

[Nikki Glaser]

I saw that, yeah.

[David Remnick]

Jesus. Would you take that gig?

[Nikki Glaser]

No.

[David Remnick]

Why?

[Nikki Glaser]

It's you bomb. No matter what, it's a banger. Even when it's a good room, it's a bad room.

[David Remnick]

It's a horrible room.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yeah. Even, you know, in past years when it was felt safer, it's just not. Yeah. It's a bad room. And so. And also you're just. I don't, you know, I don't wanna alienate people and I don't wanna make enemies and I don't like having headlines written about me where it's like. I don't like headlines. I would rather like just, you know, I like. Good. I don't want to. Yeah. I don't still want to stir up stuff. I mean, my parents would be so proud if I did a gig like that.

[David Remnick]

Why?

[Nikki Glaser]

Because they.

[David Remnick]

For political reasons.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yeah.

[David Remnick]

What are their politics?

[Nikki Glaser]

I mean, they're, they're the. They're almost, you know, they're very liberal. They're almost too Liberal?

[David Remnick]

What do you mean?

[Nikki Glaser]

It's like you just can't. They're watching Fox News to hate it, you know, like they're, they're, they're hate watching. They're, they're, they're, they're. It's knocked years of their lives off of them, the stress that this president has caused them. But yeah, they would be very proud if I did that. But they also like when I'm safe and happy. So I think that they, they actually wouldn't want me to because they want me to be safe.

[David Remnick]

When is that? When are you safe? When are you feeling happy?

[Nikki Glaser]

When, When I'm watching White Lotus, When I'm done with work, When I'm, when I get to be around my family, when we get to go out for dinner. Like I live in St. Louis, so I'm.

[David Remnick]

Why do you live in St. Louis away from LA, away from New York?

[Nikki Glaser]

Because I went back for Covid. I was living in New York during. When the pandemic started. I went back to just hang out with my parents to wait for it to blow over. It didn't. I just was scared and single and just was like, I want to be with my mommy and daddy. And I love them. They're really cool, they're funny, they're like my, they're my friends now. And so I lived with my parents for a year and then I was. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

[David Remnick]

You lived with your parents?

[Nikki Glaser]

When I was 36, yeah.

[David Remnick]

How'd that go?

[Nikki Glaser]

It was awesome. I didn't want to go. They kind of were like, listen, you got to move on. I mean, I was, I was.

[David Remnick]

They threw you out of that?

[Nikki Glaser]

They kind of did. They were like, this isn't, this is fun. We're all having a good time, but you got to grow up. And we all knew it. I mean, I had been out of their house for years at that point and I had a huge career. Like I was touring theaters from my parents house. So it's. And it was really. But I am, you know, there's a failure to launch kind of thing going on with me. I am a little bit stunted.

[David Remnick]

Yeah, but you can't do that. You can't pull that off anymore. You are launched into outer space at this point.

[Nikki Glaser]

Yeah, but I still, I mean if I'm home alone in St. Louis, I, if my boyfriend's not there, I, I sleep at my parents house every single time. I don't like being alone. I like hanging out with them. We watch TV late. Like that's my happy time. Is being with my family. So that's why I live in St. Louis. I just was there and then I would go to fly to New York or LA for TV stuff, and no one seemed to notice I didn't live there.

[David Remnick]

Right.

[Nikki Glaser]

And I was at a point in my career where if they are not willing to buy me a Southwest ticket, the gig's not worth it. You know, like they people can. I'm not asking to stay at the nicest places or for first class. So I'm just like, well, if you're not willing to fly me out and put me up, I don't really want the gig. So it's nice to just be with my family while they're still kicking.

[David Remnick]

Nikki, finally, how do you view your future?

[Nikki Glaser]

I really want to work on. My goal for myself is to just. I want more self acceptance. Cause I'm not gonna get smarter. I'm not gonna get more talented. Like all these things I'm waiting to happen. Like, I wish I was this person. I wish I was this person funny as that person or smart or as detail oriented or organized or beautiful. The beauty thing I can work on. There's money to be poured into that. But I think I just want to get. I want to be accepting of, and I am accepting of most things, but I want to. I want to do like ayahuasca. I want to do like mushroom trips. Like, I want to do some spiritual journey.

[David Remnick]

You know how much vomiting is involved in the ayahuasca process?

[Nikki Glaser]

Do you know how bulimic I was in college? I can handle it.

[David Remnick]

Thank you. Thank you so much.

[Nikki Glaser]

Thank you so much. This is so fun.

[David Remnick]

It's always good to end with a bulimia joke, right? Nikki Glazer is of course on tour. And if you missed her hosting the Golden Globe Awards this year, she'll be hosting them again next year. That's the New Yorker Radio Hour for today. I'm David Remnick. Thanks for listening. See you next time.

The New Yorker Radio Hour is a co production of WNYC Studios and the New Yorker. Our theme music was composed and performed by Meryl Garbus of Tune Yards, with additional music by Jared Paul. This episode was produced by Max Balton, Adam Howard, David Krasnow, Jeffrey Masters, Louis Mitchell, Jared Paul and Ursula Sommer, with guidance from Emily Bottin and assistance from Michael May, David Gable, Alex Barish, Victor Guan and Alejandra Deckett.

And we had additional help this week from Jake Loomis.

The New Yorker Radio Hour is supported in part by the Trina Endowment Fund.

[Unknown]

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Chloe, you know what I think the world really needs?

[Nikki Glaser]

What?

[Unknown]

Old fashioned. The people want it. The people have asked for it. The people are getting it.

[Nicole Phelps]

Yes, everyone's in luck. I'm Nicole Phelps, the director of Vogue Runway and I'm excited to announce that the run through is coming to Tuesdays. The run through is now going to be twice a week, every Tuesday. Join me and the Vogue Runway team as we dig into the latest fashion news.

[Natalie Moore]

Thursdays will still be Chloe and Shoma.

[Nikki Glaser]

Talking about the latest in fashion and culture per usual.

[Unknown]

And Tuesdays more fashion, fashion, Fashion.

[Nicole Phelps]

The run through with Vogue is available wherever you get your podcasts.