Presenting: Julia on Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Summary

Podcast Summary: Presenting: Julia on Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Podcast: Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Lemonada Media)
Episode: Presenting: Julia on Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Amy Poehler
Guest: Julia Louis-Dreyfus

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Episode Overview

This episode is a crossover hangout between two comedic icons: Amy Poehler hosting Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Good Hang. Julia is on to chat about the new season of her own podcast (Wiser Than Me), her career, friendship with Amy, and reflections on aging, comedy, and what brings wisdom and joy. The energy is heartfelt, hilarious, and honest, with stories from SNL, sitcoms, friendship, family, and surviving career and life upheavals.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Conversation Starter with Tony Hale

(00:53 – 12:51)

• Amy introduces Tony Hale (Veep co-star, Arrested Development) to ask Julia a question.
• Tony reminisces about codependent relationships his characters have had with Julia (Veep/Selina and Gary) and his mom (Lucille on Arrested Development).
• Tony asks: "What did your mom do right? What did she give you that built your foundation?" (08:23)
  • Leads to later reflections on parent–child relationships and generational wisdom.
• Fun improvisation ("Too Deep" podcast idea), and speculation about Tony’s Marvel-ineligibility due to carrying tampons for everyone.

Memorable Quote:
Tony on Julia’s leadership:

"Whoever's number one on the call sheet... typically sets the tone. Let me tell you right now, it is a gift for the next seven years that we have on that show of what she gave us." (06:34)

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2. Photo Competition: Who Has More on Their Phone?

(18:04 – 19:43)

• Amy and Julia compete over who has more phone photos.
  • Amy: 82,014 photos
  • Julia: 56,276 photos
• Discussion about generational tech anxiety, cloud storage, and relying on their kids to handle digital archives.

Tone: Playful, self-aware, and a bit technophobic.

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3. What Makes a Good Podcast Interview?

(20:30 – 23:23)

• Julia discusses curating Wiser Than Me:
  • Importance of deep research, understanding the guest, and aiming for authentic, non-superficial conversations.
  • Amy and Julia relate to being “good students”—always working hard, preparing, and being curious.

Quotable:
Julia:

“This podcast was born out of my own curiosity... I really need to come to the table understanding who these people are and how to have an authentic conversation that isn't just your normal fuck around.” (21:31)

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4. The Impact of Female Comedy Icons

(24:07 – 26:48)

• Julia on interviewing Jane Curtin (original SNL cast):
  • Acknowledges Jane’s boundary-setting (“I’m not hired as a writer and won’t work Mondays and Tuesdays”).
  • Marvels at the unconscious influence of women like Jane Curtin and Carol Burnett growing up: “They get into your bloodstream without your knowing it.” (25:20)
  • Importance of “see it to be it” in television.

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5. Emmy Rivalry & The Art of Comedy Bits

(28:04 – 32:22)

• Amy calls Julia the “LeBron James of TV”; Julia laughs and deflects, credits luck.
• They reminisce on funny awards-show bits, switching speeches, women being “fun-competitive.”
• Insight on keeping award shows light and funny.

Quotable:
Amy:

“If you win for a comedic role, try to be funny when you give a speech.” (31:07)

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6. SNL Beginnings and Tough Starts

(32:43 – 36:48)

• Julia’s first experience, moving with her Chicago sketch group (Practical Theater Company) to SNL in 1982. Tough reception as “the new group,” with predecessor’s friends unhappy.
• Recounts cringe-worthy first table read in harsh fluorescent lighting: “Even saying it, my armpits are going bananas right now.” (35:09)

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7. Seinfeld—The Road to Cultural Icon

(36:01 – 41:12)

• Julia on joining Seinfeld: Network insisted on adding a woman, so Elaine was created.
• Amy and Julia joke about never focusing on sex appeal on their characters (“Oh, fuck, I should have been sexy”). (39:02)
• Pregnancies during filming and missed “sexy” sitcom trends.

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8. Friendship, Family, and Parenting

(48:35 – 49:56)

• Amy praises Julia’s close family and supportive marriage; Julia jokes (“FYI, we’re separate and getting divorced,” 49:00).
• Amy cast Julia’s son Charlie in “Moxie” for his first professional job; Julia is grateful he had a good, kind first boss.

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9. The Magic of Chemistry on Sitcoms

(50:48 – 51:11)

• Julia on Veep:
  • Show was fun, missed the cast.
  • Strong showrunner leadership (Armando Iannucci, Cari Lizer).
  • Amy and Julia both miss the unique energy and camaraderie on their respective shows.

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10. The Vital Power of Female Mentorship

(60:02 – 61:02)

• Julia on hosting SNL post-cast member stint, feeling the “female power” in the new, strong ensemble.
• Amy and Julia bond over influence, mentorship, and the importance of seeing women thrive in comedy.

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11. Tony Hale’s Question: What Did Your Mom Do Right?

(56:28 – 58:45)

• Julia: “My mother is a very intellectually curious person, and I think some of that has rubbed off on me... and my mother has a very good sense of humor.” (57:13)
• Key bonding moments: Watching comedy shows together as a child, sharing laughter: “I remember sort of feeling like I was partnered with her in enjoying this extraordinarily funny ping pong bit.” (58:45)
• They discuss how laughing together bonds families.

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12. On Getting Older, Grief, and Finding Meaning

(62:08 – 64:36)

• Amy reflects on the privilege and complexity of aging.
• Julia discusses public experience with breast cancer:
  • Forced to go public due to VEEP hiatus.
  • Found value in helping others and self-soothing by soothing others:

  “There is a lot to be said in self-soothing by soothing others. That’s a... that’s a real thing.” (64:21)

• Both highlight laughter and service as vital “elevators out of the basement” during tough times.

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13. Favorite Comfort TV, Viral Videos, and Survivor Skills

(66:44 – 73:08)

• Julia loves viral dog videos: “It is attacking an apple slice... it’s war!” (67:02)
• Lifelong Survivor and Amazing Race fan, but admits she’d immediately quit under pressure.
• Both rave about the show Alone—the psychology of tapping out, and how people’s minds start to convince themselves out of the game.
• Fantasize about watching TV together with snacks and chips.

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14. Closing Moments & Reflections

(73:34 – end)

• Julia and Amy affirm their admiration and value in their friendship.
• Amy: “...the privilege it is to just get older. There’s so many people that aren’t here that want to be here. Like, how great to be alive, basically.” (62:08)
• Amy gives a shoutout to Anne Lamott, whose wisdom and humor she admires—and whom Julia interviewed on Wiser Than Me.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Julia on wisdom and legacy:

  "I came to the table understanding who these people are and how to have an authentic conversation that isn't just your normal fuck around." (21:31)

• Julia on her mother:

  "My mother is a very intellectually curious person, and I think some of that has rubbed off on me...and my mother has a very good sense of humor." (57:13)

• On female mentorship:

  "You inspire me every time I see you engaging, like, I feel very inspired by you. Like, you turn on a switch for me often where I see you doing something and I’m like, right, that's the kind of engagement I'm supposed to be doing." – Amy to Julia (61:02)

• Tony Hale on codependency in Veep:

  "I worship. She was Jesus to me... I never heard [her insults], I just heard poetry when she was screaming at me." (06:02)

• Julia on surviving grief and illness:

  "There is a lot to be said in self-soothing by soothing others... it's a real thing." (64:21)

• Julia on Survivor/Amazing Race:

  "What I would do is pretend to break my leg and get Air Vac out." (68:37)

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Highlighted Timestamps

• Tony Hale’s question & codependency riff: 05:19–06:34
• Photo competition: 18:10–19:43
• What makes a good interview: 20:57–23:23
• On Jane Curtin and early SNL: 24:07–26:48
• Awards show bits & ‘LeBron James’ debate: 28:04–32:22
• SNL Chicago group tough start: 33:00–36:48
• Pregnancy on Seinfeld & friends vs sexy sitcoms: 39:02–41:38
• Julia’s reflections on Veep & old sitcom chemistry: 50:48–51:11
• Hosting SNL as first female former-cast-member: 60:02–60:26
• Tony’s question: What did your mom do right?: 56:28–58:45
• On grief, cancer, and uplifting others: 62:08–64:36
• Comfort TV and survival shows: 66:44–73:08

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Conclusion & Takeaways

This episode is classic Poehler–Louis-Dreyfus: sharp, honest, and rolling in comedic chemistry. Listeners get insights into the making of iconic sitcoms, the real work behind podcasting, the challenges and privileges of aging, and the importance of laughter and real connection. With warmth and wit, Julia and Amy model why women supporting women—through comedy, mentorship, and friendship—is winning in every sense.

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Transcript

[A]

Hearing a voice can change everything. So AT&T wants everyone to gift their voice to loved ones this holiday season.

[B]

Because that conversation is a chance to.

[A]

Say something they'll hear forever. AT&T connecting changes everything. Hey, it's me, Julia Louis Dreyfus. We are officially back with a brand new season of Wiser Than Me. To celebrate your out of this world support for our show, we've been brewing up something special, a Wiser Than Me mirror Traveler. It's a versatile, sustainable travel mug to keep your coffee hot and your tea cozy all year round. It's perfect for wise women on the go. Head over to wiserthanmeshop.com to grab yours now. Okay, here's the show.

[C]

Lemonade.

[B]

Hi, Wiser Than Me listeners.

[A]

It's Julia. We are taking a little holiday break, but while we're away, we're bringing you a couple of conversations with some friends. And this week it's me and my good friends buddy Amy Poehler on her show Good Hang.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Amy is one of the funniest people I know and she gets brilliant guests like Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig and Ina Garten. And this is my hang with Amy. And after you listen, be sure to follow the show wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube. We'll be back with new episodes of Wiser Than Me in the new year. Until then, happy holidays.

[C]

Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. We just have such a pro. We have the queen. We have just the hilarious, incredible, inspiring Julia Louis Dreyfus joining us today. And we talked to Julia about so many fun, good things. We talk about season four of her podcast, Wiser Than Me. We're gonna talk about her Emmy domination and how she just beat me year after year. We're talking about how many photos we have on our phone. And spoiler alert, I have more. And you're going to hear her reject my idea that she is the LeBron James of television. So, great episode coming up. But before we start, we always like to check in with someone who knows our guest who has a question to give me to ask our guest. And we have an incredible, sweet, super talented, hilarious Tony Hale joining us. Tony, who you might know from Arrested Development, Buster Bluth. What a character he played. Gary on Veep. Incredible character. He is the voice of fear and inside out two. Incredible character. We love Tony. And let's check in and see if we can hear him from his incredible studio. Tony, Are you in a booth? In a recording booth?

[D]

Okay, this is a little booth I made in my house. And if I really showed it to you, you'd be like, oh, that's sad. Tony needs help.

[C]

First of all, everyone now, you're. You're nobody if you don't have a booth in your house.

[D]

Really, I'm ahead of the game.

[C]

This is, like. Feels like a Covid, you know, thing. You build a wall, and you make it soundproof, and you start a podcast.

[A]

Soundproof.

[D]

Ish. If I really showed it to you, go, oh, I get it now. He's in the witness protection program.

[C]

Oh, it's so good to see you. We first met on the set of Arrested Development, back in. Whatever that was.

[D]

Yeah. Actually, was that. I think we might.

[C]

Was that the first time.

[D]

I think we might have first met when Martell was.

[C]

Yes.

[D]

On snl. Because my wife was a makeup artist on snl, and I think. But I was. I was just the guy next to her that was like, oh, I'm not gonna say anything. I'm not gonna say anything to Amy. No, no. And so I don't know if we actually met, but I just kind of probably stared at all you guys.

[C]

Yeah. Your very talented wife. Martell was a makeup artist during my years at snl. And then we got to know each other on the set of Arrested, and, I mean, Buster Bluth, what. We'd. We need a movie about what's going on in his head.

[D]

Yeah, there was a lot going on in his head, and he could barely get to the pharmacy, but he just.

[A]

Oh, man.

[D]

Somebody was asking me the other day about just the codependency that's in that show between me and Lucio Bluth, who was played wonderfully by Jessica Walter. And there is a scene in there which is such a beautiful picture of the codependency where she's on house arrest and she can't smoke. And so she tells me. She goes, buster, come here.

[A]

Come here.

[D]

And she says she makes me inhale the smoke out of her mouth as she smokes, and then blow it out on the balcony, and then she takes another drag and then blows it into my mouth, and I've got to exhale on the balcony. And I was like, if. Just like a baby bird getting a worm out of his mom's mouth. And I was like, if that's not a picture of dysfunction, that. I mean, that is crazy.

[C]

Well, to me, that's a picture of a loving son taking care of their mother.

[D]

You know what, Amy? I think this is a side conversation.

[C]

That's what a son should do for its mother.

[D]

You're absolutely right. My mother would agree.

[C]

You have created such great codependent dysfunctional relationships in the work.

[B]

Work that you do.

[C]

Because Lucille and Buster, I mean, is.

[B]

And.

[C]

And then the relationship you and Julia have on Veep is how. When you explain your relationship to Selena in that, like, how do you relation. How do you. How do you sum up the relationship you guys had together on the show? Your characters.

[D]

I worship. She was Jesus to me. I was. I don't even think I. I mean, I. She literally called me a bitchy mime on the show because she didn't really want me to speak. So she had. She gave me no value. But I just had these crazy rose colored glasses and just. I never heard it. I just heard poetry when she was screaming at me. So it was just. And she knew it. She knew it, and she abused it.

[C]

It looked like you two had an incredible working relationship. Like, it just looked like you loved working together.

[D]

We really did. And she. The one thing. I mean, you did the same thing on Parks and Rec, but it's whoever's number one on the call sheet, which means whoever's the star of the show, they typically set the tone of the experience. And sometimes, unfortunately, that's. I haven't had this experience, but, you know, sometimes it's like everybody's walking in eggshells and there's a lot of ego and entitlement, which just sucks creative energy out of a space. And it's just not a gift to anybody. And then sometimes you have like you or Julia where you walk in and it's just. It's open. We're all on the same team. There's a kindness, there's a respect. And let me tell you right now, it is a gift for the next seven years that we have on that show of what she gave us. And we just loved her and we just became friends. I mean, she's also. Work is not her number one priority. Her family is. She has a life outside of it. And just the humanity of Julia was really just awesome. Awesome to be around.

[C]

Yeah. And you know, you. I think you. Because you're a deep thinking person.

[A]

Too deep.

[C]

Too deep. Some people say too deep.

[D]

It's the rumor.

[C]

Tony Hill. Too deep.

[D]

Damn it. That should be the name of my podcast.

[C]

Too Deep to what would be the book? It would be Tony Hill or somebody's.

[D]

Or I'm talking to somebody and they start saying something. I go, not deep enough. You gotta go deeper.

[B]

Go deeper.

[C]

Actually go deeper, go deeper, go deeper.

[D]

I'm like, bye, bye.

[C]

Go deeper. And then. And it's go deeper, comma, get back up to the surface. You've gone too deep, way too deep. So I ask my Zoom guests to give me a question to ask my guest, and I'm wondering if you have a question. Big, small, deep, not deep for Julia that you think would be appropriate?

[D]

One thing that I always loved to witness with Julia was her relationship with her mom. She really loves and respects her mom. And I, we never really talked about. I mean, we talked about her mom a lot, but never really talked about much. Her growing up and growing up, what she remembers, kind of how her mom cultivated that foundation, you know? Cause it's such a cool thing to watch now. And I'm like, oh, wow. Like, what did your mom do? Right? You know?

[C]

Yeah, that's a great question. What did your mom do?

[A]

Right?

[C]

That's actually a. I think that's kind of. That's kind of like the theme of your 50s and 60s, because you're 20. Listen, I love to generalize, so I apologize in advance, but if your 20s and 30s are like, who am I not? And I don't want to do this? And, like, what didn't go right then as you get older, you start to realize, what else.

[B]

What.

[C]

What did I. What. The people who raised me, what did they. You know, they're doing the best they can. What did they do? Right?

[D]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you can. You can really see it with the. The fruit of that, with her. With her relationship. And, you know, both you and I are parents, and I want. I want that kind of longevity that she has with her mom. Man, what an awesome gift.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

You're so right about the 50s kind of having eyes to see things, which is such a gift. That's. That's too deep. That's. That.

[A]

We went.

[C]

We've gone to. Yeah, that's the second week of too deep, which is.

[D]

So my favorite dessert is key lime pie.

[C]

Thank God. Let's get back over to the service. You know what I mean? I'm not trying to change lives here, Tony. You know what I mean? Like, we're trying to have a laugh. This is a good hang.

[D]

So sorry.

[C]

And look, I took you down. I put the weights on our ankles, and I brought us down.

[D]

I was about to go into, like, dessert. The sugar does hurt my stomach, but I do. I want to keep it up.

[C]

Stay up, Stay up.

[D]

I'm not going to say anymore.

[C]

So also, maybe if I follow up the. Maybe if I asked Julia the question about her mom, I should follow up with what's Your favorite kind of pie.

[D]

I will say, what's her favorite dessert? I want to say I think it might be a really good chocolate cake, but I don't know if that's true.

[C]

Well, I feel like I would trust you knowing everything about Julia after Veep.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

I didn't know anything about politics on that show, but I knew what designer she was wearing. I knew what jewelry she was wearing. I knew who just had an affair that she was talking to. I knew all that stuff.

[C]

You kept tampons in your bag just in case.

[D]

Different colors. Several.

[C]

That's a real man.

[D]

Thank you.

[C]

That's a real man.

[A]

Thank you.

[D]

Know why they haven't put me in a Marvel movie?

[C]

There's a guy that has tampons in his back.

[D]

Me, me, me.

[B]

I got it.

[A]

I got it.

[B]

I got.

[C]

I have antibacterial wipes, too. Well, I feel like you should be in a Marvel movie. And also, you are in Toy story. Toy Story 5 is coming out.

[D]

And you're in that story 5 is coming out. Forky. Sweet little forky man. Forky was the best.

[C]

That's so great.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Forky has a lot of questions.

[C]

What's Forky's game? Like, what's going on with Forky?

[D]

God, we're getting too deep again.

[B]

Yeah, here we go.

[C]

Going down. You're like, Forky is like, why are we here?

[D]

Forky's like, why we're here. But also the fact that he, like, came into the world being like, I'm trash. I'm just trash. And Woody's like, no, you're more than trash. You're made for a purpose. Come on.

[C]

Oh, that Pixar man.

[D]

That Pixar man just gets you.

[C]

They just get you every time.

[D]

So I think that'll come out this summer. And this theme of this one is toys against tech, which I think is a really cool.

[A]

Yeah, that's.

[C]

That's very cool.

[D]

Yeah. Yeah.

[C]

Well, I. As long as. As long as you guys don't come after my phone. You can say all you want about tech, but my phone is my best friend.

[D]

So what if when the movie comes out, like, the SWAT team just. It goes to your house and goes.

[C]

Amy, give me your phone. Whatever. The very end, tech just wins. It's like, yeah, no more toys.

[D]

Amy is really a spokesperson for AI.

[C]

When everyone's concerned big time. AI Yai, we need AI. Okay.

[D]

She's the ambassador. AI's ambassador.

[C]

Polar. Tony, I love you.

[B]

See you later.

[C]

Bye.

[A]

You know, AT&T believes hearing a voice can change everything. It's why people love a good podcast or save voicemails from loved ones, because there's nothing like the comforting sound of a familiar voice. Who do you call when you need to recharge? Maybe it's your mom, your sister, your best friend from college? AT&T wants everyone to share their voice over the holidays. So send a voice note, leave a voicemail. Call someone because that conversation is a chance to say something they'll hear forever. Happy holidays from AT&T. Connecting changes everything. Hey prime members, did you know you can listen to Wiser Than Me ad free on Amazon Music? Download the Amazon Music app today to start listening ad free.

[B]

Okay, I'm not going to talk about food waste this time. Promise.

[A]

I'm going to talk about food resources. All that uneaten food that's lazing around the landfill, tooting out greenhouse gases. It could be put to work enriching our soil or feeding our chickens. It's a valuable resource because it's still food. And the easiest and frankly, way coolest way to put all its nutrients to.

[B]

Work is with the Mill Food Recycler.

[A]

Okay, it looks like an art house garbage can. You can just toss your scraps in it like a garbage can. It's definitely not a garbage can. True, I'm a little bit obsessed. I actually even invested in this thing. But I'm not alone. Any mill owner just might corner you at a party and rhapsodize about how it's completely odorless and fully automated and how you can keep filling it for weeks. No joke. But the clincher is that you can depend on it for years. Mill is a serious machine. Think about a dishwasher, not a toaster. It's built by hand in North America and engineered by the guy who did your iPhone.

[B]

But you kind of have to live.

[A]

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[B]

This episode of Wiser Than Me is.

[A]

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[C]

Julia Louis Dreyfus is here and we've started our interview by comparing how many photos we have on our phone.

[B]

I would call it a competition if you don't mind.

[C]

Well, I want to talk about this because what I like about you is you like to win.

[B]

I do like to win.

[C]

I know. I love that about you. Let's reveal the numbers of photos we have on our phone. I'll go first go ahead. 82,000.

[B]

Oh, shit.

[C]

Is that winning or losing? Is it winning or losing that I have 82,000 photos on my phone?

[B]

Wait, you mean it's a round number like that?

[C]

I know it's 82-014-82014. What do you have?

[B]

I'm 56,276.

[C]

Chop chop. Screw you, Amy Poehler. Now you know, what it means is that we have not asked a young person to plug in our phone and to transfer our photos somewhere else.

[B]

But I want to have them on my phone.

[C]

Me too.

[B]

There you go.

[C]

But we should be downloading them somewhere else, right?

[B]

Don't they do that automatically in the cloud?

[C]

I'm literally the last person to ask.

[B]

Somebody call Bill Gates.

[C]

We can get him on the phone. Because my now when I get a new iPhone, I hand it to my 17 year old child and I go fix it. Do it. I guess I don't even know how to do it. Do it.

[B]

You don't know how to do it? I don't know how to do it either, but this is making me anxious. I need to take these all off of here. I want. There are certain pictures I want to have.

[C]

Agree, but. And let me ask the gen zers in the room, do you guys take your photos off your phone at some point? Never.

[A]

Never.

[B]

See, we're young and hip all of a sudden.

[C]

Okay. We're really sounding old, though, because I feel the same way. Like I said, sweat. Technology makes me sweat.

[B]

That's right, mother.

[A]

It does.

[C]

Yes, mother. Yes, mother.

[B]

Yes, speaking.

[C]

Are you comfy, by the way?

[B]

You need anything comfy?

[A]

Okay, great. Oh, let's move.

[C]

Let's turn off that phone.

[B]

Hold on.

[C]

Julia's phone is dinging. Did you get another picture? Did you get another picture sent to you?

[B]

I'm up to 56,600.

[C]

Okay. And by the way, my phone is also on.

[B]

Oh, hang on. I just want to finish this.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Anyway, now it's silenced.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

I want to start by asking you about podcasting, because we're both podcasting now. I know I didn't really ask a lot of people for advice before I started this podcast.

[B]

You should have called me, by the way.

[C]

I know I didn't ask any men because I try not to ask men for advice.

[B]

Smart.

[C]

But what do you think makes a good interview? You've done great interviews now you've done many of them. What do you think makes a good one?

[B]

Well, I mean, it sort of depends on what the conceit is for, what the conversation's gonna be. You've done this, right? Because good hang lets you know exactly what it's going to be. We could be talking about the photos on my phone for the next 45 minutes.

[C]

That's right.

[B]

We probably will. And we might. And that's like. That is dynamite. Because that's. There's an ease to that. Unfortunately for me, you've made it hard.

[C]

Because you love hard work.

[B]

Well, I don't know about that, but I have made it. I mean, it's definitely rewarding, but it does. I'm talking to older women about the wisdom they have acquired in their life and would they share it with us? So that requires me to do a lot of research. I really need to come to the table understanding who these people are and how to have an authentic conversation that isn't just, you know, your normal.

[C]

Fuck around.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Or plug your this, that, and the other.

[C]

Yeah. And. And I. It's why I love your show. And I've told you that, like, I love the deep dive. You do? I do feel like I get this very, you know, big picture perspective from the women and the lives that they've led.

[B]

Oh, thanks.

[C]

I'm gonna glaze you for a while on this. This is what the kids call a glaze.

[B]

I'm glazing you like a sugar thing.

[C]

Yep. It's all about sugar.

[B]

A glaze is like.

[C]

I'm gonna tell you how great you are, so buckle up.

[B]

Okay, There's a word. There's another word that's out now that I can't remember what it is that I was gonna respond with, but it went out of my head and if.

[C]

We know it, it's out. Wait, there's no way.

[B]

So glaze is not cool anymore.

[C]

Of course it isn't if I'm saying it.

[B]

So now I have to say I'm dead.

[C]

Yeah, exactly. I'm dead.

[B]

Seriously. Bet. Bet.

[C]

Julia.

[B]

Bet.

[C]

But. But you. How much research do you do for a show? Like, do you.

[B]

A lot, baby.

[C]

Kate. Well, why. Why work so hard?

[B]

I don't know.

[C]

Get me out of it. Haven't you gotten the memo to work? Do you see how. How. Why are we working so hard?

[B]

I don't know. Well, you say you're not working hard.

[C]

I'm giving to it.

[B]

You are. You've. You have. Yeah. You are, right?

[C]

Isn't she?

[B]

Yeah, she is. Everyone shaking their head. You are. You're pretending like you're not to be cool, but you're working super hard.

[C]

I got to tell you, you're. But it is. It's an indication, I think, of a bigger thing that we all are used to doing, which is being a very good student. Like, just, like, working hard.

[B]

Yes, that's true.

[C]

And has that been something you found in your life, like you want to do well and be a good student?

[B]

Basically, yeah, I want to do well.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And also for me, with this podcast, it was really born out of my own curiosity. In fact, I came to you and talked to you about this podcast.

[C]

I know. And I remember thinking, this sounds hard. I know.

[B]

Julia passed, ladies and gentlemen.

[C]

Julia was like, what if we did? I was like, that sounds like a lot.

[B]

I don't think so. You do it. That's what she said.

[C]

Who is coming up? The Erics. Who have you interviewed that you can plug?

[B]

Well, I can plug the following. I can plug Jane Curtin.

[C]

Please, please, let's talk about Jane for one second. Let's just sit here and think about Jane for a second.

[B]

Well, you know what? It was a really, first of all, obviously, an honor to talk to her, but it was a great opportunity to go back and look at her work and particularly her work on SNL back in the day, because, of course, she was one of the original cast members and to understand the effect, speaking for myself, that had on my life.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Ginormous. Yes, ginormous.

[C]

Totally.

[B]

And, you know, and I watched that first episode, and Janis Ian is singing I Learned the truth at 17, and I was 14 watching the show when that premiered. And these were my people. Yeah. And so same was true of Carol Burnett. Yeah. You know, you sort of don't, to a certain extent, these people that have these cultural icons who've had proper influence, they get into your bloodstream without your knowing it.

[C]

Totally.

[B]

And it's.

[C]

And it's, you know, that thing, like, you have to see it to be it. It's not conscious. It's not like you say, oh, there's a woman on there. But you just see people filling this role just becomes part of your DNA that. That could exist in your life, in your world.

[B]

Right. Completely.

[C]

So, yeah.

[B]

Incredible. Yeah, incredible. By the way, you may know this, but something I learned talking to Jane, that was kind of extraordinary because you and I are familiar with the schedule of snl, which is grueling.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Jane was not hired as a writer, and immediately she made the decision that she was not gonna come to work on Monday and Tuesday. I swear to Christ.

[A]

Whoa.

[C]

Baller. Baller. She's like, I'm not here to write. I'm here to perform. Let me know when you write.

[B]

You're paying me as an actor. I'll be here for the table read on Wednesday.

[C]

Wow.

[B]

And the great thing about that was she's a really good cold reader, according to her. And so she'd nail it and then.

[A]

She'D be in sketches, but she was.

[B]

Not doing that drug filled all nighter life.

[C]

Wow.

[B]

And I just. That she had the sense to realize that she was protecting herself. FYI, she was married too.

[C]

Yeah. She always. Jane seemed like the reasonable cast member.

[B]

Cause she was.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I told this to Martin Short, Marty Short, when he was on the show. We were Talking about the SNL 50th, which stirred up so much for everybody. I mean it was.

[B]

That was a lot of. There were a lot of feelings in that studio.

[C]

I know, and I can speak for myself that parts of me really regressed like back to some version of what I was like when I was there. And also the young part of me was starstruck by the people who, you know, I grew up watching. And I. The one of my tenderest moments was I was talking to Lorraine Newman, who I don't know that well. And I worship. Yes. And her and Jane got ready together.

[B]

Yeah, they're like that.

[C]

And they got their hair and makeup together before. And it just made me feel so happy because I just wanted them to be friends forever.

[B]

And they were.

[C]

I know they are. And then they held up Gilda's picture at the end.

[B]

It was so touching.

[C]

I know you, Julia. Even though I consider you, I consider you. Whether you'll accept this or not.

[B]

Like, I don't accept it.

[C]

I knew it.

[B]

I don't. I'm not gonna accept it. I'm just gonna.

[D]

It's good though.

[C]

I'm gonna say something good.

[B]

Okay, go ahead.

[C]

Big sister energy for me. Like.

[A]

Oh, really?

[C]

I feel like in the same way you saw Jane. I was 11, 12 when you were on SNL and you were a baby. You were like 21 or something. So you were not that much older than me, but you were definitely on the show. And you know, I was always paying attention to who. Who was new on the show. And you looked really young, which I loved because I was young and wanted a young person on the show. And I have to say, like, when I was getting. Preparing for this interview, there's a million ways that we can talk about all the million things that you've done in your career and your life and who you are as a person. And I got to lucky to get to call you a Friend. But you are like the LeBron James of TV.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, I. Thanks, but I'm not gonna.

[C]

You're not accepting that.

[B]

I'm not accepting that, man.

[C]

Well, here's why I say that you're not accepting, and I think that's smart to not accept it. Actually, I take it back.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, but.

[C]

No but the. But you have been. You're pretty good. Just say you're pretty good.

[B]

It's fine.

[C]

This is. I'm gonna extend the metaphor. And I'm just. I'm pleased that I came up with this from a sports perspective because you're such a sporty girl, such a sporty head. I mean, this is what this podcast is about. Sports.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, let's go deep into the draft.

[B]

Into the draft and football and get in there. The Kelsey's.

[C]

Let's go into there. Let's get deep in.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

No, but because you're LeBron, because you have won championships for more than one team, you have been on huge legacy shows more than once.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's not.

[C]

That's very unusual. It's very unusual.

[B]

Yeah, that is unusual. And that's a lot of good luck, you know? Really. And so great. But not really LeBron. Okay, okay, okay, okay.

[C]

But what is your. We started talking about winning. We were comparing photos. What is your relationship to winning? Cause I like that you like to win. Like, I like. Like fun, competitive women.

[B]

Well, first of all, fun is all caps. Because there's another kind of competitive woman.

[C]

Totally.

[B]

That we don't care for.

[C]

That's right. The fun part. It has to be, like, in good fun.

[B]

Well, here I'm going to tell you a story about you that I like so much.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

So you and I have down a couple of times done bits around award shows and when we're competing against each other.

[C]

That's right.

[B]

So anyway, what I have found over the years is that it's very good to focus on what to do if you win or you lose. And Amy Poehler is very fun to come up with bits with.

[C]

I love a bit. Love a bit at an award show. Because it used to be fun.

[B]

It used to be, like, goofy, and.

[C]

Now it's so serious.

[B]

Yeah. And by the way, we took speeches seriously. But from a comic point of view.

[C]

If you win for a comedic role, try to be funny when you give a speech.

[B]

Or how about even if you win for a dramatic role. How about that? Great idea.

[C]

Turn it on its head. Flip it, flip it. Anytime anybody does, they look like a genius.

[B]

Genius. No, for real. You look like a genius.

[C]

It's true.

[B]

So we did a couple of them where we. My. I think my favorite one with you, but you tell me. Was when we pretended to switch acceptance speeches.

[C]

That was my favorite. You went up there, we gave each other a hug, and then we pretended to, like, oopsie. Switch speeches. And then you went up and you started thanking people from Parks and Rec. And then we had a moment of, like, oh, fuck, yes. And the camera cut to me. And those were the years. I have to say, there were so many great women always in our category that came and went. Julia was always there because she always crushed us all every year. But. But. And, like, people were really game to have fun.

[B]

Yeah, completely.

[C]

And I don't remember anything other than the fun times of those bits.

[B]

Yeah, me too. I really. I was always so grateful that you were. Because there were certain people that weren't down to do those bits and they won't be named. But we did try. We did try to finagle with other people. And they didn't think it. They didn't want to do it.

[C]

I know. I think some of them were nervous. Like, genuinely nervous.

[B]

Okay, fine. You can say that.

[C]

But okay. I wanna start, though. I wanna go back a little bit because I feel like we talked a little bit about this in person, but we kind of had similar sketch. Chicago Beginnings.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, we were in a group. We were the only girl in the group.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And our group kind of moved to a new city to, like, make a start. And in your case, Practical Theater. Theater. Practical Theater Company moved to SNL together.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

You were on TV from Northwestern. So what year was that?

[B]

1982. And we were doing a show in Chicago that was a big hit in Chicago. And all the people in the show got hired. There were four of us. Three of us were on snl, and the fourth person, Paul Barras, was hired as a writer.

[C]

Yeah. And you all moved to New York and just started together. What was it like to have four or five of your closest friends to start that show with?

[B]

Well, it was tricky.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Not because we didn't get along, but because we were a group of people who were met with a lot of animosity.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And by the people whose friends had just been fired.

[C]

Right, right. And if I can imagine it, because I was myself the same way. There's, like, a pluckiness to a sketch group. Like, a sketch group is like improv and sketches. Like, stand up was cool. And improv and sketch was kind of nerdy.

[B]

Nerdy, for sure.

[C]

And you know, so it was like, hey, guys, we're here. And I'm sure everyone was like, okay, congrats.

[B]

No, but you're gonna. I don't know if you know them, maybe you know this, but when they, they had us at the first table. Oh, God, I can't even.

[C]

Oh, no.

[B]

It was just so excruciating. There's this room on the 17th floor with fluorescent lighting and, you know, folding tables and that's where they do the table read. And in that same room they had us, these new people coming in, do part of our show that we were doing in Chicago for the writers and cast. Oh, wow. Yeah. In fluorescent lighting. Oh, wow. And we came out to your point.

[C]

And it didn't land.

[B]

It did not land. Yeah. Even saying it, my, my armpits are going bananas right now.

[C]

It was so bad.

[B]

So anyway, that's how it began.

[C]

It was a terrible, inauspicious start. And you were there for a couple of years.

[B]

3.

[C]

And you were there during a period of transition. I mean, Lauren was not there.

[B]

Lauren was not there. Dick Ebersol was there.

[C]

What a strange window to be there.

[B]

Our baby. It was bad.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

It was not great. It was not great, but fabulous learning experience. It was hard and it was a little crazy making. But I came away from it sort of stronger. Yeah.

[C]

And met Larry David, who you then worked with again on Seinfeld. And Seinfeld still similar kind of thing. Like didn't had an inauspicious start.

[B]

Yeah. It was a four episode order. It was like they were just trying to sort of burn it out.

[C]

It. When I was doing research.

[B]

Oh, look at you. Working hard.

[C]

Very hard. You are the person I worked the hardest for.

[B]

That's total.

[C]

But go ahead. It is true.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

I've worked the hardest for Michelle Obama.

[B]

Yeah, smart. Yeah, smart.

[C]

But no but, but like Parks and Rec, Seinfeld was always close to being canceled. People weren't getting it. It was like, we don't know what we have here. Nobody.

[B]

It was until the year it started to take off.

[C]

Yeah. And was, was, was Elain written as a man at first? That character? No. But wasn't it four men and then they changed it to Elaine?

[B]

I don't know.

[C]

You don't know?

[B]

No, I know.

[C]

Is that a weird way to ask it? You know what I mean?

[B]

I do, but it makes me laugh. I think I'm tired. I've got Elaine.

[A]

Was.

[C]

You were playing Elaine as a man? Yes. No, correct. But wasn't the character they brought you in because they were like Julia. And because of the fans, they did a pilot. Yeah.

[B]

And then apparently the network told them you have to put a girl in the show.

[C]

So there is a tape out there somewhere where there's another person in.

[B]

No, not in. There is not a regular in the pilot. Correct.

[D]

Wow.

[C]

Yeah. It was a different time.

[B]

And so they said, you know what? You need a girl.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And so I came in. I've never watched the pilot of Seinfeld, by the way. And so why would.

[A]

I'm not in it.

[B]

Why would I bother?

[C]

You refuse to watch anything you're not in.

[B]

That's right. That's right.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

What was the name of the show you were in, by the way?

[C]

Exactly.

[B]

So, yeah, so that's what happened. So they put me in. So I was in the episode two Onward.

[C]

And I feel like success in the comedy world, in the sitcom world, is often kind of measured by whether or not people will dress up as you for Halloween. Oh. Because I think Elaine is a popular Halloween costume.

[B]

It is, it is.

[C]

And it's an easy one to get together. Like, it's just. It's a dress and a blazer and a curly haired wig.

[B]

God, I could. I'd love to go back and fix that look.

[C]

Yeah. I.

[B]

You feel me?

[C]

There's some early Leslie knob styles where I'm like, didn't put enough thought into that.

[B]

Yeah, but we weren't really thinking about that.

[C]

No, we were acting and we were in our character.

[B]

No, but, no, but I actually remember. Cause like when Friends came out at some point when we were doing Seinfeld. Not in the beginning, it was sort of. I can't remember what the years were, but. And all those girls were so sexy.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And I remember thinking like, oh, fuck, I should have been sexy. I think that all the time.

[C]

Seriously. I can't tell you how many times I'm like, oh, I forgot to be sexy. No, totally. Yeah, I. Oh my God, this was such a missed opportunity. Reminded of it when you see other people, you're like, oh, that's also something I could have tried to be.

[B]

I seriously like a mid drift Anything.

[A]

Anything.

[C]

But that's why we love Alain. We love her because of that. Because she feels like us. She feels like someone we would know and love. Like, she feels like our funniest friend. She feels like her, like, you know, I mean, I think. And she's so funny and it's. It just could. It wouldn't work if Elaine was paying attention to that. It never would work.

[B]

It might have worked.

[C]

That's true. She just went through, like, a really slutty, sexy phase.

[B]

Not so slutty. Just coming in, like, in tight jeans and, like, how they all dressed.

[C]

Yeah, I know.

[B]

Anyway, let's not dwell on my regrets.

[C]

But also, you had two. Two boys. Did you. Were you pregnant?

[B]

That's the other thing.

[C]

Oh, right, I forgot.

[B]

Yeah, I had two babies during that time. So the sexy thing. Although, you know, look, Demi Moore did it.

[C]

I know, but I didn't even know about that.

[B]

I didn't know about, like, you know, going like that with your big tummy and looking hot. I just, you know, I was just wearing huge, like, picnic tablecloths.

[C]

Yeah, but that style is back now, you know?

[A]

90S are back.

[C]

90S are back, babe.

[B]

Listen, if anybody in America is listening to this, please don't do the 90s again.

[C]

I'm gonna disagree with you.

[B]

Okay, well, you're wrong and I'm right.

[C]

No.

[B]

And so just leave it at that.

[C]

You're being triggered. But I'm telling you, 90s like, that. The. The floral with, like, a chunky shoe and a tight and a blazer. Fucking jackpot. Like, you pass, you and Jen Aniston. When you look at pictures, like, Rachel and Elaine, everybody's dressing like that now.

[B]

And I don't know what to say. I'm just so fucking sorry. I really, really am. But I will tell you one thing. And I've told this story before, but when I was pregnant with Charlie, with my second son, and I was really pregnant, and I was about five or six months, and I got pretty big, and Jerry comes up to me and he says, hey, we got an idea in the.

[C]

Right. Oh, no.

[B]

And he said, how about this idea? How about Elaine just gets fat?

[C]

Incredible. What an idea. What an idea, Jerry.

[B]

So I burst into tears, of course.

[A]

And.

[B]

I will say the following, though. In retrospect, it might have been great.

[C]

It might have been funny.

[B]

It's a funny idea.

[C]

Yeah, it's a funny idea. Yeah. And I think it would have been hilarious. And it would have, because, you know.

[B]

With a big tummy, and then you're, like, putting a belt on it, and you're pretending you're not pregnant. You're just getting fat.

[C]

But when you're not feeling in your own body, it's like, it didn't work. I remember on Parks and Rec, I had been pregnant twice on that show, too, and. Or. Sorry. I had started when I had just given birth for my first kid. And then I got pregnant with Abel, my youngest, a few years later. And I remember my character Leslie was gonna become pregnant on the show and I said, I did some version of like bursting into tears where I said, I cannot be fake pregnant. I've just been really pregnant on both SNL and Parks and Rec. I've been genuinely pregnant and you can't make me now wear a fake stomach.

[B]

Oh. So it was. Oh, it was like after you'd given birth.

[C]

After giving birth, they were like, let's strap that belly right back on. And I was like, no, no, no.

[B]

Well, how about this? How about after I gave birth to Charlie and I'm picking up our. My other son Henry from my camp and I'm picking him up and this mom comes up to me, she goes, oh, when are you two. Yeah.

[C]

No.

[A]

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[C]

You have the greatest kids.

[B]

Oh, thank you. Thank you.

[C]

And they're such talented boys and really nice. They're men.

[B]

Talented men.

[C]

They're still my boys. Yeah. And. And I love your relationship with Brad, who's a wonderful person.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And you guys are like a really beautiful example of a loving, funny, supportive marriage with two very talented people. And you're.

[B]

FYI, we're separate and getting divorced.

[C]

And you're gonna announce it here.

[B]

Yeah, I just thought this is the time. I mean, you brought it up. I might as well.

[C]

Well, you know what? Good, easy comedy, easy go. And I worked with your son Charlie on. On Moxie, a film that I made.

[B]

And he.

[C]

He was a total doll.

[B]

You know what? I have to tell you something about that. That was the first professional job he ever had, was you gave him that job in Moxie. And I am so grateful to you for that. Not because you gave him the job. Course.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

But because I'm so grateful because you're a good person and he didn't have an experience with a jerk, of which there are so many.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And it was very informative to him. So I just want you to know that for real, and this is totally me telling you thank you. And even. No, I'm actually. I'm tearing up, but I really mean it.

[C]

Thanks. I love him. I love him. He's such a nice kid and talented. Okay, so we talk about Seinfeld, Adventures of Old Christine. Incredible show. Cari Lizer.

[A]

Love.

[B]

She's your kind of person.

[C]

She is an incredible showrunner. You've worked with great showrunners.

[B]

Yes, I have worked with great showrunners. Yes.

[C]

Armando Iannucci, who is creator of Veep. How did. Did that part. Was that part written for you? Ish.

[B]

Ish. Yes, I would say. I mean, initially, no. I just heard about the concept that, you know, unhappy vice President. And then. And I was like, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. And then I met with him, and then he started to write it after that. Yeah. Yeah. Because I loved the idea and I loved his work.

[C]

I mean, Julia.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

That show.

[B]

That show was so much fun to do, I have to say. I still miss it.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Do you miss doing parks?

[C]

I miss the people.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I miss the people a lot. I mean, I have a lot of them on here because I miss them so much. Like, I miss. It felt like. Like. And it feels that way with Veep, too. Like, the chemistry of the people, the funniness of, like, the laughing all day.

[B]

All day.

[C]

So we do a thing on the. The podcast where we have people come on before our guest and talk well behind our guests back.

[B]

Talk well? Yes.

[C]

You've not listened to this podcast, have you?

[B]

Let me explain something to you.

[D]

You.

[B]

You called me to do something for Ina Garten, but you didn't say talk well. Yes, I did. No, you didn't.

[A]

I did, too.

[B]

I said no. You said, come up with some questions for her. That's not talking well, when I introduced.

[C]

You, I said that we're going to talk well behind Ina's back. Did I not?

[B]

No, you didn't. I'm being gaslit by this enterprise.

[C]

Whatever. I'm never.

[B]

I am never talking to you again.

[C]

And by the way, Ina, who was on our podcast, you. You came on to do a. An incredible little, you know, segment in the front. And Ina and you are buddies.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

And when I was talking to her, she was saying you guys were ready to go on a trip together.

[B]

Yeah, we did.

[C]

Please tell me about it. Tell me what you ate. Just tell me what you ate.

[B]

We went to. She very generously took me and Brad to a restaurant in Paris called Caviar Caspia. And frankly, I don't even like caviar.

[C]

What?

[B]

Yeah. And it was delicious.

[C]

Was everything. Did everything have caviar in it? Kind of.

[B]

It was like caviar and potato and.

[A]

Champagne, and it was very.

[B]

Just exotic. And it was in Paris. So what else do you need to know?

[C]

She was so nice. She brought champagne and strawberry. She was the best.

[B]

God, I. Was I supposed to bring something?

[C]

It's just weird that you didn't, I guess. Like, I mean, if it is weird that you didn't. If.

[B]

My assistant Will is listening to this right now in the green room.

[C]

Could you put some more photos on my phone, please, while Julie is getting it for me?

[B]

I put more photos on my phone right now. And also, can you Go and get Sam, if you're listening, some chocolates and quickly get some chips.

[C]

Could you rip up the thank you note I was about to send to Jill?

[B]

Also, could you please send flowers to myself, because I'm clearly not gonna be getting anything from Amy Poehler.

[C]

I distinctly said that polka dots were only for me.

[B]

The other thing is that how could it have been that I came out here wearing this blouse and you did not see what she had on? Okay.

[C]

Anyway, so I spoke to someone who knows you really well, and that is Tony Hale.

[A]

Oh, my.

[B]

Toni.

[C]

I know. Tell me about. Tell me how much you love Ton Tony. He's the best.

[B]

He is the greatest guy.

[C]

What do you love about him? What's so great about Tony?

[B]

He is deeply funny.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, deeply funny. He is profoundly generous. He is incredibly neurotic.

[C]

Perfect.

[B]

He worries about everyone. Yeah. So if there's a group of people and somebody is off or not fitting in or having a hard time, he can only focus on that.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And.

[B]

Which speaks to his kindness.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And I just would do anything to work with him again. I want to find a way to work with him again.

[C]

You guys were so great together on that show, and everyone on Veep was great, but Selena and Gary's relationship was very special.

[B]

Very special.

[C]

How would you sum it up when you explain it?

[B]

Have you ever seen a. Like a trellis with a plant growing throughout it? That's their relationship codependency to the max.

[C]

Max enmeshment times a thousand.

[B]

Yeah. That plant is not going to live without the trellis. And FYI, the trellis doesn't give a shit about the plant.

[C]

Yeah. Like, the trellis actually is like, could somebody cut this plant off me?

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, this plant might do that, but.

[B]

Also makes me look better so it can stay.

[C]

Yeah. I mean, the way.

[B]

It's a pretty good metaphor.

[C]

It's really good because you're. I mean, Selena was, like, ultimate narcissist.

[B]

Yes. And. Which, by the way, couldn't be more fun to play.

[C]

Oh, I bet. What was fun to play? Why was that fun? What did it allow. What? What did it allow you to play around with and do that you don't get to do in your real life?

[B]

Playing her focus only on myself.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And. And. And appalled that if anyone is not focused on me.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And take no responsibility for anything.

[C]

Yes. Never apologize.

[B]

Never apologize. It's always your fault, your fault and your fault.

[C]

Ooh. She just never, ever looked inward.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Ever.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

She didn't know what that meant.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. So that was fun.

[C]

Well, Tony had a great, sweet, of course, loving question. He loves you and adores you, and he. His question was, like, very tender, just like Tony. But he was saying, like, what he loved about you as a parent. He watched you be the kind of parent that you are, and it really inspired him as a parent. And also he was very moved and is very moved by your relationship with your mom. And his question was, what do you think your mom did right? What did she give you? What are you, like, happy that you got from your mom? It's such a sweet, tender. It's such a tender question.

[B]

I know. I mean, there are obviously many things that I got from my mother, including this wide jaw of mine.

[C]

It's gorgeous.

[B]

But I would say that my mother is a very intellectually curious person, and I think some of that has rubbed off on me. And.

[C]

And.

[B]

Also my mother has a very good sense of humor.

[C]

When you were growing up, was she watching stuff that influenced you? I know a lot of my comedy came from my mom, like, what my mom was watching.

[B]

What did your mom watch?

[C]

Well, Carol Burnett, Monty Python, snl. My parents had that on in the house. Did your mom watch that kind of stuff growing up?

[B]

Yeah, well, yes. And I mean, I vivid. There was a show on when I was little, like really little, like maybe.

[C]

Two.

[B]

And it was a show called Soupy Sales.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

And also Captain Kangaroo.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

And we used to watch that and howl. There was something. And I think it was on Soupy Sales, or maybe it was Captain Kangaroo where ping pong balls would fall down. And, you know, when you're two, that's like, drop dead funny. Yeah, no, you know what I mean? It's kind of the Jack and the ball kind of a joke.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

And we would start. My memory is that she was laughing as hard as I was. My guess is that maybe she was laughing because I was laughing. Yeah, but. Yeah, but I remember sort of feeling like I was partnered with her in enjoying this extraordinarily funny ping pong bit.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Laughing does do that with our families. Like it.

[B]

I mean, it's a. Yeah, it's a binder.

[C]

Binder. And also, you learn a lot about somebody by what they laugh at.

[B]

Totally.

[C]

Like, I know, I learned. I learned. You know, I got. I. I don't think it was the first time we met, but when you came back to host, SNL was a big deal for all of us who were on the cast at the time that you were there. Very excited. And we got to, like, spend some time together. And I remember being so pleased that we would laugh at the same thing. Like, it felt like, oh, I just felt excited that we were enjoying the same things in the same way.

[B]

Totally. Yeah. There was real immediate simpatico. I remember that very well, because when we were. We were in. In the.

[A]

We were.

[B]

Must have been rehearsal day or something. And we were in 8H, and I. I was at the Page Station thing, and you came up to me. You just went like this. You went, okay, run. And so I just ran and we just went running down the hall. It was just some dumb bit, but I thought, oh, I like this girl so much. We were just, you know, fucking around.

[C]

Tell me if I'm wrong, but I think when you came back to host that year, you had a really good time.

[B]

I had a ball. I had a ball.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And by the way, if you can believe this, speaking of male, female things, I was the first female cast member to ever come back and host.

[C]

Wow. Whoopsie Daisy.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And that was 2006 or something, correct? Yeah, yeah. And you were coming into a cast that was like. There was a lot of really strong, talented women performing together, and it was a good vibe.

[B]

At least that's what I was picking up on. It was the first time I really had fun doing the show.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I mean, what was so nice about hosting back then with you guys was to feel the female power that was evident and long overdue. And so that is a good feeling.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

And that's why I like talking to these older women, too. Anyway, I think it's pretty critical to have these conversations and to hear from these really interesting people.

[C]

Well, I mean, Julia, you do that to me. You inspire me. Every time I see you engaging, like, I feel very inspired by you. Like, I. I feel very like you. You turn on a switch for me often where I see you doing something and I'm like, right, right. That's the kind of engagement I'm supposed to be doing or, like, being reminded that I'm doing. Like, you definitely do that for me. And you do that for me professionally, too. I see the. The moves that you make professionally.

[A]

I'm like, damn.

[C]

So smart, so interesting. Like, you're. You are. I'm always looking to you.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

That's so nice of you to say. That really makes me feel good.

[C]

Yeah, I really feel that way.

[B]

I really appreciate that. Thanks, Amy.

[C]

You're welcome.

[B]

What a good hang this has been.

[C]

It is. Okay. And then, my love last. I have two questions. One that's fun and one That's a little bit more serious. But, like, what I take away from your show and what I take away from knowing you is, like, the incredible, total joy and privilege it is to just get older. Like, there's so many people that aren't here that want to be here. Like, how. How great to be alive, basically.

[B]

Like, so great.

[C]

And as we get older, it feels like adulting this. This term adulting, like, it just gets hard because you. Hard parts of life are the juiciest parts. Like, the challenge parts that we have to get through are the. That's the meat on the bone. It's just.

[B]

It's Getting through can be rough.

[C]

I know. And you've had a tough couple. You've had to get through illness.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Loss of your house, like, loss of people in your life. Like, it's not easy. And we all go through this. Like, everybody listening knows what this feels like. They have versions of it in their life. Grief, grief, grief. What is the thing that on the other side of certain types of grief, you've, like, learned about yourself? What has it made you? Because is it just as simple as, like, I'm happy, I'm alive.

[B]

No.

[A]

Yeah. I know.

[C]

Like, you.

[B]

You've shared.

[C]

You shared with the world when you were going. When you were treating your cancer, your breast cancer. And it was very helpful for a lot of people. It isn't something you needed to share. You did well, I had.

[B]

You know, I was kind of backed into a corner on that one because we had to shut our show down. It's funny how that worked out. Cause normally I would not have done that. And very private.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But because we had to shut the show down, Veep. At the time, for a year, I had to say, you know, 250 people weren't gonna be working or whatever it is.

[C]

So.

[B]

So I had to make a public thing about it. But the good thing about doing that was that I did have this incredible experience of people reaching out to me, asking me for. You know, asking me about my experience going through the breast cancer, you know, for advice, and. And I was able to help. And there was something unbelievably comforting about being able to do that on the other side of this trauma.

[C]

Right.

[B]

There is a lot to be said in self soothing by soothing others.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, for real. I mean, it's a. That's a. I don't mean to sound all Pollyanna ish. I actually think it's true. True.

[C]

Yeah. I agree that, like, to be. To be of service to others is the way to get yourself up out of the basement.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

It's so true.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And we need. It's like we're in such short supply of it right now. And the other way that I think that. And I think you're the same. That takes me up from the basement, the elevator is laughing.

[B]

Well, a hundred percent. Without it, you're dead.

[C]

It's so true. Like, you have to laugh.

[B]

You have to laugh. When it's the worst, you have to laugh.

[C]

And those are my favorite laughs. When it's very. When everyone is, you know, it's like church giggles, basically. Or like funeral laughs where like you have someone who loves you enough to know they're gonna take a swing here to get you up, out. And you have so many funny friends.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

You must have had so many moments where things were dark for you and someone kind of scoops you up with a laugh.

[B]

Oh, totally. Well, when I was actually, when I was going through chemo and I had a lot of girlfriends come and shove into this tiny little room, you know, I mean, like the size of this table. And everybody was there and I was high as a kite and I was doing this thing called a cold cap.

[C]

Oh, yeah?

[B]

Yeah. So it's a thing that they do that you can do if you're getting chemo if you choose. And it's this ice cold thing you put on your head and it's supposed to help you not lose your hair. So I did that. So I had this huge, like weirdly shaped turban on my head. And you know, I'm kind of like that. And everybody's around me making fun. And it was a dream.

[C]

Dream. That is a dream.

[B]

And at one point, I remember I sent a bunch of my girlfriends out. Cause I was. I lost so many. Was, wait, none of my clothes fit. And so I was like, I need, you know, hi, I need new jeans. And so I sent everybody out. I don't know where they went. And then it's on FaceTime and I'm telling them which ones to get. It was fun. It was hilarious.

[C]

So fun.

[B]

Yeah, it really was.

[C]

And what are you. And I asked all my guests this. What are you watching? Listening, reading.

[B]

What are you.

[C]

What are you laughing at right now?

[B]

Well, there is nothing I love more than those videos of either dogs. Like that one dog who keeps attacking an apple slice. Don't know it.

[C]

Hold on.

[B]

It's.

[C]

It is attacking an apple slice.

[B]

Yeah, he's just going bananas on top of a bed. How do we find that?

[C]

You know how we find it? We type in dog attacking Apple Slice.

[B]

I think it's his name is.

[A]

It starts.

[C]

Our phones are off. Remember? We're gonna have to turn them back on.

[B]

No, mine isn't off.

[C]

You never turned your phone off? Puppy shares. Apple Slice. No, that seems too nice.

[B]

Oh, here we go. Spud on Instagram.

[C]

Okay, this dog is just attacking this piece of celery. This one is celery. This dog is a maniac. The dog is growling. It is the size of a rat.

[B]

It looks.

[C]

And it is furious at this piece of food and is baring its teeth. I mean, it's scary. It's scary, but it's not going to hurt anybody. Oh, this is. Oh, this is a strawberry.

[B]

It's war. And anyway, that makes me very happy.

[C]

But do you watch a lot of videos, YouTube videos and, like.

[B]

And I think what I. I'm. I love Survivor, but let me just.

[C]

Ask you something about Survivor.

[B]

I also like Amazing Race.

[C]

Okay. Survivor and Amazing Race, those kinds of shows. Do you think you could do well on them?

[B]

No.

[C]

No.

[A]

Really?

[C]

Is there a part. When you watch it, is there a part of you that you think, like, I, this is what I would do, but you don't.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

What I would do is pretend to break my leg and get Air Vac out.

[C]

Have you watched Alone?

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Incredible.

[B]

Incredible.

[C]

Okay, let's talk about Alone. So for people that don't know it, I think it's on the National Geographic Channel, maybe History Channel, and now it's on Netflix. I mean, there's a 45,000 seasons of it and.

[B]

45,000. And I think we watched every episode during COVID Yeah.

[C]

Fantastic Covid show. And for those who don't know, the premise is 10 or 11 people are dropped somewhere. It always feels like Canada, but somewhere. And they have to survive the elements and survive being alone. And the psychology of how people figure out how to not only find food and shelter and outlast their competitors, but the psychology of what happens when people are alone is fascinating.

[B]

I. I'm for sure would go crazy. Oh, but don't you think you would do on Alone? Are you out of your mind?

[C]

Better than a.

[A]

Really?

[C]

You don't think you would do better than some of the other. Yeah, no, I. I wouldn't be able to get any food. I wouldn't be able to kill any of those.

[A]

That would be one problem.

[B]

And then the other problem would be I don't think you'd be able to sleep because, you know, they got bears up there, man. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's I mean, I don't know what headspace you're in right now, but there's no way you're making it on alone.

[C]

No way. I'm not saying I'm making it. I'm just saying.

[B]

I'm not saying. I'm saying you're not making it one night.

[C]

Not even one night.

[B]

You're gonna be too cold.

[C]

You have to make a shower. My pride would do one night. I would.

[B]

Okay, one night. Not really. But I love alone.

[C]

I love it.

[B]

Why do you love alone? Because I think it's an extraordinary challenge. I think it's a legit, you know, and it's. And as a, you know, survivor, it's got all of these things and these games and so on, which is gobs of fun, but it's all fabricated. In this case, you've really gotta stay alive. And you don't know when other people have peeled off. They don't die, but they tap out.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

How much do they win?

[C]

A million dollars.

[B]

A million dollars.

[C]

And what I love about the psychology of that show. Show is the way. Because I relate, is the way people start to give up before giving up.

[B]

Oh, wait, talk about that. I forgot.

[C]

They start to talk and I just. I. I love it because I recognize it. Right. Which is when you start to talk yourself out of something, but you're not talking yourself out of it yet. But you're just playing around with the idea because it's such a mental game. You have to just take the highs and lows and, like.

[A]

Right.

[C]

But when people are like, like, yeah. It's just, you know, my family. I'm sure my family's missing me a lot.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

It's always men, you know, being like, my wife is probably struggling, and you're like, oh, here he goes. Like, just a little day or two before just thinking about.

[B]

That's right.

[C]

I mean, I. I do want the money, but will my kid ever be. Ever have their third birthday again? You know? And you're like, here he goes. He's getting ready. A couple days from now, he's gonna tap out. Like that kind of bubbly stuff. I love human behavior. And it's like.

[B]

It's so good.

[C]

I wanna watch alone with you, and I wanna watch the new Jerry duty with you. And.

[B]

Oh, wait a minute. That would be fun.

[C]

That would be fun. I would like to watch TV with you.

[B]

Okay. Amy.

[C]

Is that weird? I wanna come over and I feel like, get into some kind of comfy situation with you and Brad. Get under some kind of not that way, just friends. You get blankets and get blankets. I feel like there'd be a good snack.

[B]

Like a chip.

[C]

Like a delicious, salty chip.

[B]

Yeah, but we need some yummy. We need some desserts happening.

[C]

Are you sweet over savory?

[B]

I like it all. Yeah, But I love sweets.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

I'm more. More savory. So we can have sweet and a ch. And some kind of chip.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

And we watch one of these shows and we. Mmm, I'm picturing it now.

[B]

Have you ever had dill pickle chips?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Doesn't do it for you.

[C]

Doesn't do it for me. But I love the idea of them.

[B]

Oh, God, it's making my mouth water.

[C]

Just talking about, let's get some of those.

[B]

We'll get some of those. But you don't like them, so we'll find something else. Do you like salt and vinegar?

[C]

I enjoy salt and vinegar.

[B]

Me too.

[C]

Yeah. Love that.

[B]

Love it.

[C]

And also, I'm a basic Doritos bitch.

[B]

Really?

[C]

I know. Not a sponsor is now. Not after what you. The face you just made. That's the slogan. I'm a Doritos basic Doritos bitch.

[A]

Really?

[C]

That's it. That's the commercial. I love you, Julia.

[B]

Thank you for doing this. Thank you for me having. This has been so fun to hang out. I knew it would be fun. I didn't know it would be this much fun.

[C]

I can't wait till I reach 70 so I can come on your show.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Thank you so much, Julia. That was so fun. It's always so fun to get to be around you and laugh with you and do bits. And for this polar plunge, I just want to mention one of the guests on Julia's podcast, wiser than me, who I just love, and that is the author, Anne Lamont. And if you're listening, I love you. And if you don't know Anne Lamott's work, she is a very prolific and successful author who has written books like Operating Instructions and Bird by Bird and Tender Mercies, many, many works of fiction. Her latest book, Somehow Thoughts on Love, is out. And she's just a really candid, funny, deeply funny, tender, big thinker. And I don't know, I just love her and hope I get to have her on this pod someday. Check out her. Her podcast with Julia. Check out Julia's podcast. Listen to podcasts. Podcasts are great. We love podcasts. Okay, thanks.

[B]

Bye.

[C]

You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna White Berman, and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by the Ringer and Paper Kite. For the Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, cat Spillane, Kaia McMullen and Alaya Zaneris. For Paper Kite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Miles.