Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch

Episode: Hana Mae Lee – Dreams and Shadow Figures

February 4, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch, Rachel and her co-host Irene Bremis welcome actress, musician, and all-around creative force Hana Mae Lee (best known for her role in Pitch Perfect). The conversation dives into Hana’s most chilling unexplained experiences, including shared dreams and encounters with shadowy figures, the artistic process behind her new goth electro band Grave Condition, and musings on creativity, intuition, and ghosts—both literal and metaphorical. The trio brings humor, curiosity, and sincerity to their stories of the supernatural and synchronicity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Hana Mae Lee: Multi-Talented Artist

• Hana’s Background:
  • Actress (“Pitch Perfect”), musician (new band: Grave Condition), artist, fashion/jewelry designer, and makeup artist.
  • Hana recently debuted her goth electro band with the album Atmospheric Paradigm and single “Like a Ghost.”
  • She hopes to start a creative division to support and distribute projects from talented, underrepresented artists.
    • “I want to run a division…not just collaborate with all these artists and directors, but make sure they get a pretty good budget and get it seen out on a platform.” (10:07, Hana)

2. The Pitch Perfect Experience

• First Film Role:
  • Pitch Perfect was Hana’s first movie; she describes it as “really exciting” but also intimidating—she had only done commercials and print work before.
  • Filming anecdotes:
    • Budget was tight (limited takes and lighting); by the sequel, production had expanded dramatically.
    • Cast was young—many were hired right out of college.
    • “It was my first time traveling outside of California…My parents are like, are they going to kidnap you?” (11:52, Hana)

3. Hana’s Woo Woo Stories: Dreams, Shadow Figures & Shared Premonitions

3.1. The Hotel Incident – Shadowy Presence in Baton Rouge

• Staying at hotel during Pitch Perfect filming (2012):
  • After about a week:
    • Hana feels a strong, angry presence in her room—a recurring shadow figure at the foot of the bed.
    • She describes seeing it directly, not just as a “vibe.”
      • “It was a figure…but just black…shadowy…couldn’t even make out a face…just standing at the foot of my bed.” (20:04, Hana)
    • Despite being urged to switch rooms, Hana remains, curious about what will happen.
      • “I kind of want to just stay and see what’s up and why is it so angry?” (27:47, Hana)
    • The presence eventually fades without any direct threat.

3.2. Prophetic Dreams & Synchronicity (Halloween 2012)

• On Halloween night, Hana oversleeps and has a vivid, terrifying dream:
  • “I was at some kind of coliseum…there was a mass shooting…chaos.” (17:26, Hana)
  • Tells a castmate—who also had a similar nightmare involving violence and cast members.
  • Both feel uneasy and skip the night’s outing to New Orleans.
  • The next day, discover that there was, in fact, a shooting near the location where the cast had gathered.
  • Later, back in Santa Monica, Hana has a similar nightmare about an incident in New Orleans—upon Googling, discovers a real shooting had occurred.
    • “The fact that my other castmate had that [dream] was really strange. And then when they came back, they're like, there was a shooter. We’re like, what the fuck?” (21:55, Hana)

3.3. Haunted Hotels: Missing Shirt Mystery

• While staying at the Bowery Hotel in NYC, Hana wakes to discover her neatly folded shirt has vanished from her drawer, returning only days later.
  • “I knew I put it there…and the person managing said, ‘people say it’s haunted.’” (30:19, Hana)
• Rachel and Irene make connections to similar stories from prior guests (e.g., Lea DeLaria and the ‘clothes-moving’ ghost).

4. Ghosts as Metaphor: Hana’s Song “Like a Ghost”

• Inspiration behind the song:
  • Letting go of painful memories and their persistent impact.
  • Letting go is described not just as liberating, but also as existentially fraught.
    • “Once you let that go, who are you?...It is like a ghost, because sometimes [memories] will just come up out of nowhere…leave you like it was never there.” (35:10, Hana)
• Songwriting & creativity:
  • Sometimes sparked by sudden ideas, other times by introspective writing on relationships and self-knowledge.
    • “I wanted to write about my feelings in my relationships and get them out kind of quick, like stories.” (37:16, Hana)

5. Childhood, Family, and Creative Origins

• Immigrant family experience:
  • Hana’s mother was artistic/talented but encouraged more traditional paths.
    • “I would always get in trouble for talking too much and goofing around…not being good at piano or anything academic.” (39:19, Hana)
  • Despite lack of push towards the arts, Hana felt an inner drive to create and perform—her “inner spirit fighting its way to get out.”
• Rachel and Irene share their own stories about gravitating towards comedy and performance.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Hana describing the shadow figure:
  • “Why is it always a dark figure, by the way?…Why is it not like, pink or green?” (18:58)
• On sharing dreams with her castmate:
  • “Two Woo Woos wrapped up in one: the premonition and then synchronized dreams with someone else.” (22:06, Irene)
• Rachel genuinely spooked:
  • (after Hana does a demonic voice in her headphones)
    • “Oh my god, that actually scared the shit out of me. It scared her.” (25:35, Rachel)
• On letting go of the past:
  • “Who am I after I let this ghost go away?…it is like a ghost, because sometimes [memories] come up out of nowhere…” (35:10, Hana)
• On creativity and artistic inspiration:
  • “The way that I get ideas sometimes is just like a burst of an idea…it comes from the muses.” (36:46, Rachel)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [06:39] – Hana Mae Lee joins, background & band introduction
• [11:52] – Pitch Perfect experience and industry beginnings
• [16:27] – Opening the “woo woo” conversation & transition to ghost stories
• [17:26] – The prophetic Halloween dream & hotel presence
• [20:04] – Detailed description of the shadow figure
• [21:55] – Synchronized dreams / real-life shooting revealed
• [30:19] – Haunted Bowery Hotel, missing clothing story
• [35:10] – Meaning behind “Like a Ghost” & letting go of the past
• [39:19] – Hana’s family background and inner drive towards art
• [47:47] – The Pengi (pendulum) reading for future predictions
• [49:29] – Band and song recap: Grave Condition, “Like a Ghost”
• [50:09] – Hana plugs upcoming film work (Boris is Dead, Swipe)

Artistic Wrap-Up

The episode concludes with Hana and the hosts playing with a “Pengi” yes/no pendulum game, some good-natured teasing, and a little scare courtesy of Hana’s creepy voice. The song “Like a Ghost” is played in full as a musical outro.

Links & Plugs

• Hana Mae Lee's Band:
  • Grave Condition – Atmospheric Paradigm (Album), “Like a Ghost” (Single)
• Instagram:
  • @hanamalee
  • @graveconditionband
  • @raedratch
  • @irenebremis

Tone & Vibe

Playful, funny, genuinely “woo woo,” and supportive— the conversation balances skepticism with curiosity and heartfelt artistic reflection, perfect for fans of the unexplained and personal storytelling.

Recommended For:

Anyone interested in ghost stories, the creative process, shared dreams, music, and the ways superstition overlays with lived experience—all delivered through the wit and relatability of Rachel Dratch, Irene Bremis, and their guests.