Meghann Fahy Has The New Lily Allen Album On Repeat | PLUS Why Boyfriends Are Embarrassing

Summary

The Run-Through with Vogue

Episode: Meghann Fahy Has The New Lily Allen Album On Repeat | PLUS Why Boyfriends Are Embarrassing

Release Date: November 13, 2025
Hosted by: Chloe Malle, Chioma Nnadi

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Run-Through with Vogue is a double feature:

• First, it explores the viral cultural phenomenon questioning “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing?” with British Vogue columnist Shantae Joseph, unpacking the modern re-examination of relationships, singleness, and social media performance.
• Second, it features a charming interview with actress Meghann Fahy (White Lotus, The Bold Type), who shares anecdotes from set, creative ambitions, thoughts on horror, musicals, and her favorite new pop album by Lily Allen.

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Key Segments & Discussion Highlights

1. Vogue World Milan & The State of Fashion (02:00–07:40)

• Milan Announcement: The upcoming Vogue World event (Sept 22 in Milan) will highlight Italian creativity, focusing on craftsmanship—“the human touch and craft in the age of technology.”
• Fashion & Sustainability: Discussion of circular fashion, borrowing outfits, and the close-knit nature of designer competitions like the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund.

Quote
“I think it’s fun that it’s very Fashion focused...about the art of fashion and the petit main, as they say—the hands and the craft behind what goes into the making of clothing.”
—Chloe Malle (02:33)

2. Inside the Fashion World: Designers, Awards, and Sustainability (06:10–07:40)

• Discussing Antonin Tron as Balmain’s new creative director, his background in sustainable yet stylish fashion, and reflection on Olivier Rousteing’s legacy.

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3. “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing?” – The Viral Conversation with Shantae Joseph (07:45–25:00)

The Cultural Flashpoint (10:25–14:05)

• Shantae Joseph recounts how her viral article changed her life, leading to 100,000+ new social followers and media attention.
• Candid discussion of the Internet’s obsession with her essay, generational responses, and the backlash—especially from upset men.

Quote
“For my life, there is before the Vogue piece and after the Vogue piece...I did not know that many people could just flock to one place on the Internet in that way.”
—Shantae Joseph (11:12)

Why Now? – Societal & Social Media Shifts (12:42–14:05)

• “Single women are scrutinized...it just feels kind of repulsive...you just feel judged for it.”
  —Shantae Joseph (12:42)
• Women today feel less shame about singledom, and cultural narratives have shifted from “pick me” energy to radical independence.

Embarrassment, Shame, and Heterosexual Norms (14:05–16:44)

• The article’s provocation around “embarrassment”: purposely chosen to prompt reflection and critique the heterosexual norm.
• Discussion of Boyfriendland (18:09)—the trend of obscuring partners online, driven by both privacy and a rejection of deriving value from public relationships.

Quote
“The only way to get people to really think critically...is to attach this element of ‘ew’ to it. Because no one wants to be disgusting, no one wants to be embarrassing.”
—Shantae Joseph (14:20)

Social Media, Dating, and the ‘Evil Eye’ (19:37–22:00)

• How women have started hiding boyfriends online, citing everything from the “evil eye” to privacy and cultural shifts.
• The idea that now, being overtly coupled-up is “a bit cringe.”

Relationship Culture and Politics (22:00–24:40)

• The rise of “trad wife” content and how public coupling is being linked to conservative values.
• Men and women drifting apart in values; the rise of the manosphere; dating as a final “battleground” for shifting gender power dynamics.

Quote
“Now to be in a relationship, you feel like—this feels conservative...I feel like I am part of this kind of larger movement that wants to take us back to the time of the nuclear family.”
—Shantae Joseph (22:28)

What’s Next? (24:39–25:00)

• Shantae reveals plans for a follow-up column and a forthcoming book titled “Picky” about modern dating.

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4. Interview: Actress Meghann Fahy on New Projects, Pop, & More (26:12–57:52)

On Her New Film “Rebuilding” (26:12–29:12)

• Discusses working alongside Josh O’Connor, playing a more stripped-down role, and the experience of building family dynamics on set.
• Recalls attending her first rodeo (“an unbelievable experience...I was shocked by the mutton racing”).

Accidental Accents (31:13–32:36)

• Meghann shares a funny anecdote about unintentionally adopting a Texan twang in the film, despite her character not being Texan.

On Set “Keepsakes” (33:31–33:56)

• Admits to usually stealing set pieces (combat boots from “Sirens”) but didn’t take anything memorable from “Rebuilding.”

Beauty Tools & Relatable Moments (34:05–34:39)

• Conversation about LED face masks, adult acne, and aligning her real-life beauty regimen with on-screen moments.

Trends in Roles: Social Horror, Satire & “Rich People Riching Wrong” (35:23–36:11)

• Why she gravitates to stories examining the dark side of privilege (“there is innate curiosity for these stories...always hits for some reason”).

Genre Ambitions (36:33–37:59)

• Meghann shares her excitement (and nerves) about starring in her first true horror film and how childhood exposure to horror left her susceptible to nightmares and lucid dreams.

Ghosts & Haunted Houses! (39:02–40:34)

• Spooky storytelling about haunted houses and the pervasive fear of entities residing in one’s home.

“White Lotus” Deep Dive (41:44–46:43)

• How reading the scripts “without even getting up for water” left her shocked and delighted.
• Reflects on filming at lavish hotels (“It’s ruined me for hotels, generally speaking”), and fun tidbits about working with Leo Woodall (“he’s my favorite actor...I’d love to work with him again”).

Musicals, Career Journey, & Pop Girlies (47:39–49:57)

• Meghann’s roots in musical theater (“Next to Normal”), her love for “pop girlies” like Lily Allen, and the impact of Allen’s new album (“an immersive one...so vulnerable”).
• Favorite Lily Allen songs: “Pussy Palace” (49:14), “Tennis” (49:16), “Sleepwalking.”

Quote
“The new Lily Allen album has been on repeat...what I love about any album is if you can start it in the beginning and listen all the way through.”
—Meghann Fahy (48:52)

On Perseverance, Therapy, & The Path to “The Bold Type” (50:00–54:06)

• Shares honestly about years of struggle, mental health challenges, and how therapy and nannying helped keep her grounded.
• Talks about “believing that something was gonna happen eventually” and the role of stubbornness in her journey.

Quote
“Therapy was huge—an incredible tool that helped me stay balanced...I just had this inner knowing that I didn’t want to do anything else.”
—Meghann Fahy (50:48)

Manifestation & “Just Enough Delusion” (53:29–54:40)

• Discusses the balance of hope and (sometimes) delusion necessary for actors, referencing a recent Jeremy Allen White quote on belief in your own performance.

Would Meghann Work at Vogue? (54:40–55:41)

• Jokes about playing editor-for-a-day at Vogue; expresses deep respect for the fashion media world.

Forthcoming Projects (56:01–57:41)

• Teases her new show “The Good Daughter” on Peacock, based on the Karin Slaughter novel, and shares admiration for co-stars Rose Byrne and Brendan Gleeson.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Shantae Joseph on the viral article:
  “For my life, there is before the Vogue piece and after...just in the last 17 days, over 100,000 people have followed me.” (11:12)

• Meghann Fahy on Lily Allen:
  “The new Lily Allen album has been on repeat...I think what I love about any album is if it feels like you can start it from the beginning and listen all the way through.” (48:52)

• On “White Lotus” Season 2:
  “I got an email with all of the scripts...I just sat there and read them all. I don’t even think I got up for water.” (42:53)

• On therapy and making it as an actor:
  “Therapy was huge...I just had this inner knowing that I didn’t want to do anything else.” (50:48)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:30–04:21: Roundup of fashion news, Milan Vogue World preview, CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund insight.
• 07:45–25:00: Deep-dive interview with Shantae Joseph on relationships, singleness, and digital dating culture.
• 26:12–57:52: In-depth conversation with Meghann Fahy on acting, creative process, horror, music, and personal growth.
• 41:44: White Lotus segment – reading scripts, filming at exclusive hotels, reflections on cast.

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Tone & Style

The episode is fast-paced, witty, and warm. The hosts and guests balance incisive cultural analysis (particularly in the Shantae Joseph segment) with candid, often humorous exchanges (especially during Meghann Fahy’s interview).

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For New Listeners

This episode provides a snapshot of both the fashion world’s internal chatter and the zeitgeist questions consuming Internet culture and young women. Whether you’re here for a critical lens on modern romance or for Meghann Fahy’s infectious pop culture enthusiasm and career reflections, the episode brings both delight and insight.

Transcript

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

This episode of the Run through is brought to you by ebay. I'm Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue's beauty editor at large. Gifting is my love language. I'm scrolling ebay all year long and building up a watch list. This year I'm looking at a lot of vintage belts and designer scarves. And now rather than just putting things on the watch list, it's my time to actually check out. It's about just like making my holiday gift shopping a little bit easier. It's always an ebay holiday.

[Chloe Mel]

This is the Run Through. I'm Chloe Mel.

[Cherminardi]

And I'm Cherminardi.

[Chloe Mel]

And today I've lost my voice. And we have a very fun guest on the show, the fantastic Megan Fahey, who we all know and love from White Lotus Season 2. She was the lovable but slightly out to lunch blonde wife and she has so many new projects in the works. I loved her in Sirens last summer with Juliette. And in this interview you'll hear what she stole on set, which I sort of like as a recurring theme for us because when we interviewed Julianne Moore, she talked about how she stole the Kate jacket that she wears when she's finally leaving at the end of the season. So I like that the run through has become what you stole from Sirens.

[Cherminardi]

Yeah, I mean, I honestly got so much FOMO just listening to it because Margo and Christian just seem to be having so much fun. Our colleagues at Ville de Camp, Anna.

[Chloe Mel]

And I actually sat next to her at the Valentino show in Paris and she was so much fun and so delightful and was having such a fun, like romantic trip to Paris. She dates her co star from White Lotus Season 2, Leo Woodle, and they're just such cuties. I love the idea of them having a romantic Parisian weekend and then her popping into Valentino. So everyone stay tuned for that conversation later in the show. Spoiler alert. They talk about ghosts. But first, Choma, what has been happening in London this week?

[Cherminardi]

It's been quite a quiet week, I think. I think all of the action seems to have been coming over from, from the U.S. no. And, and, and I guess our friends in, in Milan. And now that the big Vogue world announcement has been made this today, it's happening on September 22nd in Milan and it's going to be a real focus on Italian creativity, I think both from the cultural and industry perspective and the focus will be all about the human touch and craft in the age of technology.

[Chloe Mel]

I'm very excited. I think it's fun that it's very Fashion focused. And it's very much about the art of fashion and the petit ma, as they say, the real. The hands and the craft behind what goes into the making of clothing. It's really, to me, the. Into this is a fast fashion, but also looking at the way technology and advances in how things are produced contribute to that.

[Shantae Joseph]

Yeah.

[Cherminardi]

And I think, you know, the made in Italy still means something to a lot of people, and it's such a. It's such a nation of craftspeople. And I hear that it's been. I guess they've got the entire city involved, in fact, that the mayor, Giuseppe Sala, and the Deputy Mayor of Culture, Tommaso Sacchi, are involved.

[Chloe Mel]

So, yes, we've everything you need to know about Vogmorld Milan is Now available on Vogue.com and every international Vogue website. And off we go. Undiamo, choma.

[Cherminardi]

But. But speaking of cities, I saw you looked amazing in the city last night. This is really crazy. How am I. This segue is the worst segue of.

[Chloe Mel]

I just want to keep it. I love it. We just. Speaking of cities, you live in one. You are in one right now.

[Cherminardi]

You looked really good in Dima at the CVFF Awards. Thank you so much. I love that look on you.

[Chloe Mel]

I have to say, I had not thought about what I was gonna wear Monday night. And on Sunday morning, my friend Ricky Desole texted me and said, what are you wearing tomorrow night? And I replied, shit. And she said, I'll bring you something. And so she brought me her diatima look from what she wore to the CVFF dinner two years ago. Oh, I love that. And I think now, going forward, I'm just always gonna borrow my CVF look. I'll wear Ricky's old look from the year before.

[Shantae Joseph]

I love that.

[Cherminardi]

How sustainable of you.

[Chloe Mel]

Yes, exactly. It's a circular fashion. But I have to say, this was one of the. I've been going to CFDA Vogue Fashion fund dinner since 2011 because I'm an elderly individual, and this is one of the most fun, intimate, tender, joyful nights I've been part of. It was really lovely. It was at this restaurant, the Crane Club. People were so happy to be there. Cocktail hour was really fun. And all the finalists. My favorite part of the CVFF is how close knit all the 10 finalists become throughout the process and how they support each other. It's really a moment for designers supporting designers throughout their creative process and getting through the business challenges that inevitably they face. The winners were Ashlyn. Ashlyn park and Julian Louis. Of menswear label Oberon and Stephanie Suberville of Heirloom and Choma. You can talk more about the jury and the selection process because you were on the jury for a long time, but it is a very involved project.

[Cherminardi]

I think that many of the designers will say that they learn a lot from it, but I think we as judges learn a lot from it. I love to hear everybody's perspective. I always felt like it was a real privilege to be able to do it and to be part of it and, and you get to know the designers in a really intimate way because you go and visit them in their studios and you see how they work. And it's not so often that we get to do that. I did have the honor of having breakfast Today with Sean McGurra, who's the creative director at McQueen. And it was nice because we started around the same time and we were both kind of sharing stories about what it's like to be two years in. So that was fun.

[Chloe Mel]

And so, announced yesterday morning on Vogue Business, Belma has a new creative director, Choma. Tell me about Antonin Tron.

[Cherminardi]

Yeah, I think, I mean, honestly, Mark Hoggett was actually the first person to really introduce me to Antonin Tron's work. He's a Parisian born designer. He studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in Antwerp and he apprenticed with Raff. So he's of the school of Raff. And a few designers can say that they're part of that kind of hallowed group and he's one of them. And he also worked at Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga and Saint Laurent and Givenchy before he struck out on his own. And about 10 years ago, he launched this independent brand called Atline. And I remember when it launched because it was quite. He really was passionate about sustainability, but it wasn't any. There was nothing crunchy granola about his line at all. It was these beautifully cut jersey dresses that were quite sexy actually and completely not what you'd imagine. But he, he involved from a brand that has kind of sustainability as part of the mission statement.

[Chloe Mel]

And yeah, people are excited about him at Balmal. Although I love Olivier Roustang.

[Cherminardi]

And yeah, I mean, Olivier is gonna be big shoes to fill. He's larger than life and really made the brand what it is today in the last decade. So there's big shoes to fill. But I think perhaps now it is time for a new chapter. Yeah. So I think exciting on both counts, exciting to see someone new and also exciting to see someone who's incredibly established and has given a lot to fashion to do something new. So watch the space now.

[Chloe Mel]

Choma A few weeks ago on the podcast we talked about the very viral is having a boyfriend embarrassing piece that ran on British Vogue and it is amazing to me that people are still talking about this and having conversations online. Two people asked me about it this weekend. Someone sent me a meme about it earlier this week. You spoke to the writer Shantae Joseph about the piece and also a follow up piece that she has in the works. What did you learn?

[Cherminardi]

So much. I mean honestly it has upended her life. It's definitely touched on a nerve in the culture she has gotten. She's been flooded with messages and I think honestly she's. There's this critical mass around the sort of singledom and what it means now and that it is something that women are choosing a lot more for themselves in a way that feels very much like the anti pick me energy that kind of had been pervasive up until then.

[Chloe Mel]

It's totally trauma. It's like the not thirsty for a boyfriend.

[Cherminardi]

Yes, it's yeah, just like I complete myself, thank you very much and if I need someone, they have to actually bring something to my life rather than this desperation that we have to define ourselves by the men that we stand next to. So it was really refreshing talking to her. I mean obviously she's had a lot of really amazing responses from other women who feel similarly a lot of young women. She's literally just barely 30, you know, so she's, she's, she's young and she has a, she has a lot more living to do before she decides whether single Dom is like something she wants to play with for now or if this is something that she feels like, yeah, this is, this is who I am, you know, this is part of me. And it was very interesting because she also had a lot of negative feedback from men. You know, a lot of quite incel type energy and people being very upset. Men specifically being very upset with the message and I mean sure, yeah, yeah, like literally quite threatening abusive messages that she's getting about. She read some of them out. I was quite shocked that something as like banal as there's a conversation about boyfriends and if they're embarrassing could really have such an effect. But I think this idea of shame and embarrassment is the particularly the word embarrassment has just completely kicked up a storm. I mean the Economist did a whole article about the idea of like a relationship recession and oh wow. So I think that there's Something in the air, and she's got a book in the works, so I'm very excited. And you're gonna be hearing much more. Choma, Shantae.

[Chloe Mel]

Well, I can't wait to hear your conversation. Here's Choma and Shantae.

[Cherminardi]

Welcome. Hi, Chante. It's been a long. It's been. We've been anticipating this moment for quite some time. We're so excited to have you. I mean, I don't know where to start, because before we started recording, Chante and I were actually talking about how you were spotted on the street.

[Shantae Joseph]

Yeah, literally.

[Cherminardi]

And people have been messaging you, and basically the last 17 days has just been a complete whirlwind that you've had interviews every day. And it's all because of this incredible piece that you wrote about, which the title of it is, is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now? And it just seems like you touched a raw nerve on the culture, and it's taken the Internet by storm. It's sparked so many interesting conversations. Name check by Zoran Mandami. It's just like. It's insane.

[Shantae Joseph]

I think for my life, there is before the Vogue piece and after the Vogue piece. I don't know quite how to explain the level of virality I've experienced, but just in the last 17 days, over 100,000 people have followed me on Instagram and TikTok. I cannot believe it. I did not know that many people could just flock to one place on the Internet in that way. That has been insane. I remember I was in the airport on my way home from Munich, and someone was like, oh, can I take a picture with you? And that's happened, like, twice. And I've been so. And I just look so bummy and plain and just like, meh. And people are like, oh, I'll take a picture with you. And I'm like, this is insane. You know, I'm getting so many messages. Like, family members are reaching out because other people have asked them. Like, my dad was like, a recruiter, said to him, oh, are you related to Shantae Joseph, the girl that wrote the article? I was like, what do you mean? Even my parents are being accosted about this. Like, from just, you know, their generation all the way through to my younger Gen Z cousins. And everyone is speaking about this. Everyone has something to say. I've had so many people just reach out, like, messages, emails, texts, phone calls. Like, I'm overwhelmed. So much media as well. I've been doing interviews, like, radio interviews, podcast interviews, like, you know, written interviews. It's just been endless. Like, I cannot believe the level of, like, almost somewhat like celebrity that has been thrust upon me because of this one piece. Like, it's wild.

[Cherminardi]

I mean, what do you think it is about this and the moment we're in that struck a chord with women people? I mean, everybody, really.

[Shantae Joseph]

Yeah. I think it's twofold. One part is that I think single women, particularly our lives, are so heavily scrutinized sometimes the way that people question single women, particularly about their status, it just feels kind of repulsive, you know, who are you dating at the moment? Why aren't you dating? What's wrong with you? Why are you not on the apps? Why does your profile look like that? Why do you take pictures like that? Do you mean, like, it's so you just feel judged for it? And I just think it never really lets up. And I think when someone turns around is like, well, actually, he's having a boyfriend of Branson now. It's like, what? Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Things have changed. The tables have turned. And then on the other side, you do have. Just the way, like, men are in society now, the fact that there's not a lot of shame attached to being treated badly by a man anymore. And that's why I think a lot of women can come on TikTok and be like, oh, Here are the 10 things. Awful things this man did to me. Or, this was my Tinder date from hell. Or this was a horror story hinged date. I went on, like, we don't hold that shame anymore. We talk about it. And because we talk about it, that sort of, like, heterosexual romantic fantasy is really starting to just dissipate. It doesn't hold the way it did. It doesn't grip people. I need this thing because we know what's happening behind the curtains. And so I think now we can kind of have candid conversations about our desire or our lack of desire to be in romantic relationships, and we don't get judged for it like we used to. And I think that's really just whipped people up into a frenzy. You know, I think it's been very, very polarizing. Very polarizing.

[Cherminardi]

And I think it's interest that you talk about shame because I think the word embarrassing has really triggered. It's that idea of shame and, like, you know, guilty by association. That idea has really. Because it's obviously a super polarizing word, right?

[Shantae Joseph]

Yeah, yeah. And that's done, like, on purpose. Do you know what I mean? I think the only way to get people to really think critically about their particularly heterosexual relationships is to attach this element of ew to it. Because now they're like, no one wants to be disgusting, no one wants to be gross, no one wants to be embarrassing. And so when you say, oh, this thing that I have kind of centered my life around actually isn't serving me culturally in the way I would like it to, it really forces you to interrogate it a bit. And one of the things I talk about a lot is this idea of like, even though we're so progressive and everyone is like so much more forward, I think we still believe that like straight heterosexual relationships are the norm. We still believe that this is the base and everything else is sort of other and different and we can scrutinize and critique all those other things. But as soon as you start to criticize heterosexuality as a norm, people don't like it because they believe is biologically wired in us and everyone else is a bit off. Actually, no, this is a construct. This is something that we should also critique and be very critical of. But no one wants to do that because it means that you shatter the illusion and the fantasy that people have attached their self worth to. And so, yeah, I just kind of figured I want to have this conversation. I know I'm probably going to get a bit of heat, I'm probably going to get flack. People are going to call me bitter, single, angry, lonely, jealous. But you know what, at least we're having this conversation.

[Cherminardi]

No, I totally, I totally, totally agree with you. I mean, what are some of the most interesting responses takes that you've had that have kind of helped bring the conversation forward?

[Shantae Joseph]

I think a lot of kind of women are saying things like, oh, it's only embarrassing if he isn't nice to you or he doesn't do these things to you, or a lot of women will be like, yeah, men are embarrassing, but not my man. And there's this, literally everyone does this trash. People are really like, men are trash, but not my man. And it's this idea of people want to agree with me, but then they always need to make themselves the exception and then it kind of defeats the purpose. It's like we know not all men and we hate when people say, oh, don't say not all men because we know what we're talking about. But for some reason in this context, particularly women just refuse to engage with that sort of same level of like critique, which I found really interesting. And then on the other side, you kind of have the women who are single who have just Taken this, and they are just overjoyed. They've turned into a TikTok trend. You know, people are. People keep asking me, is it gonna be in print? Is it gonna be in print? And I'm. And they've started to print out the article and make their own frames and posters. I would like send you. I've got the screenshots. I have.

[Interviewer 1]

I need to see this.

[Shantae Joseph]

They've put it up on their walls. You know, I've just. I've. They've really seen this as a pivotal moment for them, a moment that kind of changes everything they understood as what is, like, normal or acceptable in society. And I think on top of that, you then have the men and women using this whole idea of, you know, you're single and you wish you were in a relationship and you're jealous and you know you're going to die alone and blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, those threats don't hurt anymore. We're in a very, very different time when a lot of women are actively choosing to be single. Like, you know, the Economist just released their piece about the relationship recession. Like, people are not coupling up anymore. So those threats, they just don't hold any weight. And this sort of like, oh, your boyfriend is embarrassing. Feels a bit like, you know, another nail in the coffin. And it's like, the tide is changing and you can't use those things to shame me anymore because, like, they don't carry any weight.

[Cherminardi]

It's so interesting because I think you mentioned in the piece that there's been this shift on social media, and I hadn't really heard of this place called Boyfriendland, but it's coined by the writer Josh Lara, and it's a phenomenon where women post their boyfriends online. And I guess you get value from doing that by association, but that's no longer happening. And that people are blurring out their boyfriend's faces and obscuring their boyfriends in pictures. When did you start to see this shift and when did you realize it was something that you needed to write about? Because I know that this commission happened, but I actually don't know, like, how this idea came together.

[Shantae Joseph]

So, yeah, I think I just started to notice it a lot because at first it became a running joke of, like, some women on Instagram just, like, editing out their boyfriend's head so it would be like, someone down on one knee, but they wouldn't have a head. And you'd be like, what the hell is going on? And before, it was kind of a more shy coy sort of posting where it might just be like, two wine glasses at dinner or a hand or a shot or back of the head, you know, but then it started to be this sort of. I still want to post this person, but I just don't want there to be any sort of idea of them being really in my life, but they are in my life. You know, you'd notice that influencers or kind of people who have big platforms would do it, but then even just normal people were doing it, and I was like, you have 150 followers. Like, what this is? So why is everyone doing this? You're literally not a celebrity. But sure. And I think, yeah, seeing a lot of that and also being super online and kind of just hearing the way that singleness was spoken about. How many influencers and content creators who are just, like, you know, pro single, their whole platform was about, okay, what does it mean to be a single woman? How much their followers had grown exponentially over the. Just the past maybe two years. And I was like, okay, there's something that is, like, really picking up steam here. And so the sort of coming out from the angle of people hiding their boyfriends was, like, a way. Another way for me to explore that. Because why do we suddenly start to really cherish our singlehood and our own identities? Why do we not even want to be associated with a man at all? Yeah. Then I was like, you know, I would love to write about this. I'm writing a book at the moment about dating.

[Cherminardi]

Yeah, tell me about that.

[Shantae Joseph]

It's called Picky. I haven't actually announced it. Anyway, I'm sure it's fine. And it's kind of about, like, yeah, why things have changed so much. And all this idea of, like, you're single because you're too picky. Like, what does that actually mean? What does the state of dating look like? So. Right. And I've been. Cause I was reading a lot about that at the time. It kind of helped me to influence a lot of, like, the theory that I reference when I write this piece as well. Just, like, looking at a lot of, like, feminist scholars and their views of heterosexuality, like, it just all started to click together like a puzzle in my mind. And so I was like, I need to just pitch this to Daisy. And just, like, fingers crossed. I think it was, like, her first day back from leave or something. And I was like, hey, I've got this idea I really want to send to you. And then, yeah, she commissioned it, and, like, the rest was history.

[Cherminardi]

And you and you also write about this. This thing that you call the evil eye, where there's a suspicion to relate it to posting their boyfriends online. Yeah, it feels like there's such a weird. Can you unpack that for us a little bit?

[Shantae Joseph]

So I think for some people, there was, like, a cultural context of the evil eye being this thing where if you. If you're showing too much of your success or your happiness, people's bad vibes will lead to your, you know, you losing this thing. And a lot of girls were like, I don't want to post my boyfriend because of, like, the evil eye. I don't want girls to, you know, be hating on me, and then all of a sudden, he breaks up with me and stuff like that. But this idea that if people see your partner and see that you're happy or whatever, or even that you have someone because everyone is so jealous of you, of course you're gonna lose this person. But it just kind of fed into this idea of, oh, I need to cherish this one partnership. I need this person to, you know, this is so important to me, and no one else can have this, and everyone else wants this almost. Sometimes I think, like, the delusions that we conjure for ourselves when we think about the importance of our heterosexual relationships, but also the privacy idea. A lot of people are like, well, I just don't show my partner because. But I was like, mm. Everyone else in your life, your mom, your cousin, your aunt, your lizard, your fish, your best friend's aunts, everyone's on your Instagram. But for some reason, some reason, your romantic partner requires this special privacy that, like, that's only afforded to him. Like, what is that about? And I think that is an element of the shame, you know, when you share your partner online or when you become someone who's always like, my boyfriend, my boyfriend, my man, my man, my man. It just is a bit. Oh, it's a bit cringe. It's just, you know, it just feels like the complete antithesis to where we're at as women, which I know a lot of people are not trying to.

[Cherminardi]

Hear, but I think that's why it's been such a kind of vibrant debate. You know, I mean, you wrote about how someone commented on a podcast that, why does having a boyfriend feel Republican now?

[Shantae Joseph]

Yeah.

[Cherminardi]

And this really feels like a definite sign of the times we've been talking about trad wives and how that has become such a popular phenomenon. And what do you make of that statement? And having a boyfriend might be, to some people, in this political climate, Yeah.

[Shantae Joseph]

I think that feeds into it. I think a lot of kind of conservative, traditional values, like, they've taken the heterosexual couple and they've made it, like, their own thing. Like, they've kind of overthrown the perception of those relationships. So now to be in a relationship, you feel like this feels conservative. I just feel like I'm following this script. I feel like I am part of this kind of larger movement that wants to take away my rights, that wants to take us back to the time of the nuclear family. It kind of feels very archaic, and I think that's done on purpose. Like, you want people to buy into your political ideology. So if you can take something as central to our societies as the nuclear family, as our relationships, then, you know, you've kind of, like, managed to coax yourself into a larger audience of people. And so I think all of that stuff is done quite intentionally. But also I think it's because men and women are just leaning very different ways politically. The manosphere incel. I mean, a lot of the really horrible comments I got off the back of this article were clearly from, you know, men who are deep, like, steeped in the manosphere and all of the content.

[Cherminardi]

I do not want to go to the manosphere.

[Megan Fahey]

Right.

[Shantae Joseph]

It is a scary, scary place. But you kind of see that. And I've had women even message me the past couple days talking about, yeah, you know, I was with my partner, and, like, now he's leaning more and more right. You know, he's like, watching a lot of these YouTubers and these podcasts now. His beliefs have, like, fundamentally changed because obviously they speak so much to men's insecurities and this idea that women are becoming more empowered. You know, we are earning more than men. We're educated more than men, we're employed more than men. We're going up right, and we're going left, and then the men are going down and right. And so it's just like, one of the final spaces that men can truly exert dominance and power in is in our kind of dating culture, where, unfortunately, I think as much as women have progressed so much to our very core, that idea of, I need to be picked. I need to be chosen. I need to be loved by everyone.

[Cherminardi]

You don't want to be a pick me, right?

[Shantae Joseph]

You don't want to be a pick me. But it's like, you can't shift those attitudes. And I think it's why men can still get away with a lot of heinous stuff in the dating Space. Because our desire to be loved is stronger than our sense sometimes.

[Cherminardi]

For sure. I think you're so right. I mean, I hear you're writing a follow up.

[Shantae Joseph]

Yes, I am. I found that this morning. I would love to discuss my potential column because I'm.

[Cherminardi]

I'd love to.

[Shantae Joseph]

Ready? I'm ready.

[Cherminardi]

I think we need it. We need this. We need more of you.

[Shantae Joseph]

Yeah, no, I need some column inches. I've got things to say. I've got things to say.

[Cherminardi]

I'm so happy that you came on, honestly. Thank you for making the time and thank you for this. This has been.

[Shantae Joseph]

Thanks for having me.

[Cherminardi]

The run through will be back in just a moment with Megan Fah.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

It's my favorite time of the year because I love gifting, but I also love getting gifts. And I mean, who doesn't at this point? Everyone knows that I actually do want something found on ebay, and my husband really cracked that code last year. He did a scavenger hunt around our house. And at the end of each hint was an ebay gift card. And I'm still using them. I got some vintage guest jeans, I got a white Margiela jumpsuit, a YSL blazer, this really cool Vogue magazine Paris tee with shoulder pads, and then some Mew Meo crystal jeweled heels. I really needed those. So Treasure Hunt Part 2, 2025. My eBay watch list at the ready. And it's time to check out.

[Cherminardi]

Here's Margot and Christian's amazing conversation with actor Megan Fahey.

[Interviewer 1]

So you have a new film out in theaters rebuilding on November 14, which is the day after this episode airs. Came out to great reviews at Sundance. I watched it last night. I don't want to give too much away, but basically it's a story about a cowboy named Dusty, played by Josh o', Connor, who is our very cute run through alum. I love him. Loses his ranch during a wildfire, and you are his ex wife rebuilding the aftermath. What life is like. What drew you to this role? I'm curious. Cause it feels quite different than like a lot of the other things that we know you for.

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah, I think that was the huge draw for me also. Max, who wrote and directed the film, is someone who I was a fan of before. I just really love his style of filmmaking. It's very modest in a way that I think doesn't exist a lot anymore. You know, he really leaves a lot of space. I'm sure if you watched it, you would feel like he's not forcing anything to happen. He's Just kind of like, letting the thing exist. And there's a simplicity to that that I find really intriguing. And the character, yeah, was very different than anything I've ever done before. And so I was really looking forward to kind of being able to step into that space of just like a very stripped down, subtle, honest piece.

[Interviewer 2]

Well, you probably had a difficult job because you had to create a very interesting dynamic. Like, you have, you know, Josh o', Connor, you guys, you know, ex wife, ex husband. You have a child, Lili Latore, who plays your daughter. And you kind of have to build that from nothing. Like, you know, you're meeting on set for the first time. So how did you build that sort of dynamic with both of them?

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah, it was interesting. Cause they started filming before I arrived, which is always a little tricky. Like when you show up and it's sort of already happening. It's like, you know, camp has started, and you're there a week late, and you just, like, feel like you're playing catch up a little bit. So I remember feeling like the first day, I was like, oh, my God. I don't think that went well at all.

[Shantae Joseph]

Why?

[Interviewer 2]

Why did you feel that way?

[Megan Fahey]

The only thing I had to do was come in and walk down the stairs and give Josh a look. And I couldn't do it in a way that felt like a human being. I was like, why is this? It's like when you don't have anything to do, you just have one thing to do and you overthink it so much that you're like, oh, I don't know how to say hi like a normal person, because that's the only thing I have to do all day. But it was like, you know, I mean, it was a very cozy set, and Lily was amazing and super chatty and, like, really wanted to hang. So she actually was somebody who kind of, like, I feel like, really brought me into the vibe with everyone else because she was so playful and wonderful. And Josh is obviously just really sweet and down to earth and was really, really lovely too. So, yeah, it didn't take long to kind of fold in. But, yeah, in the beginning, I was like, oh, man.

[Interviewer 2]

Any fun stories with Josh? Cause he was sharing. He always has fun stories from set.

[Megan Fahey]

He's such a good storyteller. I am not as good of a storyteller as he is.

[Interviewer 2]

That's not true.

[Interviewer 1]

We.

[Megan Fahey]

We went to a rodeo. I went to my first rodeo.

[Interviewer 2]

Oh, my God.

[Interviewer 1]

What did you wear?

[Megan Fahey]

I think I just wore jeans and a white T shirt.

[Interviewer 2]

That's actually very on point.

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah, I mean, like 50% of the time you'll catch me in that particular outfit. So I'm just taking a guess, but I think it was probably that. Have you guys ever been to a rodeo?

[Interviewer 2]

I actually never have.

[Interviewer 1]

I'm from Texas, so. So, you know, I don't have a southern accent, but I am grew up in Texas.

[Megan Fahey]

I thought it was an unbelievable experience. What was your familiar with? Like, just sort of the. The tradition of that and how everybody goes every weekend. And it's like, you know, the whole town's sort of there. And it felt very cozy. I was shocked by the mutton racing.

[Interviewer 1]

Oh, I love it. Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Oh, I've heard of that.

[Megan Fahey]

They have like two and three year old children, like bareback helmets like sheep and getting like thrown off. It was wild. It was really incredible.

[Interviewer 1]

My mom was a barrel racer and so not like when I was really a child, but she grew up doing it. And so I tried it and then switched to English writing. But I was so cool. I was like, that's way too hard for me. Mostly I was into brushing the horse's hair, if I'm being honest. But I, like, love everything about rodeos. I mean, I even love the smell of horses.

[Megan Fahey]

There's something like, really, it felt so culturally different. And so it was from where I grew up. I grew up in Massachusetts, and so I think, like, to be experiencing a part of my own country that felt like it could have been a different one. Right in this way. And like, really feel the sense of community in that space was. I was so moved by it. It was really. It was. It was beautiful. So that was a highlight.

[Interviewer 1]

That's so fun. So like I mentioned, I'm from Texas. I don't have a southern accent, though. You had a little bit of twang.

[Megan Fahey]

You do one. Hey, y'. All.

[Interviewer 1]

I feel like the only time I ever sound like Southern is when I say y'.

[Chloe Mel]

All.

[Interviewer 1]

I'm curious though, because you had like a twang in the film.

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah, I don't think I was supposed to.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay.

[Megan Fahey]

Honestly. But did you really don't think I was supposed to.

[Interviewer 1]

So did you practice it? Did you?

[Megan Fahey]

No, it was just the way that immersion.

[Interviewer 2]

It just came out.

[Megan Fahey]

The way that the lines were written. It really felt like it was lending itself to some sort of something, but it felt natural. But it was not supposed to have an accent in the film. And I said to Max, I was like. Cause one of the people on the crew at the wrap party was like, where are you from? And I was like, I grew up in Massachusetts. He was like, really? I was gonna guess west Texas. And I was like, that's not great.

[Interviewer 1]

No, it sounded great.

[Interviewer 2]

That felt authentic to me.

[Interviewer 1]

I have a lot of friends from west Texas, and I feel like you sounded great.

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah. But that's not where she was from. That's not where the girl the character was from. So. Yeah, I do remember saying something to Max, like, if you need me to ADR anything, just let me know. Cause it was really hard for me to not go into that space just based on the sort of dialogue.

[Interviewer 2]

I think that's the fun of acting. You take liberties, you know, you go where the wind takes you.

[Cherminardi]

Yeah.

[Megan Fahey]

I mean, the liberty of an accent that was not asked for is really. You know, that's a huge.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Megan Fahey]

Liberty to take.

[Interviewer 1]

That's like. I was watching Nobody Wants this this Weekend. And they tried to be British, like, at one point in it, and then decided to stop. Like, they were trying to get into an iPhone or something.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Megan Fahey]

And she did like, hello.

[Interviewer 1]

And then she was like, I can't do.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Exactly.

[Interviewer 1]

It's like trying to fake it. Justine.

[Megan Fahey]

I love her.

[Interviewer 1]

People always talk about stealing stuff from set. I'm curious if you took anything from the set, like a really good pair of vintage Levi's or something like that that you were wearing from this film. That wall would be that Ross that was being watered in your front yard.

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah, I did put a couple of those in my pocket. No, I didn't take anything from this set because it was. I was really just wearing, like, pajamas the whole time, which was incredible. And, like, this big band T shirt at one point, that was a local band that Max, you know, wanted to kind of feature in the film, and I loved that also. But I do usually steal something.

[Chloe Mel]

Mm.

[Interviewer 1]

What did you take from Sirens, which I loved?

[Megan Fahey]

Oh, I took the boots. I took the big, like, sort of combat boots from the beginning look.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Megan Fahey]

I just felt like those needed to be in my. And they've been there. I have not taken them out.

[Interviewer 1]

I feel like. I mean, they're very tied to that character. You might embody a lot of her angst if you put them back on.

[Interviewer 2]

I am.

[Megan Fahey]

I think that's true.

[Interviewer 1]

So I'm a beauty girl. And so I loved that scene where everyone was getting ready. And, like, I had all the LED masks and teeth white.

[Shantae Joseph]

I know.

[Interviewer 1]

It was so funny, like, being scared by it. Someone turns around and you're like, ugh. Because I have. Like, every time I do my. I try to do my LED mask. Every night. My cat sits there and stares at me like I'm possessed by the devil. I. My boyfriend is equally like, okay, so he's not. He's not joining you. You guys are not having couples Time for 15 minutes every night with a. Not with face mask. No.

[Megan Fahey]

It's a little too claustrophobic for him, I think.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Megan Fahey]

Which I get.

[Interviewer 1]

I was gonna ask.

[Cherminardi]

Are.

[Interviewer 1]

Were you. Are you into any of those tools? Any of those devices? Like, it sounds like, obviously I have.

[Megan Fahey]

The Omnilux clear, which is the blue light. Because I do. I do struggle with adult acne.

[Interviewer 2]

Oh, I do too. You're not the only one saying, me too.

[Megan Fahey]

Matte mask is really good for that. I find when you use it, it works, which is hard. It's hard.

[Interviewer 1]

I've noticed a lot of these roles that you've been a part of are sort of like rich people. Social horror stories. Like, they're sort of rich people. Riching wrong. I don't know. Like, I'm curious if you're drawn to these sorts of projects, if they somehow find you. Like, you're so good at being a part of these buzzy shows. Yeah, Buzzy shows that are in this sort of, like, lane.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Megan Fahey]

I think two things are true. I am interested in that dynamic, for sure. I think a lot of people are, which is why it's such a popular genre in the last few years. I think obviously White Lotus being the biggest of them all. And I think that really struck a chord with people. And so there is this sort. It's like murder mysteries. There's just this innate curiosity that I think people have. And there are so many stories to tell in that space. And I think it's just something that kind of always hits for some reason. I'm not quite sure why that is, but I do think that it's sort of endlessly easy to eat up.

[Interviewer 2]

Well, even though you've sort of had that focus, I feel like the genres of projects you've chosen have been vastly different. Like, you've done comedies. You did Sorry Drop, which I devoured. I love that movie, but that's almost more of like an action horror. Is there a genre you haven't done yet that you're kind of intrigued by or think you.

[Megan Fahey]

You know, I really have been trying to do it all. I recently did my first sort of rom com over the summer. I had been asking to do one. I just. I really want to do everything I'm about. On Monday, I'm starting a film in England. I'm shooting a film and it's a horror film. Like Drop was more like thriller.

[Interviewer 2]

More thriller.

[Megan Fahey]

And this is like properly a horror film.

[Interviewer 2]

It's my favorite genre.

[Megan Fahey]

I'm very excited about it. I'm a little nervous in a healthy way because I think anytime I'm starting something that feels like it's gonna be a new process, I'm like, what's that gonna be like?

[Interviewer 2]

Well, it is an art form, like horror. That's like a very specific thing.

[Interviewer 1]

How are you gonna get in the mental headspace for this, like, versus other films where maybe like, are more lighthearted or other roles that are more light hearted?

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah, I mean, I think. I don't. I'm not an actor who really feels like they need to get themselves into a particular space prior to filming. At least that hasn't happened yet. It might someday. I've been lucky. I think usually just starting the thing kind of does the work on that end for me. I find that I sort of drop in once we sort of start doing it. I'm hoping that that will be true for this. But stay tuned.

[Interviewer 2]

I'm sure once there's spooky vibes on set, you'll get into it.

[Interviewer 1]

Spooky pair of shoes.

[Megan Fahey]

Well, it's sort of my favorite. Cause I grew up loving horror. And then something happened. I watched Paranormal Activity, the first one, when it came out in theaters twice. But it broke me. It really broke me. I still have dreams, like nightmares, like in the theme of that film, where it's like you can't see the thing, but like something's pulling you.

[Interviewer 2]

Or maybe it's a real door.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, yeah.

[Megan Fahey]

It's really spooky. And that has been so. That, like, continues to be like. It's like sleep paralysis vibes. But it's always happening in the room that I'm actually in. So it feels very.

[Interviewer 1]

Oh, so you're sort of.

[Megan Fahey]

And I started having lucid dreams where I'm like, I know this is a dream and I'm trying to wake myself up. It's horrible. So anyways, all that to say I kind of had a falling out with horror after that. Because I was like, I think I need anyways, all of that to say the film is sort of in a house. Like that's the main location, which I love.

[Interviewer 2]

Okay. Haunted House story.

[Megan Fahey]

I just sort of love the, like, it's all in the house. So I think that's gonna do a lot of the work as well. It's like this crazy, like, sort of modern architectural Home in West Sussex. Like in the middle of a field vibe.

[Interviewer 1]

No, no. Where everyone can see and it just.

[Megan Fahey]

Looks like it doesn't belong where it is.

[Interviewer 2]

I'm already hooked.

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah, I'll be there opening night.

[Interviewer 2]

I'll be there.

[Interviewer 1]

My mother in law thinks our house is haunted. And so I'm like, really?

[Megan Fahey]

Do you think it's haunted?

[Interviewer 1]

I don't know, but it's spooky Halloween, basically. Like some sort of presence has been affecting her. Has like tripped her a couple of times and things like that. And so there are giant bowls of. Of salt all over the house because of it. And like anywhere that opens to the attic is blocked by a giant bowl of salt. All these things. But whenever. Now I'm in the house alone, I'm like, nervous. I would never have. I would never have thought anything about the house before. But now, because she has, like, she's planted the seed. Yes. And I am a scaredy cat. Like, I'm sweating because we talked about that a little bit. The horror film. Like, I hate horror. When the shark and Finding Nemo had their first interaction where like Nemo turned around and the shark was very scary.

[Megan Fahey]

I mean, come on. That was terrifying. That was scary.

[Interviewer 1]

Thank you so much.

[Megan Fahey]

I screamed objectively scary.

[Interviewer 2]

Yes.

[Interviewer 1]

So I am like, horror is not for me.

[Megan Fahey]

Also, the fish with the.

[Interviewer 1]

Oh, yeah, no, thank you.

[Megan Fahey]

I don't know what they're playing at with that.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah. So I'm like, if I. Finding Nemo is scary. That sounds right.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

I hear you.

[Megan Fahey]

I think the idea of an entity existing in your space is like one of the scarier.

[Interviewer 1]

Thoughts I keep being. Like, for Christmas, I would like a exorcism on the home, please.

[Cherminardi]

And the run through will be back in just a moment.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

A trend that I'm noticing this season, which is also perfect for this weather, is layering. And so you can truly wear five shirts at once if you want. Like, that's fashion right now. People are wearing skirts over pants and button downs on top of button downs on top of button downs with a sweater on top of that and a scarf on top of that. And if you know that someone already has a favorite item, then ask yourself, like, do they need it in another collar at this point? They do. And so just get them two of something that they already like and already wear and go back to that ebay search bar and get as specific as possible. And I know that you'll find it because you can find everything on ebay.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay, so now I want to talk about White Lotus. You Were so fun as Daphne alongside Theo James, your husband on the show. It was like, such an incredible cast. I love Aubrey Plaza. She. If we ever do you know a film about the office, I've always been like, aubrey Plaza will play me.

[Interviewer 2]

So accurate. Just for the record.

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Not to flatter myself at all. Michael Imperioli. And then the two Italian breakout stars. Simone. Okay, I'm sorry if I say this wrong.

[Megan Fahey]

Simone. Beatrice.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay. Thank you so much.

[Megan Fahey]

We call her Bee.

[Interviewer 1]

Oh, wait, Sabrina.

[Megan Fahey]

Sorry, Sabrina.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes. And then Simona Tabasco, whose haircut I have right now.

[Megan Fahey]

Yes.

[Interviewer 1]

What did you think when you read the script? Cause obviously the first season of White Lotus, I assume had already come out and had the buzz around it.

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah, it had. It was pretty crazy prior, like, during the auditioning process, we didn't have any of the scripts. They just gave us the scenes that they asked us to read and stuff. So after I was cast, I got an email with all of the scripts in it, and I just sat there and read them all.

[Interviewer 2]

Oh, God.

[Megan Fahey]

I don't even think I got up for water.

[Interviewer 1]

Did you gasp out loud?

[Megan Fahey]

Did you?

[Cherminardi]

Yes.

[Megan Fahey]

I couldn't believe it. I really couldn't believe. I kind of still can't believe it. I just think it was such a genius, crazy thing for him to do in the second season of the show. And I watched the third and loved it. And I'm really excited for four. I mean, I'm such a fan of the show. I was from the beginning. So I was gonna ask.

[Interviewer 2]

Cause I've heard that season four is set in France, and I was kind of curious, like, what do you think Daphne would be up to if she was on vacation in France? Like, what would she be doing? What would she be e. Where'd she be shopping?

[Megan Fahey]

Ugh. I love to think of her in the south of France.

[Interviewer 1]

Oh, my God. She'd be having such a good time. I feel like. I know.

[Megan Fahey]

I feel like it's a lot of the same sort of flowy dress vibes at lunch.

[Interviewer 1]

I'm a huge Survivor fan, and I know I actually knew Mike White from Survivor before, and I'm curious, did you know about, like, who he was through Survivor? Have you watched Survivor? Anything like that? I'm, like, obsessed. Think I could win? I love him in it.

[Megan Fahey]

I don't know you that well, but I want to say I actually think you could win too.

[Interviewer 1]

Oh, my God.

[Megan Fahey]

I feel very tenacious in the way that it requires you to be. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Thank you so much.

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah. I knew Mike White just from his movies and stuff. I hadn't seen his season of Survivor. I watched it. I watched it when we were in Sicily, and it was sort of my way into talking with him. I'd get to set and I'd be like, so do you guys actually get toothpaste or.

[Interviewer 2]

No, Give me the Survivor secrets.

[Megan Fahey]

So many questions. And he loved talking about it. And they did get toothpaste.

[Interviewer 2]

Oh, okay.

[Interviewer 1]

That scene where he's drunk and they're looking for the. Oh, my God, the item on the wall. And he's just sort of, like, eating the pasta and keeps going back and being like, I don't know.

[Megan Fahey]

I want to go back on it again. He's going on.

[Interviewer 2]

Oh, my God, he is. That's good television.

[Megan Fahey]

It is good tv. And he's such a good. He's so good at playing that game, you know, he really understands.

[Interviewer 1]

That's what makes him great. He's a good people studier, period.

[Megan Fahey]

Totally. Like, well, that's the best news I've heard all day.

[Interviewer 2]

Right?

[Interviewer 1]

So White Lotus is famous for filming on scene at these really incredible hotels. I'm curious if filming, like, changed the way you experience gorgeous hotels or hotels in general. Cause now, like, when I look around, it did for me. I sort of, like, wonder what everyone's really up to. I, like, I'm creating stories about people in my head.

[Megan Fahey]

Well, it hasn't changed that for me, but just the experience of, like, it's ruined me for hotels, generally speaking. I think, like, the level of sort of, like, service and attention and care and all of that that you experience. By the way, when we were filming there, the hotel wasn't open for the first two months that we were living there. And when it actually opened to the public, we left and went somewhere else. And, like, it was really, really incredible to watch them sort of getting the hotel ready for the actual guests.

[Shantae Joseph]

And.

[Megan Fahey]

The buffet that came out, like. Cause we were there, I think, for one week while the hotel was open before we moved. And so just to see the difference in, like, how it was working when the guests were there versus when we were there. It was incredible.

[Interviewer 2]

Well, I was. I interviewed Jennifer Coolidge, and she was saying, like, yeah, I was just, like, sat in my room for most of the time by myself. People think it's very glamorous. Like, you know, you're at the Four Seasons, but she's like, yeah, there was no one there.

[Megan Fahey]

No, there was nobody there. And, you know, they didn't even really have, like, if you wanted room service, you'd have to call and order it and go down to the bar and get it. Can you imagine?

[Shantae Joseph]

Can you imagine?

[Megan Fahey]

Disgusting.

[Interviewer 1]

Daphne would never.

[Megan Fahey]

Absolutely disgusting. But no, it really wasn't functioning like. Like a normal hotel would have been.

[Interviewer 2]

Well, one of your co stars was Leo Woodall, who we believe you're dating. I'm curious if you guys would ever work together again. If you prefer to keep things separate.

[Megan Fahey]

No, we would love to do something together. I just don't know what it would be. It would have to be the right thing. But he's like my favorite actor, so I would love to work with him. I think he's brilliant.

[Interviewer 2]

Cause some people don't enjoy working together. They're like, once is enough. But it's cool that you were.

[Megan Fahey]

I mean, we didn't, you know, really work together. Cause we weren't in any of the same scenes in the show.

[Interviewer 2]

Very different journey, I was gonna say.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, I was talking about that before. I was like, the characters had totally different vibes on the show.

[Interviewer 2]

We need a more uplifting moment for you guys on screen or something.

[Interviewer 1]

Maybe one interaction.

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah, it's just one.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah, I love that.

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah, it'd be great.

[Interviewer 2]

This is going back to the beginning a little bit. But I did wanna ask you, sort of, I read that you wanted to start as a singer before acting like you were in musicals in school. Is there like a musical you would love to. I mean, Wicked's coming out soon, so maybe not that one. But is there sort of like a musical you would be intrigued by? A revival maybe?

[Megan Fahey]

Man. I know it's a tricky question because I started the show that I did when I moved to New York was called Next to Normal. And that was like a very niche musical. It was a rock musical about mental illness. And it was right up my street. Like, I really was like, oh, this is my kind of thing. But after that, I was auditioning for tons of musicals that I just didn't feel like, fit. And so my journey with that is an interesting one because I didn't grow up on Broadway, like listening to Broadway shows or anything. It was, you know, I was more sort of into the, like, pop girlies and the, you know, the folk music and stuff. So, yeah, I don't know what kind of musical would be the right one for me.

[Interviewer 2]

But are you still into the pop girlies? Are you loving any at the moment? Because I feel like it's such a moment for pop.

[Megan Fahey]

Well, the new Lily Allen album has been on repeat.

[Interviewer 1]

We talked about it. We were at Vogue World and together And I could not stop talking to Christian about it.

[Megan Fahey]

I've been talking about it for a week. It's like one of those things where everywhere I go, I'm like, have you.

[Interviewer 1]

Been listening to this? I'm so happy she's back.

[Megan Fahey]

Like, she's so back. I know.

[Interviewer 2]

What's your favorite song?

[Megan Fahey]

Pussy Palace.

[Interviewer 2]

Same.

[Interviewer 1]

Tennis is mine.

[Megan Fahey]

I like tennis. I like sleepwalking. I mean, I like them all. Honestly, I think what I love about any album is if it feels like you can start it in the beginning and listen to it all the way through. I really like this album is such an immersive one. And the storytelling is so. It's almost like you can't listen to it out of order.

[Interviewer 2]

It's so true.

[Interviewer 1]

She literally opens her diary and is just reading it.

[Megan Fahey]

I was taken aback the first time I listened to it, and it felt so vulnerable. I was like, I don't even think I'll be able to listen to this again. And now I'm, like, listening to it every day.

[Interviewer 2]

It's just we don't get people who are so raw like that in pop. Like, it's usually very, like, perfect and polished.

[Megan Fahey]

It's so exciting. It's so exciting.

[Interviewer 1]

So you did Broadway as a teen in 2009 and then didn't really, like, work super consistently until 2016 when you landed a role on the Bold Type. I'm curious what kept you, like, in it and motivated to keep going, because I feel like we hear a lot from actors. Like, it can be really hard. And, you know, we talk. We hear from mental people talking about mental health and rejection all the time, too.

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah, it's really hard.

[Interviewer 1]

I mean, in any field, though.

[Megan Fahey]

It's totally. I. Yeah, there were many years where I. I was really, really struggling, and I think it created a lot of anxiety and depression at times. I remember feeling, like, really, you know, really low. But I started going to therapy, which was huge. That was a game changer.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Love therapy.

[Megan Fahey]

Love therapy. And that really was, like, an incredible tool that helped me kind of, like, stay balanced sort of in the. Those in between years where I was, you know, it was years. But I also was a nanny. You know, I nannied. And that was really fulfilling. I think the key for me was finding something to spend my time doing outside of auditioning and acting that didn't feel like a waste of time. And for me, that really filled that sort of space. And I don't know, I think, to answer your question more specifically, it sounds kind of lame to say, but I genuinely believed that something was gonna happen eventually. Like, I just had this sort of inner knowing somewhere. Whether or not I was constantly connected to it or not. I think it was just always kind of there in me that I just didn't wanna do anything else. I didn't wanna move home. I didn't want to go back to school. I just didn't want to do any of those things. And so I never really thought about quitting. It never really crossed my mind. I was just like, you know, going through the motions.

[Interviewer 2]

Manifestation is like so powerful, and I feel like you're like the perfect example of that. If you believe it, it'll happen.

[Interviewer 1]

The more that I learn about the. This is so weird what I'm about to say.

[Interviewer 2]

Get ready.

[Megan Fahey]

I can't.

[Interviewer 1]

Get ready. Yeah. Oh, no. Kristen just made up.

[Interviewer 2]

Where is she gonna go with this?

[Interviewer 1]

The more that I learn about, like, the brain gut connection and sort of the idea of like trusting your gut and the way that they affect each other, the more I am, like, it's so true that, like, when you feel something internally, whether it's a positive reaction, a negative reaction, like that is your body telling you that something is or isn't going to work out and like giving you the answer subtly without giving you the answer. And I just sort of like, the more I learn about how it's all connected, it really makes a lot of sense to me.

[Megan Fahey]

No, it's crazy. It's crazy the lengths that most humans will go to to deny themselves this intrinsic thing that exists to protect you and keep you happy and safe and like all of these wonderful things. But it's beaten out of us. It's so hard to actually connect to the thing that just naturally is there to do good things for you. And I think a lot about that. I think it's like. Like it's such a shame that it can be so difficult to just allow that thing to exist and trust it and go with it.

[Interviewer 2]

I also feel like a little bit of delusion in life is good too. And have you ever found yourself, like, sort of delusionally, like, wanting a role or wanting to achieve something and then it happened? Like, have you ever. I feel like that sometimes works too.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah. Me working here. For me.

[Interviewer 2]

Same. I was gonna say that too. Yeah.

[Megan Fahey]

I don't think I'm trying to think of a time when that. I mean, I've definitely been deluded for, like, there was like a job that I wanted when I was like 20 something and I literally was like burning sage and like praying to crystals and stuff. And I thought. And that did nothing for me.

[Interviewer 2]

You thought it was worth a shot?

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, totally. Sometimes, you know, you just gotta see.

[Megan Fahey]

But I actually. I read Jeremy Allen White, said something recently about, like, needing to be deluded enough. Deluded to a point as an actor where you can believe the thing that you're doing. And that really resonated with me. I really do understand what he means by that. You do kind of have to unplug your rational brain in order to allow yourself to go to a place that would otherwise feel really insane and operate in a way that you feel like you're being truthful in that space.

[Interviewer 1]

I can imagine with a horror role especially, or something like that, you have to unplug something to sort of embody. I have a confession, which is when I worked at Elle, I dated the lawyer for the company, so I sort of was living. Oh, my God, you were Sutton, the bold type. Lots of people compared me to her when they would find this out. Did not work out at all well for me like Sutton. But did you ever think maybe you'd want to try working on a magazine? You want to come upstairs and give Vogue a try?

[Megan Fahey]

Oh, my God, I'd love to play.

[Interviewer 2]

Editor for a day.

[Megan Fahey]

Where's my desk? I would last one hour. I really think that I would.

[Interviewer 1]

No, I think you're tough. You could do it. Not that you need to be tough to work at Vogue.

[Megan Fahey]

Well, don't you?

[Chloe Mel]

A little.

[Megan Fahey]

Gosh, I don't know. I have so much respect for that, for the industry. That is, that. And I think the more I learned about it via the bold type, the more I thought. I don't think that's my space.

[Chloe Mel]

But.

[Megan Fahey]

It'S so impressive to me. It really is. And also just sort of like the influence that it has on culture and stuff is so. It's so, like, incredible to witness.

[Interviewer 1]

So you have a big project in the works called the Good Daughter, looking towards the future. What can you tell us about it?

[Megan Fahey]

Give us a little teaser. It's a really sad show on Peacock.

[Interviewer 1]

Range.

[Megan Fahey]

It really is, though. It is a drama about really. It's about two sisters who have been separated for a long time, and it's sort of about them coming back together. It's myself, Rose Byrne, who is literally God. Like, I don't understand how Rose Byrne exists. Brendan Gleeson plays our dad. Also superhuman. Like, crazy. The talent and also the grace. I just. Ugh, it's amazing. Michael Dorman plays my husband. I say that with a elongated H because we're sort of separated at the beginning of the show. So. Yeah, it's a drama. It's based off of a book written by Karin Slaughter. The same name.

[Interviewer 1]

Oh, I love Karin Slaughter books. They're like the perfect airplane read.

[Megan Fahey]

Yeah, she sent my mom a bunch of her books, which was really, really thoughtful for her. And my mom read all of the good daughter, and I think has started reading some of the other ones, but she's like, they terrify her. She finds them to be really unset, which is totally Karen's thing. Like, she really enjoys that space. And my mom is sort of like, in a chokehold. Like, she kind of wants to stop reading, but can't.

[Interviewer 2]

Her new favorite author now.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes. Yes.

[Interviewer 2]

Well, she's gonna be excited to watch you then. I'm sure she's a super fan of her.

[Interviewer 1]

At least she knows how your character ends up, I guess. Unless I know.

[Megan Fahey]

Well, she was like, I don't think I can watch the show. I read the book and now I don't think I can watch the show, Mother. I know it's a lot. Hey, a lot. Those girls go through a lot.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay, well, I can't wait to watch it.

[Interviewer 2]

Sorry. Me too.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

I'm hooked.

[Interviewer 2]

And your horror film. I'm hooked up all these things.

[Interviewer 1]

Thank you so much for coming and spending time with us. This has been so fun.

[Shantae Joseph]

So fun.

[Interviewer 1]

We can't wait to see your Chloe outfit tonight.

[Megan Fahey]

Yes, you'll see it. It's a lot of belly button. Oh, okay.

[Interviewer 1]

We love the belly button. I don't think I've ever seen your belly button before.

[Megan Fahey]

That's why I'm doing it. It's my belly button debut.

[Interviewer 1]

Oh, we're so excited.

[Interviewer 2]

Tune in.

[Megan Fahey]

Me too.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Cherminardi]

That'S it for the show. Bye.

[Chloe Mel]

The Run through is produced by Chelsea Daniel, Alex DePalma and Stephanie Kariuki, with help from Emily Elias. It's engineered by Pran Bandy and James Yost.

[Interviewer 1]

It is mixed by Mike Kutchman.

[Chloe Mel]

Chris Bannon is Conde Nast's head of Global Audio.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

I love coming up with personalized gifts for people, and I'm often taking note of what other people are wearing. And I'll keep that in the back of my mind. And then when I'm scrolling on ebay, I'll type in things that make me think of them instead of a secret Santa, like a little secret personal stylist, maybe it's a fabric or color or a designer, and just see what comes up. And that's a good evening for me. I've got some examples for my husband. I typed in wool, cashmere, vintage Italian tuxedo, and the next thing you know, we're off to a holiday party looking like the ambassadors to New York City. It has come in handy so many times, and now I wear it too, and people love it. Another friend who I studied fashion design with, and actually she designed denim for years. Get something really specific and cool, like white wide leg dead stock skater jeans, which was a real hit. There's so many distinctive and, like, really unique options on ebay. These are high quality items that can often be just one of one. I think of it like finding pieces that'll, like, really stand out in a room, and then you're giving them the people that are really standing out in your life.

[Shantae Joseph]

From PRX.