Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch — “Aubrey Plaza: Covens with Friends”

Date: January 14, 2026
Host: Rachel Dratch with Irene Bremis
Guest: Aubrey Plaza

Episode Overview

This episode of Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch dives into the mystical, magical, and offbeat with actress, author, and honorary “witchy icon” Aubrey Plaza. The discussion weaves through Aubrey’s creative journey from Delaware to Hollywood, her newest ventures into children’s books about witches, the real-life coven she formed with her comedy troupe, and her penchant for moon rituals and the “woo woo.” The episode balances humor, heartwarming stories, and genuine curiosity about rituals, astrology, and the spiritual, alongside behind-the-scenes tales from Aubrey’s career.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Aubrey Plaza’s Acting Journey & Big Break

• Early Inspiration:
  • Aubrey’s first taste of theater was community acting at the Wilmington Drama League at age 11 (03:35).
  • Quote: “That was the first time that I was like, oh, my God, you can be somebody else.” — Aubrey Plaza (03:49)
• Comedy Influences:
  • Grew up watching SNL, Kids in the Hall, and Mr. Show.
  • Inspired by the careers of Rachel Dratch and Amy Poehler (04:14).
• UCB & Breakthroughs:
  • Attended UCB improv classes right out of high school; stresses the value of making “organic connections” (05:00–05:34).
  • Landed Funny People, Parks and Rec, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World all within one week due to connections from the UCB community.
  • Quote: “It was a very magical week of my life.” — Aubrey Plaza (06:22)

Behind the Scenes: Parks & Rec Audition

• Origins of April Ludgate:
  • The “Tina Tate” character from Jeannie Tate Show evolved into April Ludgate (11:26–12:33).
  • Aubrey pitched the intern idea that became her character, even using her own name in the pilot.
• Reaction to Sudden Success:
  • Aubrey recounts her disbelief and excitement at the rapid succession of big Hollywood breaks.
  • Quote: “I was like, this is a joke, like, I felt like I was playing the lottery.” — Aubrey Plaza (14:29)

Writing Witchy Children’s Books

• Genesis of the “Christmas Witch”:
  • Started as a “witch” character Aubrey played for trick-or-treaters, who resented giving candy but did it anyway (19:49–20:38).
  • Led to the idea: What if Santa had a witchy sister who resented the holidays’ consumerism (21:01)?
  • Quote: “She’s into nature. She’s like a Yuletide witch, so she hates capitalism… I give you sticks and dirt and it’s better than a toy.” — Aubrey Plaza (21:48)
  • Transitioned to a book franchise on the advice of a producer.
• The Halloween Book “Luna and the Witch Throw a Halloween Party”:
  • Centers on befriending the mysterious old lady on the block, upending expectations and loneliness (24:19–25:38).
  • Lessons: Not judging by appearances, and the healing power of friendship.

Witchiness, Ritual, and Woo Woo Practices

• Improvisers as a Modern Coven:
  • Talks about her improv group Bombardo, an all-women troupe that “solidified themselves as a coven” during a trip to Sedona (31:45–33:04).
  • Draws parallels between improv and witchcraft: both require group energy, mind-melding, and intention.
  • Quote: “It’s really not that dissimilar to being in a witchy coven... you have to use your energies for the greater good.” — Aubrey Plaza (33:04)
• Rituals and Moon Spells:
  • Describes group rituals—manifestation spells, burning intentions under the moon, and playful chanting with witchy energy (35:24–37:09).
  • Group cackling as transformative positive magic.
  • Quote: “We were chanting outside: Cats are the answer, cats are the way, come little pussies, come and play.” — Aubrey Plaza (36:28)
• Astrology and Lineage:
  • Aubrey believes she has witch lineage from her Celtic and Basque ancestry, referencing historic European witch trials (26:47).
  • Enthusiastic astrology believer (“I’m a Cancer”), guesses her chart, and jokes about her “crab hood.” (41:55–42:44)

Pop Culture & Personal Tidbits

• Roommates with Patti LuPone:
  • Met Patti on the set of Agatha All Along (witches again!), and ended up living with her during a theater run in Atlanta.
  • Patti mentored her through her first big play and household duties.
  • Quote: “She would wash my underwear and make soup for me. … You would not believe. … We were always just, yeah, wearing long T-shirts and underwear.” — Aubrey Plaza (44:50–45:25)
• Personal Traditions:
  • Aubrey hangs a Rachel Dratch-themed “Dratshmus” ornament on her family’s Christmas tree every year (47:22–48:14).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Comedy Networking:
  • “There’s no sort of roadmap to do it…your relationships…” — Rachel Dratch (06:54)
• On Witchcraft & Women’s Groups:
  • “When you get a group of women together, a lot of things are possible. It’s a lot of energy you can harness.” — Aubrey Plaza (34:28–34:30)
• On Witch Tropes:
  • “You think about witches cackling…that’s part of the ritual, even though it didn’t really mean anything… you realize that’s part of it.” — Aubrey Plaza (36:39)
• On Astrology:
  • “Hard exterior, soft onions.” — Aubrey Plaza, describing being a Cancer sign (42:34)
• On Rituals:
  • “The basic, standard ritual… you go outside…write something on a piece of paper, and you burn it in a fire under the moon.” — Aubrey Plaza (35:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Aubrey’s Early Career – 01:00–07:14
• Big Breaks (Funny People, Parks & Rec) – 05:13–06:59, 11:07–14:29
• Children’s Witch Books & Characters – 18:18–24:11
• Witch Ancestry and Covens – 26:41–28:21; 31:45–34:30
• Moon Spells & Rituals in Detail – 34:38–37:09
• Pop Culture & Patti LuPone Roommate Story – 43:16–45:25
• Astrology Guessing Game – 40:30–42:44
• Pendulum Reading Finale – 45:47–47:12
• Rachel’s Ornament on Aubrey’s Tree – 47:22–48:14

Tone & Takeaways

• Playful, self-deprecating, and irreverently wise, the episode is filled with laughter, curiosity, and deep appreciation for friendship, feminine creative energy, and the unexplained.
• Aubrey both lampoons and reveres the “woo woo” practices, making them inviting and relatable.
• The message: Community and creative magic—be it through improv, children’s tales, or moon rituals—matter just as much as hard career breaks.

For New Listeners

If you haven’t tuned in, this episode offers a witty, heartwarming, and slightly mystical window into the lives and friendships of creative women who don’t just play witches—they live a bit of that magic every day.