Podcast Summary

You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes
Episode: Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Re-Release)
Release Date: August 13, 2025
Guest: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Host: Pete Holmes
Theme: Celebrating the secret weirdness behind comedic icons, the episode dives into wisdom, aging, comedy, spirituality, and the art of living well—with warmth, insight, and a healthy dose of silliness.

Overview

In this special re-release episode, Pete Holmes reconnects with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, legendary comedian and actor, for an open, playful, and deeply human conversation. They explore Julia's new podcast focusing on wisdom from older women, her approach to work, comedy, fame, the meaning of aging, spiritual curiosity, and how laughter and presence can shepherd us through the weirdness of life. Their chemistry results in both hilarious banter and rich insights.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming Julia—The Studio, Vibes, and Podcast Life

Pete expresses gratitude and disbelief at having Julia as a guest again, noting studio changes and creating a casual, fun mood.
Julia jokes about being the first to see the "redo" of the studio (02:43).
Julia talks about the joy—and surprising amount of work—in hosting her own podcast, Wiser Than Me:

"It's a lot of work. ... I'm talking to some really, like, intelligent, intellectual, accomplished women." (03:50)
The podcast uniquely features conversations with women 70+, and Julia stresses the importance of reframing how society views older women:

"I really do believe that older women are a natural resource. Untapped. Very untapped." (05:49)

2. Wisdom, Aging, and Shifting Cultural Narratives

Julia is inspired by Jane Fonda's life and the concept of "five acts," wanting to spotlight the overlooked wisdom of older women (06:51).
Pete and Julia critique society’s youth obsession and the waste of elder wisdom, discussing menopause, productivity, and consumption as gendered expectations (08:16).
Julia reframes aging as potentially mind-expanding—less about what we lose, more about what we gain (07:43):

"I think it's terribly interesting to consider... maybe thinking about [aging] as a mind expanding experience as opposed to what we lose as we age." (07:43)

3. Work, Flow, and Identity

Julia reflects on being in a busy, creative season—podcast, new movie, interviews—but expresses real gratitude for it all:

"This is all good fortune. ... But there. These are good times." (11:26)
Pete and Julia bond over the weird inertia when suddenly there's nothing scheduled—a modern existential dilemma (13:16).
The comforts of home: Julia confesses her love for getting into bed early, watching Jeopardy, savoring coziness (14:50).

4. Fame, Privacy, and Living with Icon Status

Pete asks Julia what it feels like to be such a public icon, recognized by all generations, often approached in everyday life:

"I'm used to it. And I try to live as normal life as possible. ...It's fantastic. It's great. It's like, who would have thought?" (18:17)
The familiarity of TV: She’s often approached with a familial energy—people want to hug her, sometimes literally pick her up!
They reminisce about the warmth of Mr. Rogers, with Julia moved to tears by old clips (20:51).

5. Parenting, Wonder, and Seeing the World Anew

Both share anecdotes about their children and the delight—and sometimes terror—of seeing the world through their fresh eyes (24:43).
Julia remembers her son crying in the car wash, a perfect example of how kids experience the ordinary as the extraordinary (24:43).

6. Relationships, Marriage, and Domestic Dynamics

Julia illustrates the strengths and quirks of her marriage, including her husband’s noted forgetfulness, or "object impermanence" (29:38).
Both discuss the joys of long-term partnerships and how these bonds allow them to feel more themselves (32:46):

"I like to be with him, you know, I like to be with him. It's nice." (32:46)

7. The Performer’s Psyche and The Nature of Comedy

Julia is drawn to the "pretend" of acting, finding comfort and centering in diving deeply into characters—a "savior" for her as a child (34:17).
She and Pete discuss the “bubble” of performance, where all other worries fall away, and compare the experience of improvisation, acting, and standup as controlled, immersive environments (35:09).
Julia admits to nerves and the risk-taking required to do comedy—"All I was ever doing was trying weird, bizarre things with the hope, of course, that they would land." (43:58)

8. Early Career: SNL, Comedy Roots, and Seinfeld

Julia recollects joining SNL at 21, recalling self-produced basement plays and comedic "troupes" of her youth (47:44).
Discusses her journey through Second City touring company and her husband’s Practical Theater Company, preferring true ensemble work over competitiveness (54:12).
Seinfeld origins: Details her “non-audition” for Elaine, chemistry with Jerry, and the casual (“sidewalk offer”) vibe before the show’s success (60:44).
On Seinfeld’s success:

"I had both of my children during this time, so my focus was majorly split... I had a foot in both worlds very firmly planted." (66:09)

9. Spirituality, Awe, and The Mystery of Existence

Pete asks about Julia’s spiritual life:

“I am in awe of the mystery of it all.” (73:38)
Discussing existential humility, the enormity of the universe, and the feeling of awe when confronted with concepts like the Hubble telescope (75:09).
Julia describes herself as spiritual in relation to nature and the unknown, not tied to a specific belief:

"The mystery is the God." (73:38)
They both share a deep appreciation for meditation (Transcendental Meditation in particular) and "forest bathing" as meditative practices (80:25, 81:39).

10. Resilience, Cancer Survival, and Gratitude

Julia candidly discusses surviving cancer:

"I had cancer, so. And I survived it" (85:33). "It was a bear and a half." (86:02)
She describes focusing on recovery, accepting support from loved ones, and the joy of returning to work:

"Talk about getting back to work was just about the most joyful thing ever after that experience." (90:12)

11. Laughter as Salvation and Life Lessons

On laughter as a coping and transcendent force:

“It's the only way out.” (88:28)
Speed round:
- Motherhood: "Please relax. It's going to be fine." (96:22)
- Show Business: "Trust your instincts." (97:03)
- Acting: "Listen. ...A lot of actors make that mistake." (97:19)
- Facing the Unknown: "At least I can still breathe." (98:39)

12. Memorable Quotes & Moments

On the untapped resource of older women:

Julia: "I would like very much to change that narrative. ...Older women are a natural resource. Untapped. Very untapped." (05:49)

On the overwhelming weirdness of life:

Pete: "We have a lot of old children now. We actually don't have a lot of elders because they weren't indoctrinated into that system." (09:01)

On the comfort of performance:

Julia: "The pretend. Pretending to be a character and really getting ...down and dirty with it ...is good for my psyche and maybe because ...it was almost in a weird way, centering." (34:17)

On facing illness:

Julia: "I was very much just on getting. Getting through one day after another because I really was quite ill, and so I was not ... I was just laser focused on getting better." (87:42)

On living with mystery:

Julia: "I would say that I'm a believer in the mystery of all of this, but I don't have a God per se that I pray to. The mystery is the God, the mystery of. Yes. I am in awe of the mystery of it all." (73:18)

On comedy and acting technique:

Julia: "Listen. ...A lot of actors make that mistake." (97:20)

On laughter as the ultimate escape:

Julia: "It's the only way out." (88:28)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Topic / Quote | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 02:43 | Studio "redo" and Julia’s candid humor | | 05:49 | "Older women are a natural resource. Untapped." | | 07:43 | Rethinking aging as mind-expanding | | 13:16 | Navigating sudden free time, existential home wandering | | 18:17 | On daily fame and adjusting to being an icon | | 24:43 | Parenting: son cries at car wash, childhood wonder | | 29:38 | Husband’s "object impermanence" & marriage dynamics | | 34:17 | Acting as pretension, centering her psyche | | 43:58 | Risks in comedy: "All I was ever doing was trying weird, bizarre things..." | | 54:12 | Ensemble work vs. competitive theatre | | 60:44 | The casual "sidewalk offer" for Seinfeld | | 73:38 | On God and the mystery: "I am in awe of the mystery of it all." | | 85:33 | "I had cancer, so. And I survived it"—Talking about cancer | | 88:28 | "It's the only way out."—On laughter in the hospital | | 96:22 | Motherhood advice: "Please relax. It's going to be fine." | | 97:20 | Acting tip: "Listen. ...A lot of actors make that mistake." | | 98:39 | Anxiety calming mantra: "At least I can still breathe." |

Notable (and Funny) Exchanges

On SNL Youth:
Julia jokes she may have been the youngest female cast member after, “the guy who was dating all those girls… Pete Davidson.” (45:25)
On Husband’s Forgetfulness:
Julia: “It's called object impermanence... it's very hard for them to keep hold of things…” (29:38)
On Meditation:
Pete: "Are you a meditator?"
Julia: "Yeah…. It's hard for me to remember to do it." (80:22)
On Laughter and Being Forbidden:
Julia’s lifelong hardest laugh: singing a “stupid” song in seventh-grade glee club and being forbidden to laugh—“That's all you need to be forbidden is unbelievable.” (102:07)

Final Thoughts

The episode is an exemplar of Pete Holmes’ podcasting style: earnest curiosity, openhearted humor, and a willingness to “make it weird” to uncover what’s truly meaningful in his guest’s life. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, openly philosophical, forthright about her vulnerabilities, and very, very funny, delights at every turn—from wisdom and wonder to healthy skepticism about fame and a devotion to enjoying the present.

Keep it crispy, indeed. (103:58)

Podcast Summary

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming Julia—The Studio, Vibes, and Podcast Life

Pete expresses gratitude and disbelief at having Julia as a guest again, noting studio changes and creating a casual, fun mood.
Julia jokes about being the first to see the "redo" of the studio (02:43).
Julia talks about the joy—and surprising amount of work—in hosting her own podcast, Wiser Than Me:

"It's a lot of work. ... I'm talking to some really, like, intelligent, intellectual, accomplished women." (03:50)
The podcast uniquely features conversations with women 70+, and Julia stresses the importance of reframing how society views older women:

"I really do believe that older women are a natural resource. Untapped. Very untapped." (05:49)

2. Wisdom, Aging, and Shifting Cultural Narratives

Julia is inspired by Jane Fonda's life and the concept of "five acts," wanting to spotlight the overlooked wisdom of older women (06:51).
Pete and Julia critique society’s youth obsession and the waste of elder wisdom, discussing menopause, productivity, and consumption as gendered expectations (08:16).
Julia reframes aging as potentially mind-expanding—less about what we lose, more about what we gain (07:43):

"I think it's terribly interesting to consider... maybe thinking about [aging] as a mind expanding experience as opposed to what we lose as we age." (07:43)

3. Work, Flow, and Identity

Julia reflects on being in a busy, creative season—podcast, new movie, interviews—but expresses real gratitude for it all:

"This is all good fortune. ... But there. These are good times." (11:26)
Pete and Julia bond over the weird inertia when suddenly there's nothing scheduled—a modern existential dilemma (13:16).
The comforts of home: Julia confesses her love for getting into bed early, watching Jeopardy, savoring coziness (14:50).

4. Fame, Privacy, and Living with Icon Status

Pete asks Julia what it feels like to be such a public icon, recognized by all generations, often approached in everyday life:

"I'm used to it. And I try to live as normal life as possible. ...It's fantastic. It's great. It's like, who would have thought?" (18:17)
The familiarity of TV: She’s often approached with a familial energy—people want to hug her, sometimes literally pick her up!
They reminisce about the warmth of Mr. Rogers, with Julia moved to tears by old clips (20:51).

5. Parenting, Wonder, and Seeing the World Anew

Both share anecdotes about their children and the delight—and sometimes terror—of seeing the world through their fresh eyes (24:43).
Julia remembers her son crying in the car wash, a perfect example of how kids experience the ordinary as the extraordinary (24:43).

6. Relationships, Marriage, and Domestic Dynamics

Julia illustrates the strengths and quirks of her marriage, including her husband’s noted forgetfulness, or "object impermanence" (29:38).
Both discuss the joys of long-term partnerships and how these bonds allow them to feel more themselves (32:46):

"I like to be with him, you know, I like to be with him. It's nice." (32:46)

7. The Performer’s Psyche and The Nature of Comedy

Julia is drawn to the "pretend" of acting, finding comfort and centering in diving deeply into characters—a "savior" for her as a child (34:17).
She and Pete discuss the “bubble” of performance, where all other worries fall away, and compare the experience of improvisation, acting, and standup as controlled, immersive environments (35:09).
Julia admits to nerves and the risk-taking required to do comedy—"All I was ever doing was trying weird, bizarre things with the hope, of course, that they would land." (43:58)

8. Early Career: SNL, Comedy Roots, and Seinfeld

Julia recollects joining SNL at 21, recalling self-produced basement plays and comedic "troupes" of her youth (47:44).
Discusses her journey through Second City touring company and her husband’s Practical Theater Company, preferring true ensemble work over competitiveness (54:12).
Seinfeld origins: Details her “non-audition” for Elaine, chemistry with Jerry, and the casual (“sidewalk offer”) vibe before the show’s success (60:44).
On Seinfeld’s success:

"I had both of my children during this time, so my focus was majorly split... I had a foot in both worlds very firmly planted." (66:09)

9. Spirituality, Awe, and The Mystery of Existence

Pete asks about Julia’s spiritual life:

“I am in awe of the mystery of it all.” (73:38)
Discussing existential humility, the enormity of the universe, and the feeling of awe when confronted with concepts like the Hubble telescope (75:09).
Julia describes herself as spiritual in relation to nature and the unknown, not tied to a specific belief:

"The mystery is the God." (73:38)
They both share a deep appreciation for meditation (Transcendental Meditation in particular) and "forest bathing" as meditative practices (80:25, 81:39).

10. Resilience, Cancer Survival, and Gratitude

Julia candidly discusses surviving cancer:

"I had cancer, so. And I survived it" (85:33). "It was a bear and a half." (86:02)
She describes focusing on recovery, accepting support from loved ones, and the joy of returning to work:

"Talk about getting back to work was just about the most joyful thing ever after that experience." (90:12)

11. Laughter as Salvation and Life Lessons

On laughter as a coping and transcendent force:

“It's the only way out.” (88:28)
Speed round:
- Motherhood: "Please relax. It's going to be fine." (96:22)
- Show Business: "Trust your instincts." (97:03)
- Acting: "Listen. ...A lot of actors make that mistake." (97:19)
- Facing the Unknown: "At least I can still breathe." (98:39)

12. Memorable Quotes & Moments

On the untapped resource of older women:

Julia: "I would like very much to change that narrative. ...Older women are a natural resource. Untapped. Very untapped." (05:49)

On the overwhelming weirdness of life:

Pete: "We have a lot of old children now. We actually don't have a lot of elders because they weren't indoctrinated into that system." (09:01)

On the comfort of performance:

Julia: "The pretend. Pretending to be a character and really getting ...down and dirty with it ...is good for my psyche and maybe because ...it was almost in a weird way, centering." (34:17)

On facing illness:

Julia: "I was very much just on getting. Getting through one day after another because I really was quite ill, and so I was not ... I was just laser focused on getting better." (87:42)

On living with mystery:

Julia: "I would say that I'm a believer in the mystery of all of this, but I don't have a God per se that I pray to. The mystery is the God, the mystery of. Yes. I am in awe of the mystery of it all." (73:18)

On comedy and acting technique:

Julia: "Listen. ...A lot of actors make that mistake." (97:20)

On laughter as the ultimate escape:

Julia: "It's the only way out." (88:28)

Important Timestamps

Notable (and Funny) Exchanges

On SNL Youth:
Julia jokes she may have been the youngest female cast member after, “the guy who was dating all those girls… Pete Davidson.” (45:25)
On Husband’s Forgetfulness:
Julia: “It's called object impermanence... it's very hard for them to keep hold of things…” (29:38)
On Meditation:
Pete: "Are you a meditator?"
Julia: "Yeah…. It's hard for me to remember to do it." (80:22)
On Laughter and Being Forbidden:
Julia’s lifelong hardest laugh: singing a “stupid” song in seventh-grade glee club and being forbidden to laugh—“That's all you need to be forbidden is unbelievable.” (102:07)

Final Thoughts

Keep it crispy, indeed. (103:58)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Re-Release)

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Summary

Podcast Summary

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming Julia—The Studio, Vibes, and Podcast Life

2. Wisdom, Aging, and Shifting Cultural Narratives

3. Work, Flow, and Identity

4. Fame, Privacy, and Living with Icon Status

5. Parenting, Wonder, and Seeing the World Anew

6. Relationships, Marriage, and Domestic Dynamics

7. The Performer’s Psyche and The Nature of Comedy

8. Early Career: SNL, Comedy Roots, and Seinfeld

9. Spirituality, Awe, and The Mystery of Existence

10. Resilience, Cancer Survival, and Gratitude

11. Laughter as Salvation and Life Lessons

12. Memorable Quotes & Moments

Important Timestamps

Notable (and Funny) Exchanges

Final Thoughts

Summary

Podcast Summary

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming Julia—The Studio, Vibes, and Podcast Life

2. Wisdom, Aging, and Shifting Cultural Narratives

3. Work, Flow, and Identity

4. Fame, Privacy, and Living with Icon Status

5. Parenting, Wonder, and Seeing the World Anew

6. Relationships, Marriage, and Domestic Dynamics

7. The Performer’s Psyche and The Nature of Comedy

8. Early Career: SNL, Comedy Roots, and Seinfeld

9. Spirituality, Awe, and The Mystery of Existence

10. Resilience, Cancer Survival, and Gratitude

11. Laughter as Salvation and Life Lessons

12. Memorable Quotes & Moments

Important Timestamps

Notable (and Funny) Exchanges

Final Thoughts