Episode Overview

Podcast: Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Episode: Wise Women Are Everywhere (And Update on NEW Episodes Coming Soon)
Date: October 16, 2025
Host: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Theme:
This special episode bridges seasons and celebrates the wisdom of older women, both famous and beloved relatives, blending snippets from iconic guests with a heartfelt update about the upcoming season. Julia shares reflections, memorable guest moments, and a moving listener story about uncovering intergenerational strength. The episode is a lively, warm, and often hilarious reminder to cherish wise women in our lives and to learn from their stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celebrating Older Women's Wisdom

• Julia reflects on the show’s evolution into a movement, not just a podcast, highlighting the importance of listening to the stories and advice of older women, whether they are public figures or family members.
  "There are wise women all around us. Some of them have been our guests, …But others are people who cross our paths every day. Our mothers, our neighbors, our teachers." (03:38)

2. Noteworthy Moments from Past Guests

• Clips feature a mix of heartfelt and comedic wisdom from prior guests:
  • Diane von Furstenberg: Reframes “aging” as “living”.
    • “I would change the word aging and say living.” (02:01)
  • Jane Goodall: Advocates for reframing age as life lived.
    • “Instead of saying, how old are you? People should say, how long have you lived?” (02:09)
  • Fran Leibowitz: Takes pride in independence and longevity.
    • "I have a car that I bought in 1978. It is the only monogamous relationship of my life." (04:09)
  • Sally Field (paraphrased by Catherine O’Hara): Examines the patterns we develop in childhood and how they may persist (and sometimes hinder) us in adulthood.
    • “The task as a grownup … is to realize what garment you have knit for yourself to survive as a child…” (04:37)
  • Gloria Steinem (paraphrased by Catherine O’Hara): Addresses memory loss with humor.
    • "I'm at an age when remembering something right away is as good as an orgasm." (05:07)

3. Listener Story: A Family Legacy of Strength

• Hex Parsons and Grandmother Kim Hatton:
  • 26-year-old Hex interviews her 74-year-old nana, uncovering a family story of activism she never realized.
  • Kim Hatton (on advice to her younger self): “Not to get married so soon.” (07:51)
  • Advice on aging: “Take care of yourself. Drink lots of water. You’re not too young to get periodic blood tests…” (08:07)
  • Family History: Susie A. Bates (Hex’s great-great-grandmother) fought a landmark equal pay case in Chicago, overcoming discrimination and inspiring future generations.
    • “She sued the city of Chicago for equal rights… She won this landmark case.” (08:43)
    • “That is very badass.” (09:18, Kim Hatton)
• Julia reflects on the discovery:
  • “It's the kind of story you might not ever have learned unless you took the time to ask.” (09:20)
  • “Those who came before us had to fight tooth and nail to survive. And they did it because someone had to.” (09:54)

4. Wisdom About Hope & Action

• Jane Goodall: Passionately describes hope as an active endeavor, not passive wishing.
  • "Hope is about action... humanity is at the mouth of a very, very long, dark tunnel. Right at the end, it's a little star. That's hope." (12:35)
  • "It's no good sitting at the mouth of the tunnel and wishing the star. Here. We've got to roll up our sleeves and climb over, crawl under, work our way around all the problems between us and the star…” (12:49)
• Dolores Huerta: Emphasizes individual responsibility to create change.
  • "If I don't do it, then it's not going to happen. My mother used to say that to us growing up, if you can help someone, if you have the ability, then you have an obligation and responsibility to do that.” (13:40)

5. Funny and Touching Mother-Daughter Banter

• Julia and her mother Judith share a humorous exchange about feeling like a "fraud" versus a "frog", reminding listeners of the importance of laughter and familial warmth.
  • “Have you had that experience, mom, feeling that way, like, as a writer?” (15:09)
  • Judith: "Why did you use the word frog?" (15:10)
  • Julia: "First of all, I didn't say frog. I said fraud." (15:12)
  • This devolves into a playful “ribbit ribbit” moment, bringing levity and reminding us of the joy in intergenerational bonds.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Reflections on Aging and Living

• “I would change the word aging and say living.” — Diane von Furstenberg (02:01)
• “How long have you lived?” — Jane Goodall (02:09)

Humor About Getting Older

• “I'm at an age when remembering something right away is as good as an orgasm.” — Gloria Steinem (paraphrased, 05:07)
• “No hair on my legs. I'm looking forward to turning 100…” — Julia Louis-Dreyfus (03:20)

Intergenerational Wisdom

• “Take care of yourself. Drink lots of water. You’re not too young to get periodic blood tests…” — Kim Hatton (08:07)
• “She sued the city of Chicago for equal rights... and she won this landmark case.” — Hex Parsons (08:43)

On Hope and Change

• “Hope is about action. …We've got to roll up our sleeves and climb over, crawl under, work our way around all the problems between us and the star…” — Jane Goodall (12:35)
• “If I don't do it, then it's not going to happen. …If you can help someone, if you have the ability, then you have an obligation and responsibility to do that.” — Dolores Huerta (13:40)

Funniest Moment

• “She had a story to write, and she felt like she couldn't because she was a frog.” — Julia Louis-Dreyfus (15:51)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:44] — Introduction & preview of new season
• [02:02] — Diane von Furstenberg on "living" not "aging"
• [02:19] — Jane Goodall on reframing age questions
• [03:16-03:36] — Lighter takes: perks of aging (half-price cards, no leg hair)
• [04:09] — Fran Leibowitz on loving her car and independence
• [04:35] — Sally Field (via Catherine O’Hara) on emotional patterns from childhood
• [05:07] — Gloria Steinem joke about memory
• [07:17] — Listener segment: Hex Parsons and Kim Hatton conversation
• [08:43] — Discovery of family’s equal pay legal fight
• [12:35] — Jane Goodall's wisdom on hope & action
• [13:40] — Dolores Huerta’s call for personal responsibility
• [15:09] — Julia and her mother joke about "frog"/"fraud"
• [16:21] — Upcoming season announcement & Substack newsletter plug

Final Thoughts

Witty, wise, and soul-nourishing, this episode encapsulates the spirit of Wiser Than Me: celebrating the overlooked power and humor in women’s lived experience. With a blend of iconic voices and everyday heroines, Julia inspires listeners to reach out, connect, and glean insights from the women who came before us—and to approach life, aging, and comedy with open arms.

Closing advice:
“If there’s an old lady in your life, listen up.”