Throwing Fits: The Rachel Sennott Interview

Podcast: Throwing Fits
Date: November 10, 2025
Guest: Rachel Sennott
Main Theme: Navigating the rise, creation, and context of HBO's I Love LA — creator/star Rachel Sennott discusses fame, the influencer economy, LA vs. New York, creative control, It Girl status, internet legacy, and the hilarities/trappings of “making it” today.

Episode Overview

This episode features a candid and chaotic conversation with comedian, writer, and actress Rachel Sennott, celebrating the HBO premiere of her show I Love LA. The hosts dive deep into the process of creating and living the show, dissect the subtle art of being an "It Girl," and examine the absurdities of LA life, social media, “clout-chasing,” and internet culture.

Key Discussion Points & Timestamps

1. Getting Ready for the Pod: Schedules, Glam, and NYC Return

[00:30–05:09]

• Rachel describes her hectic day in NYC, bouncing between Times Square and Brooklyn.
  • "I'm not on rapper time, diva time... Something happened with the schedule today where for some reason we've gone to Times Square, then almost to Brooklyn, then back to Times Square, and now we're here." (Rachel, 01:34)
• She's pregaming Fallon with leftover glam for the podcast.
• Fit check: She shouts out her dress (details lost in memory), sips various top-tier waters.
• Reflects on her ritual when back in NYC: "First thing I do is hang out with my little sister... we had breakfast at 9 Orchard and went on a walk." (Rachel, 04:20)

2. New York vs. LA: Culture, Personality & Driving

[05:10–09:09]

• Rachel on how NYC unlocks her "evil" or mischievous side.
  • "I feel more evil... like I should do something bad." (Rachel, 05:01)
• Early LA struggles: depression, sitcoms during Covid, and fears of being a “Young Sheldon” who brings COVID to set.
  • "They told me that Young Sheldon from Young Sheldon got everyone COVID, and they were like, don't be Young Sheldon." (Rachel, 06:35)
• The moment LA became magical—her first night drive in the hills during the pandemic.
• On LA driving culture:
  • "In LA, you actually just need to drive into traffic and, like, honk your horn and be like, I'm turning, I'm turning, I'm turning!" (Rachel, 08:03)

3. Groundedness, Clout, and Press Tours

[09:10–12:04]

• Has she become a “jaded LA piece of shit”? Rachel says she gets diva moments but stays grounded via friends and family.
  • "My friends there, and, like, my family definitely keeps me grounded. They love to dunk on me. They humble me nonstop." (Rachel, 10:03)
• Press tour pressures: compares launching a show while still editing it to "giving birth" and being asked for photos the same moment.
  • "I sort of feel like I just gave birth. There's blood and poop on the table and everyone's like, let's take a photo." (Rachel, 11:25)

4. Cast Surprises & Behind the Scenes of I Love LA

[12:05–19:02]

• Rachel shouts out cast members Josh and Leighton for surprising depth and humor, and True Whitaker for unique comedic timing.
  • "Josh... shows this, like, sweetness and depth... Leighton... she would make me break during scenes all the time." (Rachel, 12:07)
• Working with her best friend Jordan Firstman—navigating professional/personal boundaries.
  • "I never wanted to say to Jordan, this role is written for you... I've been an actor before where someone's come up to me and said, I wrote this for you...and then a month later they're like, we have to cast a famous person." (Rachel, 15:48)
• Rachel directed the show’s finale, finding joy in letting her actors shine and wrangling the chaotic energy of her cast/friends.

5. Clout Chasing, the Influencer Economy & Spiritual LA

[19:03–24:52]

• Dissects LA/NY “who are you?” culture, fake networking, and why she’s not vindictive about industry social climbing.
  • "I really don't like when people in front of you in real time change how they're talking to you when they find out if you matter or not." (Rachel, 20:12)
• Becoming a bit “woo woo” (LA style): During a breakup, she saw psychics, tarot readers, and astrologers every week—too many, in retrospect.
  • "You shouldn't go to multiple psychics and astrologers and tarot readers all within the span of a month because it's all conflicting advice." (Rachel, 22:17)
• Pulling show moments from real life? Many ideas came from writers’ room stories, but direct one-to-ones are disguised.

6. TV Influences: Girls, Entourage, and the "It Girl" Cycle

[24:53–29:57]

• Rachel's TV inspirations: Girls, Sex and the City, Insecure, but Entourage was a key model—wanted "Entourage for internet It girls."
  • "I sort of wanted to do Entourage for Internet It Girls because...I started my career on the Internet...that's their job." (Rachel, 28:13)
• Humorous digression: she's oddly attracted to Turtle from Entourage.
• Discusses the ephemeral nature of “It Girl” status and evolving out of the label:
  • "The term It Girl means you're only an It Girl for like 15 minutes...At one point you’re not going to be the girl anymore." (Rachel, 40:58)
• How online criticism of her “It Girl era” inspired facets of the I Love LA character Tallulah.

7. Portraying the Internet, Avoiding Being Dated

[31:15–34:22]

• On making "life online" true to experience and not clunky or instantly outdated on TV:
  • "I want the internet to feel like it does to us in real life, which is—it informs our lives, but we're never explaining the internet to each other." (Rachel, 31:41)
• They avoid referencing real internet trends, instead inventing scenarios unique to the show.
• Borrowed an Entourage trick: rarely show characters actually making content, focusing instead on effects and reactions.

8. Dealing with Fame & Feedback

[34:23–41:33]

• Hosts joke about "It Girl" status and Rachel’s age, to which she shrugs off the title.
• Rachel describes the pressure of public development announcements and tuning out internet obsessives while writing.
  • "I felt excited and flattered, but I also felt pressure...I don't want to let people down.” (Rachel, 36:30)
• She shares her reaction to a podcast episode dissecting her “It Girl” rise and “fall”—the cycle is real, the emotions sometimes meta-inspiring.

9. Meta "Bagel Face" Allegations & Family Cameos

[41:34–50:56]

• Skirts around spoilers but says the show does address “bagel face” allegations in a funny, meta way.
• Guilt? Catholic but not over success, more over random everyday things.
• Her parents actually voice her on-screen parents—"My dad plays my dad and my mom plays my mom on the show over the phone." (Rachel, 50:21)

10. Cast Parties, Favorite Co-workers, and Season 2 Teases

[51:08–53:54]

• Jordan Firstman is her #1 party homie, thanks to years of rhythm: "We're so locked in."
• Non-Jordan favorites: True and Odessa, especially on their Savannah girls trip.
• Dream for season two: bring more friends and cameos into the “party.”

11. Creative Process, Boundaries, and Online Habits

[53:55–48:52]

• Relationship between protagonist/manager mirrors two sides of Rachel; not about industry, but about life online.
• On boundaries: none—she obsesses if she takes time off.
• Letting her sisters screen social media feedback; tries to avoid ego spiral of reading comments.
  • "I think it can make you a little narcissistic because it’s...you're only reading stuff about yourself." (Rachel, 47:43)

12. Shopping, Dumb Purchases & Constructive Criticism

[56:58–60:24]

• What does she splurge on? Shoes (and recently, a tangle of Halloween costumes).
• Encourages the hosts to make more TikToks: "You guys are really cute together... I want a little lip sync of you guys talking to each other." (Rachel, 59:52)

13. Closing Thoughts & What to Watch

[60:25–End]

• Rachel wants I Love LA to bring people together: "Do fun little watch parties...that would make me so happy." (Rachel, 61:04)
• Last question: Who did more for LA, Rachel Sennott or the Dodgers? "Obviously the LA Dodgers. But I threw the first pitch, so I won the World Series." (Rachel, 61:51)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I sort of feel like I just gave birth. There's blood and poop on the table and everyone's like, let's take a photo.” – Rachel, on press timing [11:25]
• “They told me that Young Sheldon from Young Sheldon got everyone COVID, and they were like, don’t be Young Sheldon.” [06:35]
• “I think you guys should do more TikToks. You guys are really cute together.” – Rachel gives the hosts advice [59:52]
• “The term It Girl means you’re only an It Girl for like 15 minutes... By essence of that, at one point you’re not going to be the girl anymore.” [40:58]
• “When I'm with my crew... I, like, truly feel invincible. If you're friends with me, I must be okay.” [29:12]

Episode Tone/Style

• Chaotic, self-aware, and extremely candid—veering from earnest to absurd with ease.
• Hosts alternate between hype-man energy, inside jokes, and genuine curiosity, maintaining a casual, banter-heavy atmosphere.
• Rachel is witty, occasionally self-deprecating, and reflects on both the personal and sociocultural throughlines of her career with humor.

Summary For New Listeners

This episode is essential if you’re curious about:

• How a viral internet “It Girl” transitions to showrunner and TV star;
• The emotional high-wire act of staring down sudden success;
• The mechanics and absurdities of digital-era fame (and criticism);
• LA/NY dichotomies, creative authenticity, and the highs/lows of collaboration.

With laughter, transparency, and a heady dose of internet (and industry) wisdom, Rachel Sennott lets you in on how I Love LA was made—and what it takes (spiritually, psychically, sometimes glamorously) to survive in the culture of now.