Jennifer Jarrett (1:52)

you by State Farm. You know, those friends who support your preference for podcasts over music on road trips? That's the energy State Farm brings to insurance. With over 19,000 local agents, they help you find the coverage that fits your needs so you can spend less time worrying about insurance and more time enjoying the ride. Download the State Farm app or go online@statefarm.com like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

Rachel Dratch (2:22)

Welcome to Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch, the podcast that explores the unexplained with humor and curiosity. Hello and welcome to Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch, here with my buddy, pal and confidant, Irene Bremis. Hi, Irene. Hello, sweetie.

Irene Bremis (2:45)

I miss you.

Narrator/Announcer (2:46)

Hi.

Jennifer Jarrett (2:47)

Hi.

Rachel Dratch (2:48)

So today we have something. It's not like fully woo woo, but it's maybe more in science land, but it's also kind of just woo woo in terms of if you're a regular human. We have a superhuman with us. So bold. Please welcome my neighbor, Jennifer Jarrett. Hi, Jennifer.

Jennifer Jarrett (3:11)

Hi. I'm so excited to be here. I'm a neighbor, but I'm also a super fan of the pod.

Rachel Dratch (3:17)

That's true. And you. I. Yes, I love it because I run into you in the building. You're an avid listener of the pod.

Jennifer Jarrett (3:24)

I am an avid listener.

Rachel Dratch (3:26)

And little did you know you'd be hit up to be a guest on the pod.

Jennifer Jarrett (3:31)

Oh, no. I am so excited, as you know. And I text you and email you about episodes all the time. So I'm very excited to be here and to interact with you, but also Irene, because, you know, I don't know Irene other than through my headphones.

Irene Bremis (3:48)

That's amazing. I am so excited that you're here, honestly. I know that you live in the building and I asked Rachel, have we ever met? And we went with her answer, as you can imagine, Rachel, she said yes. And the elevator gave me like a full transcript of when, what time. I was like, okay, yes, we have met.

Rachel Dratch (4:04)

Well, good segue into Jennifer's superpower. Because I thought this would be fun for the woo woo of it all. But Jennifer has a super memory and she's been studied at Harvard and Dartmouth for her super brain and super memory. And we'll get into what exactly specifically her powers are. So, yes, of course she would remember seeing Irene in the elevator. So Jennifer, do you wanna just kick it off and tell us what your superpower super memory is?

Jennifer Jarrett (4:36)

Basically, I sort of have a photographic memory for faces. I really, I don't forget people's faces. Not just people I know, but just walking down the street, stuff like that. In some.

Rachel Dratch (4:49)

In some, yeah. And I, I have questions about, like, how you first discovered this power of yours. I'm going to keep calling it a superpower. It is a superpower. Oh, geez. So your superpower, as I'm going to keep referring to it, is for faces. And as you told me, you. You don't have the Mary Lou Henner brain where you're like, I know what happened on March 4, 1993. You have face recognition, which, by the way. And Irene, I don't know if you have this, but I am embarrassed to say I have the opposite issue where I have, I have face blindness. And it's very embarrassing. And we're going to talk about that

Jennifer Jarrett (5:25)

in a little bit.

Rachel Dratch (5:25)

But I have the opposite brain and it's like, actually a problem, so I'm really jealous. But not only can you recognize someone that, like, waited on you at a restaurant 10 years ago, but you also can look at a baby picture of an obscure. You know, I don't. Like, not even an A lister. You can look at a baby picture of some rando, some rando actor and immediately know who they are, which is another power of yours. But anyway, why don't you talk about, first of all, how you first even discovered that you had this and, like, what are some tales around it?

Jennifer Jarrett (6:04)

Yeah. So basically, you know, when I was a little kid, I didn't really know because it's normal to sort of know everyone in your class, like, know the siblings of the people in your elementary school class and things like that. But then, like, by the time I was in high school, whenever I would be watching TV or movies with my friends or family, then everyone knew that I could. They'd be like, who's that person? And I'd be like, remember? They were like in a Duncan Hines cupcake commercial like, a couple of years ago. So stuff like that. So we sort of knew. And then we took a family trip to Hawaii when I was in high school, and we were on one of those puddle jumper planes from island to island, and there was someone on the plane. And I said to my family, he's famous, right? Because to me, at that point in my life, anyone who'd ever been on television once was famous. So I was like, he's famous. And they were like, no, he's no one. So I was like, I'm going to ask for his autograph and you're going to see. And so when the plane landed, I was like, can I have your autograph? And he was like, sure, sweetie. And so he wrote it out and we were like, what does it say? But then we saw, like, his golf clubs. It said Granville Van Dusen, which if you look him up on IMDb, he's like one of those people who has like over 100 things, because it's like he's been on every single television show in the 70s and 80s once, by the way.

Rachel Dratch (7:31)

I love that he didn't. He wasn't surprised at all. He was just. He was fully comfortable in his fame.

Jennifer Jarrett (7:37)

Yeah.

Rachel Dratch (7:38)

Oh, yes, it's me, Granville Van Dusen. Yeah.

Jennifer Jarrett (7:41)

And of course, the best name ever. He was with, like, a lovely woman. So I think he was probably, like, super excited to be like, I told you I was famous. And my family was like, he's probably just like an accountant who was like, yeah, I'll give you my autograph. And I'm like, I'm telling you because this was before there was IMDb and you could look people up, and this was a summer vacation. And then that fall, the first episode of Family Ties for people who are old enough to know where Michael J. Fox first came into our homes and our lives. So the first episode of Family Ties was something about, like, books being banned at the school, and the school principal was none other than Granville Van Dusen. Hello. I had bragging rights in my family, but I was like, I told you so. That was sort of like the first inkling. And then. But it really hit when I got to college. And, you know, you get to college and you're meeting a gazillion people all the time. And I would remember every single interaction that I had, like, no matter how brief the introduction was. And then it got to the point, like, a couple months into college, I'd be at a party, and people would be like, have you two met before? And I'd say yes, and the other person would say, no, and I'd be like, remember the second week of school when we were walking down Locust Walk and I was with a mutual friend of ours, and you stopped to talk to us and you asked if we were going to this party, and we said no. And then you went on to class and we went back to our dorm, like, you remember? And then they'd be like, no, I don't remember that. You know? And so I started thinking everyone was very fake and pretending that they didn't remember me, right? So then by the second semester, friends of mine were taking a French class, and they were like, we met someone in French class. She's really great. We think, like, you're all really going to like her. And then they said who it was, and I was like, she's so fake. And they were like, why are you saying that? And I said, oh, the first day of classes, I went into the cafeteria for lunch, and I saw one person sitting at a table, and he was the person I knew. So I sat down and he introduced me to everyone. And she was like, nice to meet you, but I have to go study for a bio quiz. And she laughed. And then right before Thanksgiving, I was at a party, and someone was like, have you two met? And I said, yes, and she said no, and I told her, and she pretended that she didn't remember it. And they were like, jen, you keep saying this. It's you, it's not them. No one is pretending. And I don't know why you remember all of these encounters, but it's really weird and like, you just have to check yourself. And then I ended up getting to know that person, the woman from the French class who's one of those people who's like so kind and genuine and sees the best in everyone. So once I started to get to know her, I also realized, okay, she was not pretending anything. So at that point, when I would be introduced to people at parties and stuff, and when people would say to you two know each other? I would wait for the other person to answer and. And if they said no, I would say no. And I started to learn what was normal for people. And yeah, because I really was sort of like, wow, people don't remember a lot of basic stuff. And so that was really when I started to realize like, how much I was remembering people who didn't remember me.

Rachel Dratch (11:15)

Wow.

Jennifer Jarrett (11:15)

So that was sort of. That was really what I know.

Rachel Dratch (11:19)

I have a quick question because I know you have the face recognition, but did this help you at all in studying for like, I know you're a very intelligent lady. Does this memory skill help you for other things? Even though I know you don't have like the dates memory or whatever, but do you have a super memory for studying and tests too?

Jennifer Jarrett (11:43)

No. And a friend of mine from college who was in my geology class with me would gladly tell you that was not super successful for me. Okay. Yeah, I didn't go to class a lot and I didn't study.

Rachel Dratch (11:56)

I'm learning.

Jennifer Jarrett (11:56)

So yes, I sort of learned. I couldn't rely on my memory for things like that.

Rachel Dratch (12:01)

I in school had a slightly photographic memory, so I could do well in like an art history class or like, I remember some language classes. I would see the page in my book. So then when I'm taking the test, I could like kind of like look at the page in my mind. But did you have that ever?

Jennifer Jarrett (12:22)

Yeah, I have to say I sort of, because I was an English major too. And so I would sort of remember like, oh, I want to find that section to quote it. And I remember it's on like a left hand page on the lower left hand side and it's about this far into the book. Not like I would remember the page number more like in the story. So I would know where I'd be looking on a page to find something like that.

Irene Bremis (12:45)

Okay, I have a Question. First of all, Rachel, copy paste memory. That's insane. I'm the inferior one in the group. I just want to start with this because I have none of these gifts, but I just wanted to ask like, okay, so my cell phone, I have a joke about this. Doesn't even recognize my face without makeup on. Like they should upgrade you in the human form. That being said, can you see people even after they've had like a substantial amount of work done on their faces, like plastic surgery or like, you know,

Jennifer Jarrett (13:15)

actually makes it hard when people have had a lot of like significant work done, you know, not just sort of like a facelift, but like a nose job. And so one thing that, that I didn't get into, but when people age, that doesn't impact my memory. So someone who I knew as a child, who I just saw as an adult for the first time since they were a kid, I can recognize if they haven't had like significant work done to their face. Because somehow in my brain and I don't, like there is no explanation for how it works, but somehow the symmetry of people's faces doesn't really change for me. And like the way people smile and things like that sort of doesn't really change. And so for me, like aging is sort of like a haircut basically. It's more of a way my brain. Yeah, exactly. So, you know, people can age and you know, look very different, but that doesn't impact me. But if you're going to change like your nose or something,

Narrator/Announcer (14:25)

Whether you're renting or paying a mortgage, one of your

Rachel Dratch (14:28)

biggest monthly expenses should be working harder for you.

Narrator/Announcer (14:30)

And that's where BILT comes in. BILT is the membership for where you live that rewards you with points on every housing payment. BILT started out rewarding members on their rent, but now as of 2026, BILT members can also earn points on mortgage payments wherever they live. Every housing payment earns you points you can use toward trips with top travel partners like United and Hyatt, Lyft rides, Amazon.com purchases, and so much more. Personally, I'd be saving mine toward a little weekend getaway.

Rachel Dratch (15:00)

Because nothing says adulting like using house related points to escape your own house. But here's what I think is the most underrated part.

Narrator/Announcer (15:09)

BILT members also get access to a neighborhood concierge.

Rachel Dratch (15:13)

It can make restaurant reservations, book fitness classes and find new local spots, all

Narrator/Announcer (15:18)

while being rewarded at more than 45,000 merchant partners. It's like having a tiny, helpful little

Rachel Dratch (15:24)

neighbor right inside your pocket that doesn't mind if your dog barks once in a while.

Narrator/Announcer (15:28)

It's simple. Being a renter and now owning a home is better with Bilt. So join the membership for where you live at joinbuilt.com woo. That's J-O-I-N-B-I-L-T.com woo. W make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you.

Commercial Voice (15:46)

Amazon presents Jeff versus taco truck salsa. Whether it's verde roja or the orange one, for Jeff, trying any salsa is like playing Russian roulette with a flamethrower. Luckily, Jeff saved with Amazon and stocked up on antacids, ginger tea and milk.

Jennifer Jarrett (16:08)

Milk.

Commercial Voice (16:08)

Habanero. More like habanero. Yes. Save the everyday with Amazon.

Rachel Dratch (16:19)

I was gonna ask you, how did it shift from, like, how did you become known for this to the point where you were studied and you're on 60 Minutes too, right?

Jennifer Jarrett (16:29)

Yeah, I was. So basically, I had a gazillion stories of things that were sort of nuts. Like, not long after I had moved to New York, I was at a party and a friend of mine was like, that guy is so cute. And I was like, oh. I was like, in an extracurricular activity with him in fourth grade, he's sort of a jerk. And she was like, wait a minute. What? Well, you still know him. And I'm like, no, I haven't seen him since fourth grade. But like, I remember he was like, annoying and you're not going to like him. And she was like, first of all, how do you know it's him? Like, because I didn't grow up in New York City. So she was like, first of all, how do you even know it's him? We're in New York. You haven't seen him since fourth grade. Also, maybe he's a little different now. And I was like, we'll see. And she was like, but how do you know it's him? I'm like, oh, I know it's him, believe me. Let's go over there. So I was like, hey, aren't you, you know, so and so? And he was like, yeah, how do I know you? And I remember. I was like, remember in fourth grade? Whatever. And he was like, well, I remember doing that.

Rachel Dratch (17:29)

Like, I don't remember you.

Jennifer Jarrett (17:31)

And I was, he's a jerk. No, but I knew at that point certainly that he wouldn't remember me. Like, that.

Rachel Dratch (17:38)

Was he. Was he really a jerk still? Just quick, quick emotional.

Jennifer Jarrett (17:43)

I would say that he was more of an in a less of like, how he was when a kid. But also, I knew it wasn't going to be a match with my friend. He wasn't. He wasn't going to appreciate her kindness. Okay, so things like that or like, one day I was on the subway, and again, I didn't grow up in New York City. And when I was a kid, I was in Hebrew school. My older brother was, too. And there was, like, a super 80s high school girl who volunteered in his classroom. Like, super fashionable 80s. Like, think Molly Ringwald in the Breakfast Club. And she was so cool. And I was like, oh, she's very cool. So cut to, decades later, I'm on the subway in New York. I see a woman with gray hair in dreadlocks, wearing, like, you know, sort of like, she's on her way to, like, a Grateful Dead show. And I was like, Claudia.

Rachel Dratch (18:39)

She's like, yeah.

Jennifer Jarrett (18:40)

And I'm like, remember me, Jennifer Jarrett? You volunteer in my brother Doug's class at Hebrew school. And she was like, oh, my God. And she was like, how did you know it was me? Like, I look so different. And I was like, well, your face looks the same, Claudia. So, yeah. So things like that sort of really made me know I was remembering people in contexts that no one else would recognize them. So about almost 10 years ago, there was. Oh, my gosh. No, almost. Almost 20 years ago. Sorry, I'm so old. There was something in. In the Times about prosopagnosia, which is the scientific term for face blindness.

Rachel Dratch (19:25)

Oh, wait, will you say that the term again? Say the term again for face blindness.

Jennifer Jarrett (19:29)

Prosopagnosia.

Rachel Dratch (19:31)

Prosopagnosia. I have a little of that. Okay.

Jennifer Jarrett (19:35)

Wow.

Irene Bremis (19:35)

We love a good clinical term, right?

Rachel Dratch (19:37)

Makes us sound more smart. Yeah. Okay.

Jennifer Jarrett (19:40)

Yes, yes, yes. So I was reading about a study at Harvard about prosopagnosia. And so I Googled the names of the people doing that study, and I just sent them, like, a cold call email, and I was like, you know, I read about this study you're doing, and I don't have face blindness. I have what I think might be the opposite. And I don't know if it exists or not, but, like, here are some stories of why I think I have this, and I was curious if you have any information. And so they wrote back right away, and they were like, like, we're not sure, but we're putting together a study right now. Would you be interested in participating? And I was like, would I? Oh, my God, that would be amazing. So that's how I got hooked up with The Harvard study that created the term super recognizer and discovered that people like me exist.

Irene Bremis (20:38)

Wow. I have a question. Like, what was the studying like, what kind of testing did they put you through to, like, determine this?

Jennifer Jarrett (20:44)

Yeah. So basically, while I was sort of like, doing all this too, my sister was like, well, maybe I have it. And it like, she didn't. But because a lot of people do think that they're like, oh, I'm pretty good with faces. And so really with the study originally, the people putting together the study put an ad in the Harvard Crimson and were like, hey, do you have great memory for faces? We're putting together a test and they heard from a ton of people who were like, oh, that's me. And then they tested normal. So then they put an ad in the Boston Globe and were like, do you have great memory for faces? And a ton of people were like, that's me. And then they tested normal. So they were sort of like, getting a little desperate. And so when I reached out to them, as it turned out, they found three people for this, the super recognizer study who. Who were like me. And all of them they found because we each reached out to them because we were sort of like, read about prosopagnosia and were like, I've had this crazy thing my whole life that no one can explain, and I know makes me very different. So, yeah, so my sister was also sort of like, I think that's me too. So they had to do the test in person. And so he was like, well, why don't I test both of you at the same time? Because I was like, you can do it while I'm visiting. And so I went to her house. He set up the test. She went first. My brother in law came in and was like, so have you done it yet? And I said, no, they're taste. They're testing Stacy right now. And he said, well, did you think about what would happen if you, like, came all this way to test both of you? And then it turns out that neither of you has it? And I'm like, you know, I hadn't really thought about that. And then, like, the door opens from the dining room and my sister comes in and she's like, I'm normal. I don't have it. So then he brought me back, and when he was setting up the computer for the first test, I told him, you know, my brother in law just said this, and now I feel bad if it's going to be nothing. So he did the first test, which was sort of like the baby photos of celebrities. But it was a little bit different because it would flash it for one second and then the screen would go black and then you'd have to say who it was. Wow. So I finished the test and then he patted me on the back and he said you were worth coming for. And it was such a sweet moment. I was, but I was also so excited because really I was like, so I'm not insane, right? There is something going on. Right?

Irene Bremis (23:17)

Right. That is such that like a flash. That's the other thing. You didn't have time to think about it. Like that's an important detail in this testing.

Rachel Dratch (23:29)

Can we talk about skin for a moment?

Narrator/Announcer (23:31)

Because I usually only pay attention to

Rachel Dratch (23:32)

the skin on my face and ignore the skin on my body, which is quite dry. And may I say alligator like. But not anymore. No, because I'm actually taking care of myself with osea's Anti Aging Body Balm. I love the products from OSEA and

Narrator/Announcer (23:49)

the Anti Aging Body Balm.

Rachel Dratch (23:51)

It's like liquid silk in a jar.

Narrator/Announcer (23:53)

It has the lasting hydration of a

Rachel Dratch (23:55)

lotion, the firming power of a serum,

Narrator/Announcer (23:58)

and it absorbs without feeling greasy, leaving your skin smoother, firmer and beautifully supple.

Rachel Dratch (24:04)

Yeah, I said supple.

Narrator/Announcer (24:06)

And it's seaweed powered and clinically tested.

Rachel Dratch (24:09)

So this glow isn't just in my head.

Narrator/Announcer (24:12)

What I love is the texture is

Rachel Dratch (24:14)

weightless but very nourishing. It's not an oil, it's not a heavy cream. It's somewhere in between. And it really does make my skin look younger. And that is affecting everything. It's changing my life really, if we're going to be honest here.

Narrator/Announcer (24:27)

Also, I love the scent of all the OSEA products.

Rachel Dratch (24:30)

They're not too perfumey, but they're very serene.

Narrator/Announcer (24:32)

You almost feel like you're at a spa or something.

Rachel Dratch (24:35)

So if you put it on before

Narrator/Announcer (24:36)

bed, it makes winding down just feel delightful. And that is not a medical claim. It's just my peaceful routine.

Rachel Dratch (24:42)

And if you don't believe me, wait for it.

Narrator/Announcer (24:45)

94% of people agreed with me that

Rachel Dratch (24:48)

their skin felt nourished, moisturized and softer and that their skin looked smoother, more supple and glowing. That's 94% of people agreeing with me. I don't even wanna know what those other 6% people are like, because you know what? I don't even want to know them, quite frankly. Anyway, back to skin. Look it. You can get a spring worthy glow with clean, clinically tested skin care from osea, right now we have a special

Narrator/Announcer (25:13)

discount just for our listeners. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code woo@oseamalibu.com that's 10% off site wide.

Rachel Dratch (25:24)

Code woo@oseamalibu.Com that's O S E A

Narrator/Announcer (25:29)

Malibu.com K pop demon hunters, Saja Boys Breakfast meal and Hunt Tricks meal have

Jennifer Jarrett (25:35)

just dropped at McDonald's.

Narrator/Announcer (25:36)

They're calling this a battle for the fans. What do you say to that, Rumi?

Rachel Dratch (25:40)

It's not a battle. So glad the Saja Boys could take breakfast and give our meal the rest of the day.

Commercial Voice (25:45)

It is an honor to share.

Jennifer Jarrett (25:47)

No, it's our honor.

Rachel Dratch (25:49)

It is our larger honor. No, really, stop.

Jennifer Jarrett (25:53)

You can really feel the respect in this battle. Pick a meal to pick a side and participate in McDonald's while supplies last.

Rachel Dratch (26:04)

How else do they do besides the baby pictures? Like, it seems like a hard thing to make up a test for, right?

Jennifer Jarrett (26:09)

Yeah. So there were things where like they would. Then they had gotten like photos of volunteers where they had them like just a circle around their face, sort of like they had like black head pieces on like a balaclava almost or something that didn't cover, you know, they're like nose or mouth, but like everything else was covered. And so they would flash a photo of that person. And then I would have to pick, you know, from a huge group and, and just regular people, people I'd never seen before. And then as the test went on, they would add sort of like with old timey TVs, how there would be static on the screen. They called it snow. They would add more and more of that, like static because they were black and white photos until the point that it was basically like you could barely even tell there was a human on the screen. But I could still always pick out sort of who it was from like the huge group. I would be like, oh yeah, I could still, you know, like as we go through round after round, you know, he'd be like, tell me if you can't recognize who it is. And I'd be like, no, it's B. No, it's this person, you know, whatever, things like that. And so then, you know, they put together this study, they published it. And there, there were two interesting things about the study. One, that people like me exist. But also prior to this study, they had just thought everybody sees faces the same, except for people who have face blindness, you know, prosopagnosia in that, like they have a disorder, everybody else sees faces the same. But then with this Study. What they realized is that there's a spectrum. Sort of like with VIS, it's not like people are either blind or have 2020 vision. You can need glasses and fall anywhere along, you know, the visual spectrum. And so that's actually the same thing with facial recognition. So some people can be good, but not super recognizers. Some people can be bad, but not have prosopagnosia either.

Irene Bremis (28:09)

This is so fascinating. Does this extend. And this is going to sound silly, but does it extend to places and animals, too? Like, if you don't see an animal for a long time, like a dog, for example, or a cat or something?

Jennifer Jarrett (28:20)

People have asked me that because also, I happen to be. Well, Rachel knows, in my own life, I'm famously a dog person. So, you know, it's hard to know because dogs are always with their owners when I see them. So I don't know if I'm necessarily just sort of recognizing the owner or the dog. Probably not.

Rachel Dratch (28:42)

What about the whole 60 minutes? Like, that was. They contacted you based on the study? Basically, yeah.

Jennifer Jarrett (28:49)

So what happened is, like, the study came out to very little fanfare, and then someone at BBC Radio found it and reached out to, like, the main guy in the study, and she was like, hey, would you be willing to talk about it for BBC Radio? Also, could you get one of the super recognizers? So he reached out to me and he was like, would you be interested? And I was like, of course I would. So we went on BBC Radio, and then after that, the Harvard press department was basically like, wait, people might be interested in this. So then they sort of sent out a press release about it. And then it became a big thing. And then, like, we were in the New York Times and stuff. And then Richard Russell, who was the lead on the study, sent me an email, I think, with the subject line 60 minutes. And he was like, no promises. They are not making any promises, but they're interested in maybe talking to us to see if there's anything there. So they, you know, talked to him, and then they took me to breakfast because they were like, we just want to talk to you to see if there's anything there. But I knew that they wanted to see if I was, like, TV worthy, if I would be able to tell a coherent story. So, yeah, so we went to breakfast, and then shortly after that, they were like, you know, would you be interested in being on an episode of 60 Minutes?

Rachel Dratch (30:16)

And I was like, what I ever.

Jennifer Jarrett (30:19)

Oh, my gosh, I cannot believe this. I mean, I grew up watching 60 Minutes. I watched 60 Minutes every Sunday night. Like, I would build my Sunday evening around having my dinner cooked so I could eat my dinner in front of 60 minutes even then. So I was like, of course. And it was Leslie Stahl who did the story. So I got to be interviewed by her, which was. Was so wild. I felt like I was having an outof body experience.

Rachel Dratch (30:47)

Wow.

Jennifer Jarrett (30:48)

Wow.

Irene Bremis (30:48)

That's insane.

Rachel Dratch (30:49)

Did they have other people on too that had the power or just you?

Jennifer Jarrett (30:53)

So it was a two part episode and it was actually mostly about prosopagnosia, about face blindness. And the two big people who they had on were Oliver Sachs, the psychologist who had prosopagnosia. And then Chop Close, the artist who. Who did these huge paintings of faces had prosopagnosia.

Irene Bremis (31:15)

Wow, that's amazing.

Rachel Dratch (31:17)

So he had the face blindness?

Jennifer Jarrett (31:19)

Yes. Yeah.

Rachel Dratch (31:22)

Oh, and he did the big faces too.

Jennifer Jarrett (31:23)

Yeah.

Rachel Dratch (31:24)

Interesting.

Jennifer Jarrett (31:24)

So interesting. And so this was a two parter. And so while it was mostly about prosopagnosia, for sure, the first part was. And then I've seen it more than once. And then they end the first part with. And can you believe there's an opposite? And then they show Be Real of me walking down the streets of New York City. And then they come back and that's when my part comes in.

Rachel Dratch (31:48)

Oh, cool.

Irene Bremis (31:49)

Wow. I'd like to see that. I'd like to check that out. That's amazing.

Rachel Dratch (31:52)

So, Irene, I don't know if you have a little face blindness. I really do. It's gotten worse as I've gotten older. I just mean, like, I don't remember having this when I was in high school or college. But maybe. I don't know. Sometimes I wonder. Maybe you know more about this, Jen. But like, sometimes I wonder. My brain is full of the faces I can know. I don't know. That's kind of how it feels like. It's very embarrassing sometimes. I mean, I'm the person from the table in your college. She's like, what? And then they're like, we've met five times. And it's. Cause it comes off as very rude, which I get it, but I'm just putting it out there. I have a problem.

Jennifer Jarrett (32:32)

Your cartridge is full.

Rachel Dratch (32:34)

It's really embarrassing though. Irene, do you have that? Like, mine's kind of on the spectrum, like you said. Mine's near the end of the spectrum.

Irene Bremis (32:41)

I do have that. You know, I. I also noticed that although I suffered deeply with memory issues and face blindness, the one thing that I have that helps me recognize people and always Pulls me through the clutch. And I actually, it's never failed me is voice recognition. Voice is the one way that I have always recognized everybody, even if their face looks different, you know? And I mean, I think anybody in the witness protection program should be nervous. Sweetie. With you, Jennifer. Okay, Beware. Or if you've gone too far with plastic surgery, you can check in with Jen. But that being said, for me, I have memory issues, face blindness, but the voice always pulls me through, and that's how I remember people a lot of the time is. Is through their voice or actors or TV programs. Yes, to answer your question, that's so interesting.

Rachel Dratch (33:30)

Sorry, Graham. What's his name?

Jennifer Jarrett (33:32)

Grande.

Rachel Dratch (33:34)

Granville Van Dusen.

Jennifer Jarrett (33:36)

I'm sure the name he was born with.

Rachel Dratch (33:39)

I know.

Jennifer Jarrett (33:39)

Probably like Jaime Horowitz or something. I don't know.

Rachel Dratch (33:43)

Good old Granville Van Dusen. Now, here's my other question around the study. Did they ever study your brain, like, in terms of when they do things like certain areas light up, like, do you have literally a different scientifically proven brain, or is there. No. Is it just kind of this odd phenomenon?

Jennifer Jarrett (34:02)

So they did actually study my brain, and so they did two FMRIs of my brain, and it sort of didn't really show anything significantly different because they know where. Where in the fusiform area of the brain that that's like the end of my scientific knowledge. I don't know where in the brain that actually is, but they always say that. But in the fusiform area of the brain, there's a part that lights up when people recognize faces. But for me, it's not like mine is like five times the size of other people's or something. It maybe lights up a little more. From what I understand, I'm more of like the rat trying to find the cheese than the scientist doing the study. So what little I understand, it wasn't that illuminating to study my brain.

Narrator/Announcer (34:56)

Okay.

Irene Bremis (34:57)

You know what else I have, Rachel? I also. And I get this from my mother. I have not face blinding, but multiple faces. I think people are people. They're not. A lot of the time, like, I feel like people look like other people, and I get confused.

Rachel Dratch (35:11)

Who am I right now?

Jennifer Jarrett (35:12)

You are.

Rachel Dratch (35:13)

Who am I?

Irene Bremis (35:13)

Irene Somebody. Who I am.

Rachel Dratch (35:14)

I'm Amy Poehler. We get confused a lot. I always mention her in the. So I probably have to cut that. Cause I mentioned. But people always come up to her, like, hey, Debbie, Donna. And then they come up to me and they're like, Amy, like, we get confused all the time. And I know, like, when we have wigs on and stuff. It's funny that you say that about the. You just saw the face. Because we, we do on the show back in the day, we had a lot of wigs on and I kind of get it because they're both like short with blue eyes, but people confused us all the time. She'll always say, like, I got, I got congratulated for Debbie Downer the other day. Like, we'll text each other with our various.

Irene Bremis (35:51)

I think you should leave that in because it's funny and it happens to people. Don't take that out.

Rachel Dratch (35:54)

Sorry.

Jennifer Jarrett (35:55)

It does have what I just said.

Rachel Dratch (35:56)

It's a grand compliment. If I can take credit for both of our. I'll take. I'll take her career. Sure. Wait. By the way, I looked up Granville Van Dusen. Oh, he's still kicking. He's. He's only 84 years old. He's from Minnesota. Maybe that is really his name.

Jennifer Jarrett (36:13)

Oh, yeah.

Rachel Dratch (36:14)

Anyway, Granville.

Jennifer Jarrett (36:15)

Yeah. No, but if you look him up on IMDb, I'm sure it is a lot of listings.

Rachel Dratch (36:22)

Oh, that's a good point.

Jennifer Jarrett (36:23)

I had said to my family, like, he's not the star of a show, but he's the type of person who would be on Murder She Wrote as like, this is the wrongfully suspected killer. Because that's not a big role on the show.

Rachel Dratch (36:38)

Yeah. Get this, he was on Matlock, Mr. Belvedere, highway to Heaven, Family Ties, as Jennifer said, a whole bunch of other shows, Doogie Howser, Melrose Place, et cetera.

Jennifer Jarrett (36:51)

It's like one episode, one episode, two episodes, one episode.

Irene Bremis (36:55)

Right.

Rachel Dratch (37:00)

Ever wake up sweaty? Convinced you may have just time traveled to the surface of the sun?

Narrator/Announcer (37:04)

Well, your bedroom's temperature can make or break your sleep. And that's why I switched to miracle made sheets.

Rachel Dratch (37:10)

Miracle made sheets use technology inspired by NASA.

Narrator/Announcer (37:14)

Silver infused temperature regulating fabric that helps keep you perfectly comfy all night long.

Rachel Dratch (37:20)

It's like a little climate control hug for your body. Plus they fight bacteria and stay fresher

Narrator/Announcer (37:27)

up to three times longer. Yeah, your old sheets could be hosting

Rachel Dratch (37:30)

a bacterial rave right under your face

Narrator/Announcer (37:33)

and you do not want that.

Rachel Dratch (37:35)

Also, miracle made sheets feel like a five star hotel luxurious experience, but without

Narrator/Announcer (37:42)

the five star bill, they're silky, breathable and way more affordable than hotel sheets.

Rachel Dratch (37:48)

So if you're ready to sleep more

Narrator/Announcer (37:49)

cleanly and dream more weirdly.

Rachel Dratch (37:51)

I don't know, I'm just assuming the more deeply you sleep, the better dreams you're gonna have. Just go with me on this.

Narrator/Announcer (37:58)

So upgrade your Sleep or give the gift of better rest. Go to trymiracle.com to try Miracle Made Sheets today you'll save over 40% and when you use promo code woo, you get an extra 20% off plus a free three piece tile set. They make an amazing gift and with a 30 day money back guarantee, there's no risk. That's trymiracle.com woo. Use code woo at checkout.

Rachel Dratch (38:23)

Thank you Miracle Made for sponsoring this episode.

Commercial Voice (38:26)

Where is Daredevil?

Jennifer Jarrett (38:29)

I'm right here.

Commercial Voice (38:30)

Don't miss the return of Marvel Television's Daredevil Devil Born Again.

Jennifer Jarrett (38:34)

So what's next?

Commercial Voice (38:35)

I feel liberated.

Rachel Dratch (38:37)

We're going to take this city back

Commercial Voice (38:38)

over medicated in an all new season.

Jennifer Jarrett (38:41)

Now streaming only on Disney plus. They're hunting us. It's time we started hunting them. I can work with that. Nobody gives. This should be tons of fun.

Commercial Voice (38:52)

Marvel Television's Daredevil Born Again now streaming

Rachel Dratch (38:55)

only on Disney plus. Okay, I have this question.

Irene Bremis (39:00)

Yeah?

Rachel Dratch (39:00)

Is it like something that you're psyched about or like, does it, does it add to your life in any way? Or is it just like you're like kind of a party trick for you? Like, how do you see this power that you have?

Jennifer Jarrett (39:13)

Well, I'm getting really heavy hitting here

Rachel Dratch (39:15)

with the emotions of it all.

Jennifer Jarrett (39:17)

It does sort of feel a little like a party trick. But, you know, to me it's just normal. It's like, you know, if you were walking down the street with someone, you know, and they're like, I can tell you that was a red car that just drove by us, you'd be like, wow, that's great. I could see it was red too. Like, if wouldn't mean anything to you. So for me, it's just so normal, you know, walking around New York City, I'm constantly seeing people I recognize, but it doesn't mean that I think that I have some sort of connection to them. Like, I recognize that I don't know them. It's just I'm sort of like, oh, this is this person who takes the subway around the same time I do in the opposite direction. And I see them a lot in the morning.

Irene Bremis (40:01)

I think that's a satisfying feeling though, because I will say this, I often am struggling to remember how I know someone's face. Like, and it doesn't feel good, you know, like, like I see somebody and then I, I know that I know them, but I don't know where I know them from. And it's frustrating. It's like, it's like I'm not cracking the code on that. So there is like some level of satisfaction. Do you find that? Well, you wouldn't know because you've never been in the situation where you. You had to crack the code. You are the code cracker on a regular, right?

Rachel Dratch (40:31)

Yeah, yeah.

Jennifer Jarrett (40:33)

I mean, every once in a while it can happen to me too. So, yeah. And then I'm like, oh, I can see why this is frustrating for people. But oftentimes, like, as I'm going, because it's like, I'll see someone and I'll be sort of like retail store sort of thing, like a general, like, hint. And then as I go along, then finally I'm sort of like, oh, right, that was someone who worked in Barney's. You know, like the department store that closed several years ago. So things like that. Where then it's sort of like, oh, I'm glad I remembered, because that would have really frustrated me if I couldn't have.

Rachel Dratch (41:08)

So they wanted you to try to identify from a baby picture someone that is now an old, very old person.

Jennifer Jarrett (41:16)

After my 60 Minutes episode aired, I started hearing from a lot of people with sort of asking me different favors. One person said, I have a bunch of family photos. I live in Rochester. Would you mind coming to my house for a weekend and sorting through my family photos and telling me who was who? I was like, thanks, but no, thank you.

Rachel Dratch (41:36)

Pass that up.

Jennifer Jarrett (41:36)

Right, yeah, exactly. Yeah. And then she was never seen again. Right. So no, I did pass that up, but I got a letter from someone who said that her. One of her parents, I think her mother was remarried because she had been married before the Holocaust and had a child, and then her husband was killed in the Holocaust and they never knew what happened to the child. They sort of presumed that the child was dead, but they didn't know. So this person who was writing me had this half sibling that possibly survived the Holocaust, maybe not, but was never seen again. And all she had was this picture of her half sibling when she was three years old. You know, long before this woman was born because it's, you know, remarried. She was like. So I've always wondered if she survived. And I have this photo of like orphans after the war who, like, survived through the Kindertransport or something. And so there are a whole bunch of kids here who are like, you know, five years older than this three year old photo. Can you tell me if one of these kids is this? And so I wrote back and I said, you know, I'm so sorry to hear that you've Always had, you know, this sort of like nagging story. But unfortunately, sometimes pictures don't look like people don't really capture them very well. You know, we've all seen photos of ourselves where we think I look so weird in that picture that doesn't look like me. And so for me to be able to pick someone out, I really need to know what they look like. And so to see that sort of one photo of someone as a three year old, I don't know if that's really accurately capturing them. And then to see this huge group photo of like hundreds of children after the war and it's like they're all crowded together. And I also don't know if like everyone in that group photo really was captured, you know, well, so I said, you know, nothing jumps out at me. It doesn't mean that she's not in that photo. But I can't, I can't really do it to that extent.

Rachel Dratch (43:45)

That's, that's poignant, like someone reaching out

Jennifer Jarrett (43:48)

for like so it was so heartbreaking. And then what was so sweet is that she ended up writing back to me and saying, and was so grateful that I at least explained that to her and wrote back to her because she was like, I have reached out to different, like Holocaust organizations and things like that and I never hear back from anyone. So it really, it helps, helps me to know that you at least tried.

Narrator/Announcer (44:13)

Good hair days do more than we give them credit for. When your hair feels healthy, you show up differently. You're more confident, more relaxed and you're not constantly checking mirrors or adjusting your hair. Your hair becomes one last thing competing for your attention. Throughout the day. Nutrafol supports hair health from within, working overtime to deliver results you can see and feel so your hair becomes something you enjoy, not something you stress about. Nutrafol is the number one dermatologist recommended hair growth supplement brand and it's the number one hair growth supplement brand personally used by dermatologists. Nutrafol's hair growth supplements are peer reviewed, NSF certified for sport and clinically tested. It's not a one size fits all approach. Nutrafol offers multiple formulas for men and women tailored to different life stages like postpartum or menopause and lifestyle factors such as a plant based diet. So you get support that's actually right for you. Let your hair be one less thing to worry about. See visibly thicker, stronger, faster growing hair in three to six months with Nutrafol. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month subscription and free shipping. When you visit nutrafol.com and enter promo code WOO. That's nutrafol.com spelled N U T R A F O L.com promo code WOO.

Commercial Voice (45:33)

Spring fest is heating up at Lowes. And for a limited time we have the extra big deals you need to impress guests. Get your outdoor space ready and save $50 on a select cobalt 24 volt blower kit. Now $79. Plus save $80 on a char broil performance four burner grill. Now $199. It's springtime and our best lineup is here at Lowe's. Valid through 413 while supplies last selection varies by location.

Rachel Dratch (46:03)

Well, I remember I either. I can't remember if this is real life or the show, but I think they picked pretty obscure people. Like people that if you weren't really versed in pop culture, you might not even know who they were. And you picked out some pretty obscure C listers. No, no, no. Denigration meant. But I just mean not like household names, you know.

Jennifer Jarrett (46:28)

Yeah, they had a mix and like sports figures and whatever, which always sort of I'm. Because I'm so not a sports person. I'm always like, if I know a sports person, it means they are very famous.

Rachel Dratch (46:40)

Right, right, right, right.

Jennifer Jarrett (46:42)

But yeah, yeah, they did try to have a man.

Rachel Dratch (46:45)

Okay, and then what.

Jennifer Jarrett (46:47)

What did end up on the cutting room floor too is that they had one person. So coincidentally, for my current job, someone who interviewed me who was working at my current job, he left right before I started. And he left to go to journalism school at Columbia and then ended up working at 60 minutes. So when I was, you know, getting to know the producers, I was like, oh, by the way, you know, where I work now is where Kevin Lovelli worked and whatever. So one of the photos that they had was a baby photo of him. And so I was, you know, going through like George Clooney. Da, da, da, whatever.

Irene Bremis (47:22)

Yeah, yeah.

Jennifer Jarrett (47:22)

And then I'm like. And I'm like, is that Kevin Lovelli and Leslie Stahl goes who? They were like, he's a producer at 60 Minutes, Leslie.

Rachel Dratch (47:32)

And they really did.

Jennifer Jarrett (47:33)

I think that was him. Yeah.

Rachel Dratch (47:35)

So then they threw in a picture of someone that wasn't even a celeb. And you, you recognize them? Basically, yes. I know that you heard our episode with. Well, I don't even know if this is the origin, but I'll just say it as you heard our Animal communicator episode. And then you. Maybe you'd always been Intrigued. You have your little dog Mitzi, and then you wanted to have a pet psychic reading, and so you. Did you contact the woman that was featured in the New York Times? Is that who you.

Jennifer Jarrett (48:03)

Yes, you did.

Rachel Dratch (48:05)

Okay. And what's her name?

Jennifer Jarrett (48:07)

Christine Longnecker.

Rachel Dratch (48:09)

Christine Longnecker. And then you had a reading for your dog?

Jennifer Jarrett (48:13)

I did, I did. So you all the Woo podcast have been like my gateway drug to being more woo Woo. Because I was, you know, very skeptical. Not like completely skeptical. Like, I went to Sedona a few years ago and got crystals there.

Rachel Dratch (48:29)

Sedona. Okay, sweetie, that's full tilt.

Irene Bremis (48:32)

Woo woo.

Rachel Dratch (48:33)

Come on.

Irene Bremis (48:34)

That's. That's big step.

Jennifer Jarrett (48:36)

Yeah, but, you know, I started listening to your podcast and there were so many unexplainable things that I started to sort of move the needle on it. And so then, yeah, I saw this article about Christine Long Necker, which was really about how she got her rescue dog and how it's. It was like, unadoptable. And it spoke to her when she went to the shelter and the dog had growled at everyone and then just like jumped, like, walked out with her, jumped into her truck and was like, I'm going with her. And the people at the shelter were like, what is happening? And then she started this animal communication thing. So, yeah, so I was like, all right, I'll.

Irene Bremis (49:16)

I'll.

Jennifer Jarrett (49:16)

I'm in. I did a reading with her. It was not in person, which I also sort of thought, how is this going to work? But she immediate. And I had only had my dog Mitzi, who's a rescue for a few months, and she immediately was like, oh, I can picture her, like, she hops a little bit and sort of like when she's excited and taps her feet. And I was like, yes, which is not unusual for Yorkies, I think, but still, you know, and there were things that she talked about that maybe were dark things, maybe weren't. But there were a couple of things that happened where I was like, she couldn't have known that. So I didn't know Mitzi's entire background, but I did know that she had been very neglected. And so when I was talking to her about, you know, Mitzi now and, you know, her past life, like, I didn't really get so into it, but then she was like, oh, well, Mitzi's prior owners were drug addicts, and it was really difficult because they couldn't really take care of her so well. And I. I don't think she used the word neglected, but essentially that's what she said. And she was like. And Mitzi tried really hard to take care of them. She's very. She's a big empath. And finally she sort of learned how to set boundaries for herself. But she's, like, so happy with you now because she can just be herself and you take care of her. Which was super sweet. But it was interesting to me. And I said to her, well, I'm thinking about having her become a therapy dog, because it seems like she really likes people. And she said Mitzi would love that. She really likes. Likes helping people when she can. And so Mitzi has become a therapy dog. We visit patients at a cancer center. Oh, that's so nice. And Mitzi loves it. Like, when we are walking up the block to get. To get to the building, she starts running faster. She runs to the door, waits of the hospital, and waits for me to open it. So she loves that. But then the thing that really I was like, there's no way she could have known this. So I did not tell her about, like, how I feed Mitzi or what I do. I feed Mitzi twice a day. And at the time, in one of her feedings per day, like at a breakfast, I would put in a little canned pumpkin for digestion, but only, like at breakfast, not at dinner. And so I was like, so is there anything Mitzi wants me to know about anything that could improve her life? And she said, you feed her twice a day, and one time every day you give her something that's sweet and mushy. I don't know what it is, but she loves it and she wishes she could get it twice a day. And I immediately was like, oh, it's canned pumpkin. Yeah, I can split it up so she gets it twice a day instead of just once a day. So to me, there was no way she could have guessed that. You know, like, first of all, a lot of people feed their dog once a day. And second of all, even if she gets that I fed her twice a day, how many people give their dog canned pumpkin once a day? And it, like, there was no. No way for her to know that.

Rachel Dratch (52:28)

All right, wow. Well, because we want to have. We've been talking about trying to have another animal communicator on, because we talk about this a lot. So it's sort of been on our minds now. I have questions about Ruffles too, because Ruffles has some proclivities that I'm curious about. So maybe we'll try to contact her. I know there was an article about her in the New York Times, right?

Jennifer Jarrett (52:47)

Yeah.

Rachel Dratch (52:48)

She does horses. She does horses, too. Or she started with horses.

Jennifer Jarrett (52:51)

Or maybe. Or she has a hors horse farm. I can't remember.

Rachel Dratch (52:54)

Oh, yeah, that's what I think. Okay. Anyway. Okay. Pendulum reading. Are you prepared for your Penji reading, Jennifer?

Irene Bremis (53:01)

I am.

Jennifer Jarrett (53:01)

I actually. I was so excited this was coming.

Rachel Dratch (53:04)

Okay. Okay. So, Irene, do you want it? I feel like I'm having a bad track record. So. Do you want to do what, Irene? And then I'll just see if I match you for.

Jennifer Jarrett (53:11)

Okay.

Irene Bremis (53:12)

Yeah.

Rachel Dratch (53:12)

Shits and gigs. Okay, so, Jennifer, think on your question for Penji.

Jennifer Jarrett (53:20)

Okay, let me see something.

Irene Bremis (53:22)

Oh, I know what I got.

Jennifer Jarrett (53:23)

It went right away.

Rachel Dratch (53:25)

What did you got, Irene?

Jennifer Jarrett (53:26)

Yes. Oh, excellent. Okay, did you see how I closed my eyes? That was necessary. Yes, you closed your eyes. What was your question? Concentrate. So my question was, because I'm going to renovate my bathroom. Will my bathroom project finish on time? At first I was thinking I'd asked if it would start on time, but if it said no, then I would be stressed. So as long as it finishes on time, that's what matters.

Rachel Dratch (53:55)

When would on time be?

Jennifer Jarrett (53:57)

Well, that's a good question. I also sort of gave it that leeway because I thought, I don't want bad news.

Rachel Dratch (54:03)

Okay, well, you got a yes from Irene, the pendulum master. Well, that's really funny.

Jennifer Jarrett (54:08)

I love it, sweetie.

Narrator/Announcer (54:09)

Good for you.

Rachel Dratch (54:10)

Well, thank you so much. That was a bit of a departure from our usual subject matter, but I love anything around psychology, the brain, and magical human power. So I guess you still are magical, Jennifer Superhuman.

Jennifer Jarrett (54:27)

Well, thank you, super power.

Rachel Dratch (54:28)

Thank you, Superhuman Superpower.

Jennifer Jarrett (54:31)

As a super fan of the pod, this has been thrilling for me. And I swear I thought to myself, if I go through this whole episode without Irene ever calling me sweetie, I've done something terribly wrong. So I'm so glad I got a sweetie sweetie out of you.

Rachel Dratch (54:47)

Thank you for being on the show, Sweetie. Amazing. Sweetie. I love it. That's the benchmark. Irene and Sweetie. Well, now you're officially Sweetie Jennifer. All right, well, thank you so much. And you can find me on Instagram @Ray Dratch. That's R A E. And you can find Irene at irenebremis. That's B R E M I S Bremes. And thanks for listening. Thanks for joining me on this journey into the world of Woo Woo. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch is a Q Code production executive produced by David

Narrator/Announcer (55:35)

Henning and Steve Wilson.

Rachel Dratch (55:36)

Produced by A. Alexa Gabriel Ramirez EDITED BY Will Tendi. You know what they say. Early bird gets the ultimate vacation home.

Jennifer Jarrett (55:53)

Book early and save over $120 with

Rachel Dratch (55:57)

Robo, because early gets you closer to the action, whether it's waves lapping at the shore or snoozing in a hammock

Jennifer Jarrett (56:04)

that overlooks, well, whatever you want it to so you can all enjoy the

Rachel Dratch (56:09)

payoff come summer with VRBO's early booking deals. Rise and shine.

Jennifer Jarrett (56:14)

Average savings $141 select homes only.