The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller & Adam Scott

Episode: Gwendolyn Y from Branch 5X (with Alia Shawkat)
Date: September 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This penultimate episode features Ben Stiller and Adam Scott joined by Alia Shawkat, who played Gwendolyn Y in the first episode of Severance season two. The trio dives deep into Alia’s career, her experience on Severance, the dynamics of joining an acclaimed show, acting processes, and some lighthearted behind-the-scenes stories. The hosts also take listener hotline questions, exploring the high school archetypes of the “Innies” and what the characters (or the actors themselves) might do to "stick it" to their Audis.

This episode is a warm, funny, and insightful look at acting, nostalgia, and the specifics that make Severance unique, with great chemistry between the hosts and guest.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming Alia Shawkat & Her Acting Journey

Timestamps: 03:22 – 20:13

• Introductions & Alia’s Accomplished Career

  • Ben and Adam express deep admiration for Alia and her eclectic resume (Arrested Development, Search Party, The Old Man, films like Whip It and 20th Century Women).
    • “She was so great. Oh, my God.” – Adam (04:14)
    • “She's such a great actress. She really is incredible.” – Ben (04:17)

• Watching Her Own Work & TV Habits

  • Alia doesn’t own a television and prefers watching her work with family in Palm Springs, providing a protective, communal environment.
    • “I don't own a television. As someone who makes money off television… but I have this routine where I go back to the desert to see my family, they have a huge television that's never off…” – Alia (10:37)

• Early Career and "Child Star" Realities

  • Discusses commuting for auditions, her first job (Barbie commercial at 9), and filming Arrested Development while not living in LA.
  • Shares the sacrifices her parents made:
    • “So you had three [kids] and you would leave to Los Angeles and come back the same night. That's crazy.” – Alia (14:33)
  • Laments missing an audition for “Blow”, jokes about life on set with Michael Cera, the “Jokewood Apartments,” and early Hollywood memories.

2. Arrested Development: Sensibility, Surrealism, & Growing Up

Timestamps: 15:18 – 20:13

• Finding Her Comedy Voice

  • She shares the experience of not always getting the jokes as a teenager, but benefiting from an environment that treated young actors like professionals.
    • “Me and Michael knew how to act, but we kind of didn't fully know why it was so funny.” – Alia (16:38)
  • The unique writing and cast set a high bar for future projects.
    • “It wasn't until it was over where I was like, why is everything so bad?” – Alia (18:13)

• Post-Show Career Reflection

  • Talks about struggling with industry expectations, resisting typecasting, and renewing excitement via Whip It.
    • “A lot of the responses I would get when I'd go on auditions for, like, the snarky teen was, Alia seems like she doesn't want to be here... and the truth is, I don’t.” – Alia (19:13)
  • Both hosts agree on the value of following one’s creative instincts.

3. Entering the Severance World

Timestamps: 23:42 – 40:11

• Landing the Role of Gwendolyn Y

  • Alia immediately accepted the role:
    • “There's a part in Severance. And I was like, yes. Just yes. All the way.” – Alia (24:15)
  • She didn’t know initially she’d be sharing the screen with icons like Bob Balaban:
    • “I think we thought it would be amazing to have you… kind of a misdirect, hopefully.” – Ben (25:05)

• Making an Impression in a Short Role

  • The limited appearance (“I am, but I am on the first episode”) became a running joke.
  • They play and break down scenes:
    • “Did you see any buttes?” – Alia as Gwendolyn Y (26:35)
  • Adam notes that filming these scenes felt like shooting an alternate version of Severance at the start of season 2.
    • “It felt like we were just starting a new show...” – Adam (27:45)

• Behind-the-Scenes: Acting & Directing Process

  • Alia and Ben discuss the Severance process: numerous takes, meticulous direction, and the surreal, cinematic style.
    • “It's like a film, like a high end film... so stylized and beautiful.” – Alia (29:02)

• Views on Multiple Takes & Actor Frustrations

  • Conversation about the acting process across different directors (Noah Baumbach, Kubrick, Fincher), repeated takes, and the feeling of finding the “right” performance after the camera is off.
    • “I think it's just an actor thing...I had it and now, like, I don't know if I'm going to get it again.” – Ben (29:40)
    • “You wear them down. And so by the time you're on take 57...they're just behaving like people do.” – Adam (31:30, on Kubrick)

• Theater vs. TV/Film

  • Alia shares about her unique performance piece “The Second Woman,” performing the same scene 100 times in 24 hours with different men, exploring social dynamics and repetition.
    • “It was a social studies. It was really, really amazing.” – Alia (37:19)

4. Chemistry on the Severance Set & Working with Co-stars

Timestamps: 37:41 – 40:11

• Dynamic with Adam Scott and the Cast
  • Alia describes Adam as welcoming and giving, making her instantly feel part of the show.
    • “Adam was so welcoming, and it just felt like we had been on the show forever.” – Alia (38:20)
    • Adam: “I wish she was just on the show.” (39:52)
  • Stories about Bob Balaban, Stefano, and joking on set.

5. Listener Hotline: Archetypes & Rebel Innies

Timestamps: 43:16 – 53:14

• High School Archetypes for Severance Characters

  • Emily from New Orleans asks what the outies would have been like in high school and their archetypes.
    • Hints at “The Breakfast Club” style:
      • Helley as a goth (“Helley's definitely would definitely be a goth, right?” – Adam, 44:19)
      • Irving as poetic nerd (“Irving seems like he's kind of the, like, poetic nerd. Intellectual.” – Ben, 44:41)
      • Mark as teacher's pet or “the nerd who ends up getting the girl” (Alia, 44:44)
      • Dylan as stoner/Judd Nelson type.
    • All three hosts share their own high school archetypes (theater kid, “other,” stoner rebel, “no identity”).
    • Excellent, authentic exchange about double lives and teenage alienation:
      • “When you feel like you rather be around adults when you're in high school, which I totally had. It is. It's a disconnect.” – Alia (49:14)

• “Sticking it to Your Audi” as a Severed Lumen Employee

  • Michelle asks what they would do if they felt rebellious toward their Audi.
    • Alia jokes about an Audi who parties, leaving Innie Gwendolyn to nurse hangovers.
      • “I like the idea that my outie was a smoker and, like, an addict. Like, she drank a lot... And then would have to deal with the flip side of it.” – Alia (52:07)
    • Ideas include giving the Audi a bad haircut, shaving off eyebrows, referencing Helley’s drastic move on the show.

• Personal Reveals

  • Alia shares she discovered she was pregnant while filming a later scene on Severance.
    • “That's when I found out I was pregnant when I came back.” – Alia (52:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I always will be [a child actor].” – Alia, on her identity (11:33)
• “I said yes. Just yes, all the way.” – Alia, on joining Severance (24:15)
• “Did you see any buttes?” – Gwendolyn Y (clip, 26:35)
• “It's like a film, like a high-end film...it's so stylized and so beautiful.” – Alia, on Severance production (29:02)
• “I am, but I am on the first episode.” – Alia, joking about her role (24:52)
• “When you feel like you rather be around adults when you’re in high school… it’s a disconnect.” – Alia (49:14)
• “Adam was so welcoming, and it just felt like we had been on the show forever…” – Alia (38:20)
• “I got home and, like, called my friend. I was like, I got drunk in the Golden Globes and I was, like, so embarrassed.” – Alia (46:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:22 – Ben & Adam catch up, intro Alia and recent projects
• 10:37 – Alia on watching her own work, childhood, and TV habits
• 14:33 – Parental sacrifices for Alia’s early career
• 15:18 – Arrested Development experiences
• 19:13 – Post-Arrested career struggles and renewal
• 23:42 – Alia joins Severance, scene breakdowns
• 27:45 – Adam recalls the odd start of Severance season 2
• 29:02 – Alia discusses Severance’s filmic style & acting challenges
• 31:30 – On Kubrick, multiple takes, and acting process
• 37:19 – Alia’s “The Second Woman” theater piece
• 38:20 – On-set chemistry with Adam and the cast
• 43:16 – Listener hotline: archetypes and rebellious innies
• 52:54 – Alia discovers pregnancy while filming Severance

Final Thoughts

This episode beautifully conveys the camaraderie between the hosts and guest, highlighting the unique character of Severance, while also delighting in the weirdness, nostalgia, and craft of TV and film acting. Listeners get a charming, candid glimpse of Alia Shawkat and a lively round of hotline questions that keep the tone funny, warm, and reflective.

Closing:
“Thanks for having me. This was super fun. Really nice to see you guys again and congratulations on such a masterpiece, truly.” – Alia (53:18)