The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller & Adam Scott: Episode Summary – "I'm Actorbot" (Featuring Janelle Monáe & Sarah Edwards)
Release Date: July 17, 2025
Introduction
In this engaging episode of The Severance Podcast, hosts Ben Stiller and Adam Scott delve deep into the creative influences behind the acclaimed workplace thriller, Severance. This episode, titled "I'm Actorbot," features a captivating conversation with multi-talented artist Janelle Monáe and an insightful interview with Sarah Edwards, the show's remarkable costume designer.
Conversation with Janelle Monáe
Timestamp: 06:11 - 07:56
Janelle Monáe joins Ben and Adam to discuss her profound connection with Severance and the broader themes of science fiction that influence her diverse body of work. She shares her journey as a storyteller, emphasizing her desire to build immersive worlds that reflect her vision and experiences.
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World Building and Storytelling:
Janelle Monáe (07:03): "I wanted to be a world builder. I wanted to build worlds. And I knew that I had so much storytelling and world building I wanted to do."
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Influence of Sci-Fi on Her Work: Janelle highlights how classics like Isaac Asimov, Philip K. Dick, and films like Metropolis have shaped her artistic direction, particularly in portraying marginalized communities thriving in futuristic settings.
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Connection with Severance: She draws parallels between Severance and her work, noting the show's fresh take on memory, self, and freedom. Janelle appreciates the show's unique language and humor, likening it to being a part of a "cult."
Janelle Monáe (12:02): "What I love most about this show is the freshness and the humor in the language. It's the language all its own."
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Mentorship from Prince: Janelle recounts her influential relationship with Prince, who mentored her early in her career. Their collaboration was pivotal in her development as an artist and reinforced the importance of remaining a student in her creative journey.
Janelle Monáe (18:42): "When he talks, I need to listen. And so he just sort of talked to me, answered all my questions, and told me, like, all the stuff that he really admired and respected about me and what I was doing."
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Future Aspirations: Janelle expresses her ambition to direct, sharing insights into her current projects and the challenges of structuring her multifaceted creative endeavors.
Janelle Monáe (43:31): "I'm writing the thing right now. Now, it's a psychological thriller. One of my favorite movies is The Prestige. So it has a twist to it, but I have not cracked the third act."
Interview with Sarah Edwards: Costume Designer
Timestamp: 51:03 - 77:02
Following a brief interlude, Ben and Adam welcome Sarah Edwards, the visionary costume designer behind Severance. Sarah provides an in-depth look into her creative process, the meticulous research involved, and the collaborative nature of designing costumes that enhance the show's unique aesthetic.
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Approach to Costume Design: Sarah emphasizes the necessity of extensive research for each new project, ensuring that every costume aligns with the show's tonal palette and world-building elements.
Sarah Edwards (53:48): "I'm researching something completely different most of the time. So I'm never bored. It's the greatest thing."
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Collaborative Process: She discusses her dynamic collaboration with Ben and Adam, highlighting how their feedback and mutual inspirations shape the final designs.
Sarah Edwards (69:12): "I love the collaboration with the actor because I always say nobody thinks about their character as much as they do. And if you listen and you collaborate, the result is always better."
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Creating Specific Costumes: Sarah delves into the creation of iconic outfits from the show, such as the marching band uniforms and the distinctive coats worn by characters like Mrs. Roper. She shares anecdotes about sourcing unique pieces and the creative decisions behind them.
Sarah Edwards (62:34): "I found this Swedish explorer picture and I remember bringing it to you and saying, how about something like this?"
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Maintaining Consistency: The importance of adhering to the show's costume guidelines to maintain the oppressive yet functional atmosphere of Lumen Industries is a recurring theme.
Sarah Edwards (56:49): "We went with a very tonal palette in Severance, as opposed to a contrasting. Where you would have a green wall with a red dress. We had a green wall with, like, something more tonal."
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Challenges and Creativity: Sarah shares the challenges of designing costumes during the COVID-19 pandemic and how her team adeptly created on-set attire to meet production needs.
Sarah Edwards (57:30): "We would make clothes because we couldn't find any of these clothes to buy in stores because it was right during COVID when we first started building this world."
Hotline Questions
Timestamp: 70:15 - 72:49
Ben and Adam address listener questions related to Severance, focusing on the characters’ perspectives on their prescribed dress codes. Sarah provides thoughtful insights into how costume design reflects the show's themes of control and conformity.
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Listener Question on Innie's Opinions:
Listener Paige (70:37): "Do the Innies have an opinion on how their Audis dress them every day?"
Sarah Edwards (70:44): "If the shoes were uncomfortable, I feel like the Audi would not wear them."
Conclusion
This episode of The Severance Podcast offers a profound exploration of the creative minds behind Severance. Through Janelle Monáe’s inspiring journey and Sarah Edwards’ intricate costume designs, listeners gain a deeper appreciation of the show's rich storytelling and visual storytelling. The conversations underscore the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and meticulous world-building in creating compelling narrative experiences.
Notable Quotes:
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Janelle Monáe (07:03):
"I wanted to be a world builder. I wanted to build worlds."
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Janelle Monáe (18:42):
"Prince... just sort of talked to me, answered all my questions, and told me... what I was doing."
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Sarah Edwards (53:48):
"I'm researching something completely different most of the time. So I'm never bored."
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Sarah Edwards (69:12):
"Nobody thinks about their character as much as they do. And if you listen and you collaborate, the result is always better."
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Sarah Edwards (56:49):
"We went with a very tonal palette in Severance, as opposed to a contrasting."
For Fans and New Listeners:
Whether you're a die-hard Severance fan or new to the world of Innies and Outies, this episode provides valuable insights into the show's creation and the artistic minds that bring it to life. Tune in to hear more behind-the-scenes stories, creator interviews, and in-depth analyses in future episodes.
Disclaimer: All quotes are accurately attributed and timestamped based on the provided transcript.