Wanda Sykes: Ghost of the Jefferson Hotel

Summary

Podcast Summary: Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch

Episode: Wanda Sykes: Ghost of the Jefferson Hotel

Date: January 21, 2026
Host: Rachel Dratch
Co-host: Irene Bremis
Guest: Wanda Sykes

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Overview

In this laughter-filled episode of "Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch," comedian, actor, and writer Wanda Sykes joins Rachel Dratch and co-host Irene Bremis to share her personal ghost story from the historic Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. The conversation unpacks experiences with the paranormal, touches on creative processes and intuition, and delights in candid discussions about comedy, astrology, and manifesting twins. Despite the show’s playful skepticism, the episode brims with warmth, humor, and genuine insights about the unexplained and the creative mind.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Wanda’s Comedy Origin Story

• NSA to Stand-Up:
  • Wanda describes her early career working at the National Security Agency, feeling unfulfilled and sensing she was “just taking up space.”
    • “I just knew it was something else. It just wasn’t satisfying.” (03:41)
  • She entered a Coors Super Talent Showcase on a whim and found her passion performing comedy in D.C.
    • “Everything made sense to me. I’m like, this is my job. This is what I’m supposed to be doing.” (04:49)
  • Wanda’s big break came with the Chris Rock Show after she impressed Chris Rock as an opener and was hired to write on his show.
    • “That’s when I went to the director of the NSA and just asked for a leave of absence...And I never went back.” (05:24–05:47)

Ghost Stories & the Woo Woo Factor

• Wanda’s Experience at the Jefferson Hotel

  • Describes a ghostly encounter in her hotel room circa 2010:
    • She felt a presence and saw a robe-clad, old-fashioned figure in a chair. Despite the eerie scenario, Wanda didn’t feel threatened.
      • “I just felt like somebody was in the room. Like there’s something, somebody in the room...It just was there.” (10:05–10:33)
  • Wanda explains her sense that the figure was an ancestor—possibly a former slave—simply observing and “checking me out.”
    • “I acknowledge that you’re there...I got a feeling this is some ancestor stuff going on.” (11:10)
    • “Maybe they are just like, oh wow, this is nice to see this Black woman standing...watching TV, eating hot Cheetos...Look how far we’ve come, you know?” (11:36)
  • Wanda thanks the figure and jokingly suggests it “go scare some white people,” after which the presence fades.
    • “I said, you know, I don’t think you need to be here all night. And I said...I would probably go scare some white people. That’s what I would do.” (12:06)
    • She humorously regrets not showing the ghost Obama’s presidency on TV:
      • “You think this is something? Wait till you see who’s the president.” (13:10)

• Rachel’s Parallel Hotel Ghost Story

  • Rachel shares her own experience with recurring apparitions in a hotel room—a “vibe” of a closeted gay couple from the 1950s—describing how both she and Wanda had similar feelings of peaceful yet unusual “guests.”
    • “[They] weren’t scary, but also I was just like, guys, could you kind of, like, vacate?” (18:03)

• Wanda on Other Paranormal Encounters & Skepticism

  • Wanda supports the idea of “guests” on the earthly plane and references her au pair’s sighting of a ghostly man in a floral shirt at their home.
    • “She said she saw him a couple times...But he was nice, it wasn’t anything. I didn’t feel anything bad from it.” (20:15)

Psychic Readings and Intuition

• Wanda occasionally participates in card readings through her wife’s French friend’s mother, though language barriers make the experience lighthearted.
  • “She doesn’t speak English, so she—everything is in French. And then her daughter will, you know, translate for me.” (21:38)
  • When told, “Everything is good, everything’s fine,” Wanda jokes, “All good. Okay.” (22:06)

Creativity & The Dream State

• The trio discuss getting ideas in dreams or hypnagogic states, relating the phenomenon of losing perfectly funny jokes upon waking.
  • Wanda:
    • “I keep a notebook by the bed and...I actually open my eyes and look around. Okay. Yeah, we got this. Nothing. Gone, gone, gone.” (22:59–23:28)
• Wanda says her comedy writing is mostly inspired by lived experience—conversations, news, or car rides—instead of formal writing sessions.
  • “It just happens, you know. It could be a conversation with my kids...while I’m driving, you know. Yeah, just driving something will pop in.” (24:10)

Twins, Manifestation, and Motherhood

• Discussion about twins: Irene highlights that they’ve had multiple guests with twins and shares a dream she had predicting another guest’s pregnancy.
• Wanda explains the intentionality behind her children’s conception and her “limit” of two embryos, with signature dark humor:
  • “If we get three, you’re going to have to leave one. We take two home and tip with a baby...Or if we get three, maybe we’ll get lucky and one of them will eat one, you know, in the womb or something.” (26:19–27:34)

Astrology Segment: Pisces Energy

• Wanda and Rachel discover they are both Pisces, waxing poetic about Piscean intuition, sensitivity, and emotional absorbency.
  • “Pisces are supposed to be the most intuitive sign. Do you find that?” (31:29)
  • Wanda: “Yes. And we’re always in our heads...Like almost borderline, like, empaths...you just feel stuff sometimes.” (31:41–32:21)
  • Irene: “You both have big hearts, and you take on a lot of what’s going externally...that’s what makes you so gifted.” (31:46)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Wanda’s Ghost Joke:
  • “If I were you, I’d go scare some white people. That’s what I would do.” (12:06)
• On Comedy Beginnings:
  • “I went to the director of the NSA and just asked for A leave of absence...and I never went back.” (05:24–05:47)
• On Twins:
  • “If we get three, maybe we'll get lucky and one of them will eat one, you know, in the womb.” (27:30)
• Piscean Empathy:
  • “You just feel stuff sometimes. You guys got shut it down because...you could go into a depression, and it’s just like...” (32:21–32:35)
• Astral Agency:
  • Rachel: “I just think it’s interesting that you also got that same, like just a—almost like a vibe, like a psychic plug in...”
  • Wanda: “Yeah, that’s...” (18:03–19:07)

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Noteworthy Segments & Timestamps

• Wanda’s Comedy Origin Story & NSA Exit: 03:16–06:20
• Ghost of the Jefferson Hotel: 09:21–13:21
• Rachel Dratch’s Ghost Story: 18:03–19:36
• Spirit Visits, Psychic Experiences: 20:00–22:17
• Discussion of Creativity & Dream Inspiration: 22:27–24:36
• Twins, Motherhood, and Manifesting: 25:20–27:43
• Astrology & Pisces Insights: 29:16–32:21
• Pendulum Segment (“Will We Get a Dog?”): 35:28–36:13
• Wrap-up & Plugs for Wanda’s Work: 36:25–37:07

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Episode Highlights & Tone

The episode combines genuine curiosity about the spiritual and unknown with the unmistakable comedic chemistry between Rachel, Irene, and Wanda. Laughter and wit are ever-present, even as Wanda earnestly discusses intuition, gratitude to ancestors, and the unexpected depth that sometimes comes with the “woo woo.” Much is made of the parallel between creativity and sensitivity, and the conversation flows between personal anecdotes, improvised astrology readings, and the joy of longtime friendship.

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Recommendations & Plugs

• Wanda Sykes: New episodes of The Upshaws on Netflix (January release), and her live “Please and Thank You” tour dates returning soon (36:25–36:38).
• Rachel Dratch: Follow on Instagram @raedratch.
• Irene Bremis: Comedy special available on Amazon and Apple TV (“Sweetie”).
• Follow the podcast for more stories from the woo woo side of the funny world.

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This episode is perfect for comedy fans, the lightly “woo curious,” or anyone seeking a blend of heartfelt storytelling, sharp wit, and insight into the minds of stand-up legends.

Transcript

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[Rachel Dratch]

Welcome to Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch.

[Sponsor Voice (Various Ads)]

The podcast that explores the unexplained with humor and curiosity.

[Rachel Dratch]

Hello and welcome to Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch, here with my pal and co host, Irene Bremis. Hi, Irene.

[Irene Bremis]

Hello, sweetie.

[Rachel Dratch]

Well, Irene, we're very excited. Oh, my gosh, we love this lady. She's so funny. She's been making us laugh for years. Please welcome Wanda Sykes to the show. Hi, Wanda.

[Irene Bremis]

Hi, Wanda.

[Wanda Sykes]

Hi. How you doing? How's it going? What's happening?

[Rachel Dratch]

Good. We're just excited to talk to you and can't believe our good fortune that you agreed to be on our show. So thank you.

[Irene Bremis]

Thank you.

[Wanda Sykes]

Come on. Come on.

[Rachel Dratch]

We go way back.

[Progressive Insurance Sponsor]

Please.

[Rachel Dratch]

Kind of.

[Wanda Sykes]

We go way back.

[Rachel Dratch]

We've even been in a movie together. Dare I say that's right. Wait, were you in Hurricane Bianca 2?

[Wanda Sykes]

I think I was in 2.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay. 2.

[Wanda Sykes]

I think. I think I was in 2.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay.

[Odoo Sponsor]

The sequel.

[Rachel Dratch]

The sequel. Wanda and I were in Hurricane Bianca 2 together, and you know what? I've kind of blocked it out in terms of I can't remember. Did you play the prison warden and I was in prison? Is that what it was?

[Wanda Sykes]

I think so. Or was I in prison and you were the warden? I can't remember.

[Rachel Dratch]

I feel like you were the warden. I was in prison finishing a sentence because my character had had, like, underage dealings with a teen boy or something. I don't know. I should remember this, but it was. I think it was like we were in Newark shooting and it was like three in the morning or something. So I'm not gonna blame us for not remembering.

[Wanda Sykes]

It was crazy.

[Rachel Dratch]

Anyway, that's where we shared the screen, I think. Anyway, Irene And I are huge fans.

[Wanda Sykes]

And I think you came by the Chris Rock show set.

[Rachel Dratch]

Oh, gosh. I don't know. This is so bad. Like, when you can't remember. My brother wrote for Chris Rock show for a little bit, so maybe her brother was only. Anyway, whatever, here we are. Now, all we're trying to say is we go way back. I'm just curious how you started out in comedy, if you don't mind me bopping around subject matter.

[Wanda Sykes]

I. I was not happy with. It's not actually not happy. I wasn't. I wasn't happy in the job that I was. I was doing at the time. I was working for the National Security Agency, and. Yeah. Yeah.

[Rachel Dratch]

What did. What did you do for them?

[Wanda Sykes]

The whole top secret clearance shebang and all that? Yeah.

[Rachel Dratch]

Oh, my God.

[Apollo Sponsor]

Okay.

[Rachel Dratch]

And then what happens?

[Wanda Sykes]

I had. I had a pretty cool job. Wow. I was into it. But then I just got to a point of, is this going to be my life the next 20, 30 years? Because I saw the other government workers who've been there and made it a career, and great people, great people, and they do important work, but I just knew it was something else. It just wasn't satisfying. And I felt like I was just taking up space. Now I'm like, okay, let me get out of here. It's time for me to get out of here. And luckily, the director at the time, I went in and met with him, and I asked for a leave of absence because I wanted to, you know, pursue comedy. Oh. How I got into comedy, I. I heard on the radio they were doing a talent show. Coors, like, super Talent Showcase. And comedy was a category. And I said, you know what? I'm gonna write some jokes. And I went down, auditioned for this talent show, got on.

[Rachel Dratch]

Whoa.

[Wanda Sykes]

And then the night of the show, I, you know, performed. I mean, had a great set. I did win. Tony woods won.

[Irene Bremis]

Oh, I love Tony. I know him very much.

[Wanda Sykes]

I love Tony Woods. Love Woodsy. But everything made sense to me. I'm like, this is my job. This is what I'm supposed to be doing.

[Irene Bremis]

Yes.

[Wanda Sykes]

So I started, you know, bouncing around D.C. andy Evans, he was like my mentor. And he was showing me around to different clubs because I'd never been on stage before. Never been on a comedy club. Know anything. Yeah. So after doing it several times, I was like this. I love doing this. So once I got up to where I could be a feature act. The middle act.

[Rachel Dratch]

Huh?

[Wanda Sykes]

That's when I went to the director of the NSA and just asked for A leave of absence? Yeah, yeah. And he was like, you know what? I'll give you a year. And. And if, you know, you can always come back. But in a year, you gotta make a decision. Yeah.

[Sponsor Voice (Various Ads)]

Wow.

[Wanda Sykes]

So I gotta keep my health insurance and all that stuff.

[Rachel Dratch]

Oh, that's nice.

[Wanda Sykes]

So that's why. That's why I asked for leave of absence. Yeah. And I never went back.

[Rachel Dratch]

And then what was like your big, I don't know, big break, if you will, or was it just gradual?

[Wanda Sykes]

I would say the Chris Rock show. Yeah. I opened for Chris when he was working out, bring the pain out for him at Caroline's, and he remembered me. He's like, man, you funny, man. I gotta say, you're real funny. I'm like, thanks. You know? So then when he got his show, the Chris Rock Show, I got a call to submit some writing samples.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay.

[Wanda Sykes]

And I got. Yeah, I got on the show from there.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay.

[Irene Bremis]

Wow, you. You are so funny. You know, you. You're just a funny human being. This is your calling. Like, you can open up your mouth. It's your voice, it's your presence. You're hilarious. Did you make everybody laugh? Of course. But did you just crack everybody up at work? This is what I'm thinking. Like, you were just hilarious with the government workers.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, I did that in like in school, actually. Reading my high school yearbook is what kind of encouraged me to try. Stand up. Everyone just signed it, you know. You're so funny. Thanks for making class fun. Even the teachers, you know, you need to be on stage, blah, blah, blah. So.

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[Rachel Dratch]

Woo Woo here.

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[Rachel Dratch]

As you may know, we talk about woo woo things and I don't know, I don't know how woo woo you are as a person. Are you very woo woo or what's your scoop on that woo?

[Wanda Sykes]

To an extent.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay, okay.

[Wanda Sykes]

I believe there's this stuff out there and you know, things happen. I do believe that. But I'm not, I'm not sitting around, you know, with a Ouija board or.

[Rachel Dratch]

Anything and crystals surrounding you and all that.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

[Rachel Dratch]

Right. Okay. Have you had any? Just for starters, because I didn't really ask any like big woo woo experiences in your life.

[Wanda Sykes]

I did, I did. This was in Richmond, Virginia. I was touring and this was probably in maybe it was in maybe like 2010 or something like that. Not sure Obama was in office. I know that.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay.

[Wanda Sykes]

And I'll tell you why I know that. But I was staying at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia and it's this old, you know, historical hotel and they had me up in, you know, one of their large rooms I guess. So just back from, you know, during the show, of course, you know, without dinner, a few drinks, whatever. So now it's time to go night night. So I get bed and you know, turn a little TV on and I just felt like somebody was in the room. Like there's something, somebody in the room. And then I looked over in the corner and in this chair, I mean I couldn't make out a face and all, but it just was like, it was clothes, but it was a figure that was wearing like just like drape, like a like robish drape.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay.

[Wanda Sykes]

Old timey stuff. Right. And I was looking at and I was like, okay. I was like, well, I've had a couple of drinks so let me just not look and then look back. And I looked back, I was like, oh, okay. It's still sitting There, and the TV was on, you know, So I was like, well, it's just sitting there and I. And I didn't get scared. I didn't feel like I was in harm or danger. It just was there. And so I said, okay, I acknowledge that you're there, and I don't know why you're here, but I got a feeling this is some ancestor stuff going on right now. And it just sat there because I felt like it was probably someone, you know, a slave or who had maybe worked in that. In a hotel or seen some stuff or whatever. I don't know. But it just felt like it was someone who was a. Who was a slave and was just checking me out, you know.

[Rachel Dratch]

Huh.

[Wanda Sykes]

And I thought, oh, maybe they are just like, oh, wow, this is nice to see this black woman standing like their version of like the, you know, like in a suite, just chilling, watching tv, eating hot Cheetos, you know, while in bed. I mean, I thought, you know, like, like, well, look at you. Look, look how far we've come, you know?

[Rachel Dratch]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

And, you know, and I thanked it. I said, look, I want to say thank you for everything that you and all of you did. And as you see, we're, you know, we're doing okay, so thank you. This is, you know, this is your legacy. And then it just kind of, like sat there a little more, and I was starting to feel warm. I'm like, oh, okay, so this, this must be a good thing. They're enjoying this. And I said, you know, I don't think you need to be here all night. And I said, you know, if I were you, I would probably go scare some white people. That's what I would do. I mean, if I had disability, that's. That's what I would do. I, Man, I would, I would. I would turn this place upside down. That's what I would do. And, yeah, then it kind of just chilled, just. And then just kind of. It kind of left. Yeah, it just kind of left. But I remember it was Obama because I said to myself, damn, I should have turned the TV to the news and said, wait a minute. You think this is something? Wait till you see who's the president. You got to see this.

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[Rachel Dratch]

Oh, my gosh. I love that.

[Irene Bremis]

I love that.

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[Rachel Dratch]

Okay, I only had one ghost experience. I was in a hotel too and my, my ghosties were also in the corner of the room. And this is so whatever. Like when you said like I just got this feeling that they were a slave. Like I saw these two guys and they were in like 1950s sort of like John Waters type colored suits and I just got this feeling and every time I say this I sound crazy but I, I just got this feeling that they were a gay couple on the down low like these two dudes and it was just this, like, vibe I got. And just like, what you said, like, they weren't scary, but also I was just like, guys, could you kind of, like, vacate? They would come, like, they came like four or five times. I was in this hotel for a month and they were always in the same spot in the room. I don't know. It's sort of similar. By the way, Wanda, I know you don't know me all that well, but I'm really not like, as woo woo as I sound, even though I have this podcast. So I'm not this person that's like, oh, yeah, everyone sees ghosts. And so I just think it's interesting that you also got that same, like just a. Almost like a vibe, like a psychic plug in of like, oh, this is.

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Who that person is.

[Wanda Sykes]

Like, yeah, that's.

[Irene Bremis]

It's almost like the vibe that they're putting out there too. You know, like they're. They're like the ghosts were giving you the peaceful vibes. They were, you know, transmitting that.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right. And how did you feel the next. Like the next morning? Because I know I woke up and I was like, did I. Was that dreaming that I was like, no, I had all the feels.

[Rachel Dratch]

Did you do that thing where you blinked your eyes really hard thinking it's gonna not be there, but then it's still there? Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes, yeah.

[Rachel Dratch]

Yes, I know. Well, because mine happened a few times. Then I was just like, okay, it's on. This is real. Because this keeps happening. And it's never happened to me before or since my whole life. It was just one little. I don't know if it's happened. Okay, same. So did that make you kind of, like, believe in this kind of stuff or did it change your viewpoint or. I don't know.

[Wanda Sykes]

Like, I've had friends tell me stories about, you know, like, loved ones coming to visit them. So I, Yeah, I kind of. Yeah, I believe it. I believe that, you know, we get guests sometimes.

[Rachel Dratch]

I get guests, yes.

[Wanda Sykes]

Actually, I. I kind of put it aside. But I know one of our au pairs said that she saw something in our house. She said, yes, I saw this guy in a floral shirt on, and he was going up the stairs and I thought, like, we gotta get a new au pair. I don't like where this is going, you know, but she said, oh, but he was nice. It wasn't anything. I didn't feel anything, you know, bad from it. I think it's just somebody just, you know, was passing through or whatever. But she said she saw him a Couple times.

[Rachel Dratch]

Now back to woo woo stuff. Have you ever gotten like a reading or anything like that? Or psychic experience or anything of that type?

[Wanda Sykes]

Well, a friend of ours, good friend, one of Alex's Frenchie friends, her mother does card readings. So every now and then she'll, you know, break out the cards and. And she was like, come on, let. Let kidnap read. You let kidnap reach. I'm like, all right.

[Irene Bremis]

Like tarot. I'm sorry. Tarot cards are like a deck of cards.

[Wanda Sykes]

I'm sorry, you know what, what does she use? I think sometimes I've seen her do regular cards. I think tarot also, but I think I've seen. I've seen her do regular cards too.

[Sponsor Voice (Various Ads)]

Huh.

[Wanda Sykes]

Okay. Yeah, but the thing is, she doesn't speak English, so she. Everything is in French. And then her daughter will, you know, translate for me. So sometimes I go, did she really say that? You know, really? Because she'll flip over a card and go and go, you know, and then she'll say something and then her daughter kind of like over will like, look at her, look at me and say.

[Rachel Dratch]

Everything is good, everything's fine.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, man. Okay. All right. I said nobody goes, ooh. And they go, oh, no. So all good. Okay.

[Rachel Dratch]

So no predictions from that really have, like, come to pass or whatever? Okay. Okay. Irene, do you have any, like, questions or subject matter or anything?

[Irene Bremis]

Well, you know, on the show we often talk about, like, especially because of your, like, with, with stand up and stuff. We talk about, like, dreaming, writing. Like sometimes when I'm sleeping, I get inspired by certain thoughts. Yeah. Has that ever happened? It seems like it has.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes. Yes. But do you remember the next morning?

[Irene Bremis]

Well, I try to wake up and write it down right away sometimes. I'm not gonna lie. A pile of horseshit is what it is. Sometimes, sweetie, I'm not gonna lie, but sometimes I'm like, this shit. I'm gonna try it on stage, okay?

[Wanda Sykes]

I, you know, I keep a notebook by the bed and it's like something will hit me in my sleep. And I go, oh, wow, that's it. That's the answer. And I go, write that down. Write that down. I'm like, no, it's too good. I'm totally going to remember that, right? That day. I remember that. Yeah, I got this. And I even. I actually open my eyes and look around. Okay. Yeah, we got this, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, we got this. Nothing. Gone, gone, gone. The next morning.

[Irene Bremis]

Yeah, mine too. That's it. You gotta write it down or you forget it.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. And I And some. But sometimes I get up and I write it down and I look at it like you said, look at it next morning. Like, this is dumb. This doesn't even make any sense. Hell, how is this even funny? Was this, maybe this was the punchline and I, and I don't know what it goes to, you know.

[Rachel Dratch]

Well, actually picking up on that in terms of how you come up with ideas, is it like just sort of bolt from the blue for your, for your stand up and stuff or do you actually sit down and you know, I don't know, have you like a writing session? Or is it more like, oh, I'm on the subway and I just had this idea, I'm gonna write that. Like how's, what is your process?

[Wanda Sykes]

Like it just happens, you know, it could be a conversation with my kids. It could be just a lot of stuff while I'm driving, you know. Yeah, just driving it. Something will pop in and I'll go, okay. And I'll, you know, make a note of it, you know, watching the news, reading articles, things like that.

[Rachel Dratch]

Yeah, yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

But to sit down and write, you have a writing session.

[Rachel Dratch]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

So hard and it, and it feels so forced, right?

[Rachel Dratch]

Yeah, yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, you know what, I don't have any material about. Let's see how smart. What's another word for. You're like, what am I doing?

[Rachel Dratch]

Yeah. Now that's what I find too. Irene, you, I think you're the same but like, yeah, you have to just like get hit by the muses sort of. Rather than gnash your teeth over it. Yeah.

[Irene Bremis]

When I'm driving is a big one for me, but for Rachel it's in the shower. Right sweetie, you're always coming up with.

[Rachel Dratch]

Like extraordinary or like first thing in the morning when you wake up.

[Irene Bremis]

Uh huh.

[Rachel Dratch]

Now this, don't get the impression this happens regularly because it's kind of few and far between for me. But I don't know, some people are fount of material. But Irene, what else? Horoscope material or what?

[Irene Bremis]

I'll do horoscope material. But first our producer actually, because we had Michelle on.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh yeah.

[Irene Bremis]

And she had twins and you have twins and our producer is pregnant with twins. So I thought that was kind of like, that was like a whole woo woo thing. Just, you know, twins coming in the. It's twins day. But also I know I was with Michelle the whole time leading up to, you know, her twins and really wanting them. And I feel like we didn't talk about this when we had her on the show, but There were times that she was kind of like, manifesting them. And I never brought this up, Rachel, but I had a dream. Even when she lost hope, I did have a dream that she had a baby. And I remember it wasn't twins, it was just one. But I said, michelle, I had a dream that you had a baby, and it was the cutest thing I ever saw in my life. And then, like, maybe like a few months later, she found out that she was gonna have twins. Did you ever have, like, this, like, moment where, like, either you or your wife or, like, something's a coming, you.

[Wanda Sykes]

Know what I mean? Well, I mean, this was very, you know, planned, but it, you know, it worked out though, you know? Yeah. Because there, there were. I think she had three viable eggs. And. And we were like. She was like, I'm gonna just put three back. I was like, no, no, no, no, two. I said, two tops. And even her doctor was like, yeah, two. And I said. And she's like, well, what if, you know, I said, look, put two back. If we get two, we can. We. We can handle it. I said, if we put two back and get one still a blessing. We. We got a bake. Three. I say, and if all three pop, we got a problem. I don't. It's gonna be a problem, you know, Three. No, I can't. We're not gonna do triplets. We can't. There's no way that that can happen. I said, if we get three, you're gonna have to leave one. We take two home and tip with a baby. You guys can keep this one. Or if we get three, maybe we'll get lucky and one of them will eat one, you know, in the womb or something. I don't know, but.

[Rachel Dratch]

Oh, man.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, that's awful. Wanda.

[Rachel Dratch]

Oh, Wanda.

[Wanda Sykes]

That foreign.

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[Irene Bremis]

All right. We were talking about a little astrology, because we always do this. We try our hand. Rachel, you want to give it a stab?

[Rachel Dratch]

I don't know anything about. Do you know. Do you believe in astrology? Like, do you follow it at all?

[Wanda Sykes]

I'm pretty much on point with my. My. My side.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay. Irene knows way more about signs than I do. I don't even. I don't even have a guess. Irene, what is. What is your guess?

[Irene Bremis]

Well, I wouldn't call you a professional. I call myself a professional.

[Wanda Sykes]

Okay.

[Irene Bremis]

But let me ask. What sign is your wife? I like to ask about that, too. Your partner.

[Wanda Sykes]

We say Pisces, but they change the dates around, right?

[Rachel Dratch]

Oh, wait. You know what? I just remembered Wanda.

[Wanda Sykes]

She's February.

[Rachel Dratch]

Wait, Now I'm remembering. I. I did look up when your birthday is, so I know. I know what your sign is. I just remembered this. So I'm gonna abstain from my guess. So, Irene, you are. You have to guess.

[Wanda Sykes]

Really? I'm just gonna check to see what the. What her sign is to make sure. Okay, so she's a Pisces. She's a Pisces.

[Irene Bremis]

She's a Pisces.

[Wanda Sykes]

Wow.

[Irene Bremis]

Okay, I'm gonna guess, like, I don't know. You're very Sagittarius.

[Rachel Dratch]

No, no. Now I know this, too.

[Irene Bremis]

Gemini.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, God, no.

[Irene Bremis]

Oh, God, no. And we know some Geminis. Sister, let's not even.

[Wanda Sykes]

They are away from the Geminis.

[Irene Bremis]

The female or the male? Oh, Gemini. Male. We already know. Males are the worst. We already know that.

[Rachel Dratch]

Really?

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, I don't. But the females. No, never. I've seen some things.

[Rachel Dratch]

Oh, no.

[Irene Bremis]

Because I've seen some things, too. With the female.

[Rachel Dratch]

You live through that. Wait, what's, like, the Thing about a.

[Sponsor Voice (Various Ads)]

Female Gemini, they just take over.

[Irene Bremis]

They're very controlling. You know, this is a Gemini. Trump. Trump is a Gemini. They're on a show.

[Rachel Dratch]

I told you.

[Wanda Sykes]

Can turn on a dime.

[Irene Bremis]

You're not a Gemini. I take that back. You are everything but a fucking Gemini. All right, I want to clean the record right now.

[Wanda Sykes]

Not playing around.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay. So what do you think she is? This is your third guess, Irene.

[Irene Bremis]

I would say Pisces then, because you remind me a little of Rachel.

[Wanda Sykes]

There you go, Wanda.

[Rachel Dratch]

I'm a Pisces, too.

[Wanda Sykes]

Of course you are. Oh, my God, you're awesome. You're amazing.

[Rachel Dratch]

I just remembered when I looked up and we're fellow Pisces.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes.

[Rachel Dratch]

Well, Irene and I love each other. She's a SAG and I'm Pisces, So clearly she loves you, too, because you're a Pisces. Now, Pisces are supposed to be the most intuitive sign. Do you find that? You're very intuitive.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes. And we're always in our heads.

[Rachel Dratch]

Yes.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right?

[Rachel Dratch]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes.

[Irene Bremis]

Oh, another thing about Pisces, and you both have this. I'm sure, Wanda, or else your comedy wouldn't be as fucking awesome as it is. You both have big hearts, and you take on a lot of what's going externally. You really take that in, like, the political climate, what's going on socially. All these things are absorbed on a high visceral level with the both of you. And that's what makes you talented, and that's what makes you so gifted. You're both bringing that to the art.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes.

[Irene Bremis]

You're welcome, sweetie.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes, you are.

[Rachel Dratch]

Thank you. That's true. We're very sensitive souls. Right?

[Wanda Sykes]

Very.

[Rachel Dratch]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

Like almost borderline, like.

[Rachel Dratch]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

Empaths. Yeah. You know, just, like. You just feel stuff sometimes. You guys got shut it down because. Yes. Because if you don't, you. You could go into a depression, and it's just like. So. Yeah.

[Rachel Dratch]

Or like, if you read a news story, this might happen to everyone. If you. Then you, like, put yourself in the position of, like, all the people, and you, like, start to feel what the. And then you're just like, oh, my God, I gotta back this up. But maybe that's everybody, not just Pisces. Especially right now. I don't know.

[Irene Bremis]

I think it's Pisces also. There's a lot of crying in that relationship of yours, sweetie. A lot of hugging, spooning, and crying.

[Sponsor Voice (Various Ads)]

Right.

[Irene Bremis]

Because let's be honest.

[Rachel Dratch]

Oh, wait, two Pisces.

[Irene Bremis]

That's a lot of Kleenex, sweetie.

[Rachel Dratch]

Ah, you know what?

[Wanda Sykes]

She is on the border of. She's, like, right at that date. Oh, see? So. So it's not.

[Irene Bremis]

That's right.

[Wanda Sykes]

I'm in the middle. I'm. I'm like, okay, Pisces, I'm in the middle.

[Rachel Dratch]

Which end?

[Wanda Sykes]

She's day one.

[Rachel Dratch]

Day one. Okay.

[Wanda Sykes]

February 19th. February 19th is the star of Pisces. So she's. What's. What's. What's February?

[Rachel Dratch]

Aquarius is right before that.

[Wanda Sykes]

Okay.

[Rachel Dratch]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

So.

[Rachel Dratch]

Yeah, well, I'm real.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, I'm. I'm hardcore Pisces.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay.

[Wanda Sykes]

She has a toe in it.

[Rachel Dratch]

Yeah. All right, well, I don't really have any other, like, question anything or do you, Irene? But I did think of one funny thing, though, is Wanda, last time I saw you was very, very hilarious. And I have to show you. Okay, so I was on Fire island to see Anna Gastire, but I got to show you this picture. Did I already send this to you? Wanda? I just need to show you this because it's so funny. I love Fire Island. I was on Fire island, and to see my pal on a gas dire sing. And my friends and I, we ferried over to Fire island, and then we were going to catch the ferry back, all within four hours. It was a total adventure. But then who do I see on the ferry dock but Wanda? And, Wanda, you gave me the best greeting ever of anybody. And then you were like, I gotta show you my house. And then you grab me, and then I was like, I really want to go, but I have to catch this ferry anyway. It was so. But look, I got to show you this.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, my gosh. That is. I am. I am attacking you.

[Rachel Dratch]

But it's so funny. Look at that. I love that picture.

[Wanda Sykes]

Anyway, you gotta send me.

[Rachel Dratch]

Do you ever perform there on Fire island, or do you just, like. That's just for, like.

[Wanda Sykes]

I posted some, like, charity events.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay.

[Progressive Insurance Sponsor]

Okay.

[Wanda Sykes]

We do a breast cancer awareness. We raise money for breast cancer.

[Irene Bremis]

Right?

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. Every year. And I've hosted that a couple. Okay. Three or years or whatever. Usually with the drag queen.

[Rachel Dratch]

Oh, fun.

[Wanda Sykes]

I love it.

[Rachel Dratch]

It was so fun being out there.

[Irene Bremis]

So gotta be with the drag queen, sweetie.

[Rachel Dratch]

Next time I go, wanda, I'm taking you up on your. Your hangout offer, and I'm not taking the ferry back and hang out. I know. Irene and I will go and hang.

[Irene Bremis]

We'll hang and we'll have a few drinks.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes.

[Sponsor Voice (Various Ads)]

Yeah.

[Rachel Dratch]

So, Wanda, did you know that we do this pendulum reading? So Irene is versed in the pendulum where it swings one way for yes and one way for no. And so Irene has a very good track record on this. And then I've started doing it too. But anyway, so you think of a yes or no question. We always tell people, don't ask something that's gonna make you really sad if it's not the answer you want. But don't tell us what it is until we swing it and then you'll tell us.

[Wanda Sykes]

Okay. All right.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay.

[Irene Bremis]

I'm getting a yes.

[Rachel Dratch]

I'm getting a yes. So, Wanda.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes. I'm not getting yes.

[Rachel Dratch]

What was your question?

[Wanda Sykes]

Will we get a dog this summer?

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay. Yes. So yes. The answer is yes. Okay, so there you go. This summer. That's kind of a ways away, though. Is it? Because, like, that's when the best time is. This summer.

[Wanda Sykes]

Well, next time. Yeah.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay. Okay.

[Sponsor Voice (Various Ads)]

Okay.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay. There you go. And, Wanda, do you have anything, like, you want to plug or whatever? Like, any upcoming things people should be looking out for and all that?

[Wanda Sykes]

New episodes of the Upshaws on Netflix.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay.

[Wanda Sykes]

That'll be out in January.

[Rachel Dratch]

Okay. And are you performing live anywhere in the near future? Is that something sort of like only for Netflix Big shows.

[Wanda Sykes]

I just did my last show for this for the year, but in January, I will be back out with the please and thank you tour. Oh, awesome. More dates. More dates in January.

[Rachel Dratch]

Irene, we have so many people to go see.

[Irene Bremis]

We have a lot of things.

[Rachel Dratch]

We have a lot of people to go see because we like to see everybody's things when they come on the show.

[Irene Bremis]

So it's amazing.

[Rachel Dratch]

Well, definitely check it out.

[Irene Bremis]

We will be there, sweetie.

[Rachel Dratch]

And I'm going to see you on Fire island somehow.

[Wanda Sykes]

And I'll have my new dog. Oh, my God.

[Irene Bremis]

Oh, that's right. And you'll have your new dog.

[Wanda Sykes]

That's it.

[Rachel Dratch]

All right. Well, Wanda, thank you so much for joining us. It's always a pleasure to see you. And thanks for taking the tune.

[Wanda Sykes]

Okay, thanks for having me. Had a blast.

[Irene Bremis]

Bye.

[Rachel Dratch]

And you can find me on Instagram. Instagram at Ray Dratch. R A e Dratch. And Irene at irenebremis. B R E M I S. And also, don't forget to check out Irene's comedy special on Amazon. And where else?

[Irene Bremis]

I mean, Apple tv.

[Rachel Dratch]

Apple TV and Sweetie. Oh, and it's called sweetie. Of course, sweetie. So check that out. Thanks for joining me on this journey into the world of woo. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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Woo.

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Woo.

[Rachel Dratch]

With Rachel Dratch. Is a Q Code production executive.

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Produced by David Henning and Steve Wilson Produced by Alexa Gabriel Ramirez Edited by Will Tendi.

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