1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,920 ETS: Welcome back to she Pivots. I'm your host, Emily Tish Sussman. 2 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,639 ETS: I'm so excited for everything we have in story this season, 3 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:15,040 ETS: but I have to be honest that I'm entering this 4 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,919 ETS: season in a bit of a different headspace, and I 5 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,480 ETS: want to talk to you all about it, how it happened, 6 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,759 ETS: and what I think it all means. I had the 7 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:28,040 ETS: opportunity to join the Harris Walls presidential campaign, going back 8 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,600 ETS: in the career that I had pivoted from so many 9 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:34,600 ETS: years ago. So I ended up full time in my 10 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:39,320 ETS: old career, living in a swing state, away from my family, 11 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:44,440 ETS: working twenty four to seven and the result aside. In 12 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:47,600 ETS: that moment, it was like a total mind fuck for 13 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,600 ETS: me that it's taken me years to be okay with 14 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,960 ETS: the fact that my political career was done, and then 15 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:57,000 ETS: all of a sudden, I was back in it and 16 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:01,080 ETS: I loved it. It made me think about how I've 17 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:04,640 ETS: purposely adjusted myself to a lower stakes life where not 18 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:08,640 ETS: everything is like winning a presidential campaign, which is about 19 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:10,920 ETS: as high stakes as you can get. And I think 20 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,600 ETS: there's also a part of me that really doubted whether 21 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:16,560 ETS: I was capable of doing it or not. I hadn't 22 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:19,559 ETS: been capable when I had left after having three kids 23 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,160 ETS: in four years. That's why I left, So I really 24 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,960 ETS: didn't think I would be just as good. But it 25 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,840 ETS: turned out I was pretty much just as good as 26 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:31,640 ETS: I used to be, and in some ways I was 27 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:34,160 ETS: maybe even a little better. But I really couldn't believe 28 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,119 ETS: that was my mindset. After talking with nearly one hundred 29 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,720 ETS: women on Cheap Pivots about why they belong in the 30 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:43,000 ETS: new space they carved for themselves, why did I not 31 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,360 ETS: believe that I belonged in a space that I had mastered. 32 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:50,000 ETS: As difficult as that was to realize about myself, it 33 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,400 ETS: showed me so clearly that my work here isn't done. 34 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,200 ETS: And as I looked for somewhere to channel all of 35 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,040 ETS: this passion and energy I had on the campaign, I 36 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:05,480 ETS: quickly realized that it's this, this podcast, this community, all 37 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:09,360 ETS: you amazing women. This season will dive into the complex 38 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:13,160 ETS: thought processes and feelings behind why women pivot and leave 39 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:17,560 ETS: space for the often confusing and nonlinear experiences that come 40 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,960 ETS: with our plot twists, and if we're lucky, we'll change 41 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,160 ETS: the cultural conversation and empower more women to bet on themselves. 42 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,600 ETS: It helped me prove to myself that my power doesn't 43 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,800 ETS: come from the version of me in politics. It comes 44 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:35,480 ETS: from where I am. It's not in some former version 45 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,320 ETS: of me. It's within me, and wherever I go it 46 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:42,520 ETS: comes to I'm excited to explore and to unpack what 47 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,120 ETS: all of this means with all of our guests this season. 48 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:55,160 Monica Padman: Let's jump right in. Welcome back to she Pivots. I'm 49 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:56,000 Monica Padman: Monica Patton. 50 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,440 ETS: Welcome back to she Pivots, the podcast where we talk 51 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,280 ETS: with women who dared to pivot out of one career 52 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:16,840 ETS: and into something new and explore how their personal lives 53 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:26,800 ETS: impacted these decisions. I'm your host, Emily Tish Sussman. Today 54 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:32,280 ETS: we have a very special episode with podcast Royalty Armchair 55 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:37,000 ETS: Expert co creator and co host Monica Padman. If you're 56 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,640 ETS: a fan of her show, you know that Monica is 57 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,440 ETS: a pro at getting her own guests to open up. 58 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,280 ETS: But once I heard that she pivoted into podcasting after 59 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,840 ETS: working as an actress and a babysitter on the side, 60 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,520 ETS: I knew I wanted to have her in the hot 61 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:55,120 ETS: seat when we book guests for she Pivots. I've always 62 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,960 ETS: prioritized guests with diverse stories, and what I found so 63 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:03,680 ETS: unique about Mindica's pivot was the way she got into podcasting. 64 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,800 ETS: She leaned into the off ramp of being a babysitter 65 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,840 ETS: slash assistant, and it was actually that choice that made 66 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:16,400 ETS: her have this successful career. Going from babysitter to Kristen 67 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,640 ETS: Bell's assistant and right hand woman paves the way for 68 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:22,320 ETS: her to build Armchair Expert from the ground up with 69 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:26,279 ETS: Dak Shepherd, and what started as a side project quickly 70 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:30,640 ETS: became a cultural phenomenon, with millions of listeners tuning in 71 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,640 ETS: each week to hear Monica and Dak's tackle life's big questions. 72 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,680 ETS: Her role in the podcast isn't just about co hosting. 73 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:43,120 ETS: Monica is a producer, creative force, and the heart of 74 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:46,880 ETS: many of the show's most memorable moments. She's brought her 75 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,760 ETS: unique voice to conversations about vulnerability, mental health, and what 76 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:55,920 ETS: it means to truly connect with others. Monica's pivot is 77 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,960 ETS: about more than her career. It's about embracing the unexpected 78 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,599 ETS: and leaning into opportunities that align with who she is 79 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:07,000 ETS: at her core, from aspiring actress to one of the 80 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,680 ETS: most recognizable voices in podcasting. Monica's journey is proof that 81 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,880 ETS: sometimes the road you didn't plan leads you exactly where 82 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:16,560 ETS: you're meant to be. 83 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:25,200 Monica Padman: Hope you enjoy. My name is Monica Padman and I 84 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,919 Monica Padman: am a podcast creator, producer, host. 85 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:32,600 ETS: Okay, so we're going to bring it back and go 86 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,599 ETS: back to little Monica. What was your childhood like? It 87 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,080 ETS: seems like you always wanted to be in the entertainment industry. 88 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,880 ETS: Were you always like running around and a wicked hab 89 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:43,440 ETS: a lookite? 90 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:50,000 Monica Padman: No? No, I was not running around with any kind 91 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,480 Monica Padman: of hat on, maybe like a doctor's had, even though 92 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:56,640 Monica Padman: that's not a thing, a surgical mask. Maybe I was 93 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,760 Monica Padman: really really shy when I was young. My mom will 94 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:02,919 Monica Padman: tell you that I was just sort of attached to 95 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,760 Monica Padman: her hip and was probably annoying her all the time. Yeah, 96 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,920 Monica Padman: I was a really shy kid. But I was also 97 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,080 Monica Padman: very good at making friends. But I would do it 98 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:16,480 Monica Padman: in a way that was like one on one friendships, right, 99 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:18,200 Monica Padman: Like I wasn't going to pop up in front of 100 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:21,520 Monica Padman: the class and be class clown or get attention that way. 101 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,279 Monica Padman: But I would try to build these kind of intimate 102 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,400 Monica Padman: relationships with people. I think, even at a young age, 103 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:31,560 Monica Padman: I was just like, highly perceptive at a very young 104 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,960 Monica Padman: age what to do to make people around me happy 105 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:41,000 Monica Padman: or to be liked. So I was not very outgoing 106 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,240 Monica Padman: in that way, but I wanted to be. I think 107 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:46,000 Monica Padman: like when I was little, I definitely wanted to be 108 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:47,960 Monica Padman: a doctor. I don't know if I really wanted to 109 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,479 Monica Padman: be a doctor. I just was like, Oh, that's like 110 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:53,159 Monica Padman: the that's the way to get the affection of my 111 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:59,120 Monica Padman: grandfather probably, And yeah, I guess that was sort of 112 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,560 Monica Padman: me back then. 113 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,000 ETS: It didn't take long until Monica fell in love with 114 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:08,200 ETS: the idea of Hollywood, and like most actors, she had 115 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,960 ETS: the canon event of watching two very influential pieces of media. 116 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,040 Monica Padman: But I didn't really want to do anything in entertainment 117 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:22,280 Monica Padman: until I was in about eighth grade. I two events. 118 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:25,560 Monica Padman: I watched Goodwill Hunting and I started watching Friends, and 119 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,760 Monica Padman: I was obsessed with both of those to such a 120 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:33,680 Monica Padman: obsessive degree that I, you know, I had that feeling 121 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:36,160 Monica Padman: of I want to be doing what they're doing. I 122 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,840 Monica Padman: want to be a part of that. I didn't know 123 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:40,920 Monica Padman: it was acting. I didn't know anything. I just was 124 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:43,320 Monica Padman: so taken by it, and I knew I wanted to 125 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,600 Monica Padman: be in that world. And make people feel like I 126 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:49,480 Monica Padman: was feeling when I watched it. And then I started 127 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:53,360 Monica Padman: in ninth grade. I started in theater class, and that's 128 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,680 Monica Padman: when I really was like, oh, this is this is 129 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:57,160 Monica Padman: I like it. I want to do this. 130 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:01,040 ETS: At the time, this looked like it was going into 131 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:03,880 ETS: acting and moving to la to make it happen. But 132 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,520 ETS: hindsight is always twenty twenty, and Monica highlighted one key 133 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:10,760 ETS: difference on how she now thinks friends influenced her. 134 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,600 Monica Padman: And then with friends, it was I don't think I 135 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,760 Monica Padman: really knew this at the time, but I wanted to 136 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,840 Monica Padman: be them. I think I wanted to live that life. 137 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:24,480 Monica Padman: I wanted to live the life that the friends were living, 138 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,520 Monica Padman: not not really acting. Even though I ended up, you know, 139 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,320 Monica Padman: I ended up like deciding, oh, I guess this is 140 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:31,680 Monica Padman: how you do that. I wanted to have like fun 141 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,880 Monica Padman: on set, I think is really what it sort of 142 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:38,679 Monica Padman: boiled down to. And I sort of figured out how 143 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,600 Monica Padman: to do that too, like work with my friends and 144 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:44,439 Monica Padman: laugh a lot and tell stories. 145 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,160 ETS: But she was not yet a world famous storyteller. So 146 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,640 ETS: Monica headed to college to study theater in Georgia. 147 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,559 Monica Padman: At that time, I'm from Georgia. They had a Hope scholarship. 148 00:08:56,640 --> 00:09:00,920 Monica Padman: So if you graduated high school with the certain GPA, 149 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:03,040 Monica Padman: I don't remember what it was at the time, maybe 150 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:07,080 Monica Padman: three eighth, three seven, I don't remember, but something like that, 151 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:12,120 Monica Padman: you qualified to go to one of the public colleges 152 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,960 Monica Padman: for free tuition. So my parents were like, yeah, so 153 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,280 Monica Padman: that's what you'll be doing. You will be doing that, 154 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:22,840 Monica Padman: and that's that, and all my friends were going to 155 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,119 Monica Padman: so it just made so much sense. The theater conversation 156 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:31,840 Monica Padman: was a conversation, definitely. I added a major. I added 157 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:35,760 Monica Padman: a PR major, so I doubled majored in college so 158 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:40,760 Monica Padman: that everyone could feel a little more calm about my prospects. 159 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:43,480 ETS: So then when you moved out, you did like the 160 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:49,319 ETS: classic actor la thing like front desk, a soul cycle, babysitting. 161 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,600 ETS: I cannot imagine the stories that you have from that. 162 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:54,560 ETS: Let us send care please. 163 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:01,320 Monica Padman: Oh soul cycle was it was so fun and everyone, 164 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,240 Monica Padman: you know, everyone was young. We were opening up the 165 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:07,800 Monica Padman: Beverly Hills studio, so it was like this group of 166 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:10,040 Monica Padman: young kids. I was the oldest one and I think 167 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:13,320 Monica Padman: I was twenty five working at the front desk and 168 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,760 Monica Padman: you know, cleaning the shoes and I guess what's the 169 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,120 Monica Padman: nice I can't think of a nice way of saying. 170 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:23,960 Monica Padman: Dealing with the Beverly Hills clientele, which was very specific, 171 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,880 Monica Padman: and I actually developed a really, really, really intense amount 172 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:32,240 Monica Padman: of anxiety during that time working there because I was scared, 173 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,800 Monica Padman: like people would come out in the middle of class 174 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,719 Monica Padman: and like be like sort of half passing out. And 175 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,360 Monica Padman: it was on our little, like eighteen to twenty five 176 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,680 Monica Padman: year old front desk, you know, group of front desk 177 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,400 Monica Padman: workers to deal with this, and we you know, we 178 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,760 Monica Padman: were we had like train in CPR and all of 179 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:54,800 Monica Padman: these things, and it was it felt very scary. And 180 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:56,920 Monica Padman: one time we did have to like call nine one one, 181 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:59,880 Monica Padman: and it was this whole you know, to do. So 182 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,640 Monica Padman: so I left that job a little bit after that 183 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:06,040 Monica Padman: because I was feeling a little little overwhelmed. I was 184 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:08,160 Monica Padman: also babysitting throughout that entire time. 185 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,880 ETS: So it's during this time that you met Kristen and 186 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,320 ETS: Dax through a mutual friend. How did that work? 187 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:18,120 Monica Padman: Yes, So we had mutual friends, so I would see 188 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:22,800 Monica Padman: them on a very acquaintance level at like parties and stuff, 189 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,160 Monica Padman: and you know, so we sort of knew each other's 190 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:29,160 Monica Padman: faces and said hello, but then I did an episode 191 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,240 Monica Padman: of House of Lies. I like booked an episode of 192 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:36,240 Monica Padman: House of Lies as it actually ironically as her assistant 193 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:38,600 Monica Padman: and when I saw you know, so when I got 194 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,000 Monica Padman: to said she was like, oh hey, I know you, 195 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:43,200 Monica Padman: and we were chatting a lot, and they had just 196 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,720 Monica Padman: had their first kid, so I she was showing me 197 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:49,360 Monica Padman: pictures and I was like, well, I also babysit all 198 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,480 Monica Padman: the time, so if you ever need a babysitter, all 199 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:54,840 Monica Padman: at your girl, And then they sure did. 200 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:59,440 ETS: So how quickly did it go from like babysitter kind 201 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,240 ETS: of know you around, like we're in this together, like 202 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:02,960 ETS: we're all in. 203 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:07,720 Monica Padman: Yeah. So I was date night babysitting for Lincoln, their 204 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:12,360 Monica Padman: first and then when Kristen was pregnant with Delta, which 205 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,480 Monica Padman: was like a year and a half year and some 206 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:18,000 Monica Padman: change later, they decided they probably needed more help and 207 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,600 Monica Padman: so they asked if I could come on full time, 208 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,599 Monica Padman: and so I did that, and that's really when it 209 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,960 Monica Padman: took off into you know, I was I worked a 210 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:31,040 Monica Padman: full day there every day and that then we were 211 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:32,840 Monica Padman: just all in and then I would stay over and 212 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,760 Monica Padman: we'd watch TV, we'd play games, and it just became 213 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:37,880 Monica Padman: like one big melting pot. 214 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:40,800 ETS: Were you still trying to pursue acting. Were you seeing 215 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,080 ETS: this as like a holdover? You thought this is a 216 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:47,760 ETS: career for me. I want to get into what your 217 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:51,280 ETS: mindset was at the different phases, because something that I 218 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:55,000 ETS: think about a lot is how do we define success by? 219 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:58,320 ETS: How do we define our expectations? That's a great question. 220 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:03,040 ETS: The answer is I was not satisfied and Slash. I 221 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,600 ETS: was not thinking, oh, I think I'll just be like 222 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:08,840 ETS: a nanny now forever. 223 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:13,080 Monica Padman: That wasn't my thought process. I was still acting. I 224 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:15,599 Monica Padman: was doing a lot of commercials at that time, and 225 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,679 Monica Padman: when I first started with them, I said, and I 226 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,440 Monica Padman: really hesitated that. Actually at first I was like, I 227 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:23,480 Monica Padman: don't know if I should go full time because how 228 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:25,000 Monica Padman: am I going to go to auditions? How am I 229 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:27,880 Monica Padman: going to do my job? And so I brought that 230 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:29,920 Monica Padman: up to them. I said, I really want to say yes, 231 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:32,480 Monica Padman: but I also need to be able to leave if 232 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:34,960 Monica Padman: I have an audition, and they were like, we'll make 233 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:39,920 Monica Padman: it work. So I was still able to be pursuing acting, 234 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:44,600 Monica Padman: and I think that was maybe why the whole thing worked, 235 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:49,200 Monica Padman: because I was still pursuing my thing, yet I was 236 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:53,520 Monica Padman: getting a lot of validation from this other job, and 237 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,959 Monica Padman: I did love being there, and it was a very 238 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:03,760 Monica Padman: homey kind of we are a village vibe that I 239 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,840 Monica Padman: really really really liked, and those kids feel like my kids. 240 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,840 Monica Padman: So it just all, you know, I think it was 241 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:14,480 Monica Padman: a really specific alchemy that made it work. I started 242 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,160 Monica Padman: out as the babysitter. Then I moved into assistant. Once 243 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:21,200 Monica Padman: their second went to school went to preschool, they wanted 244 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:23,120 Monica Padman: to keep me around, but obviously there was no kids 245 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,040 Monica Padman: in the house anymore. So she said, do you want 246 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,240 Monica Padman: to come on as my assistant? And so I did that, 247 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:31,120 Monica Padman: and then as as I was doing that, I was 248 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:35,200 Monica Padman: also writing stuff for her and you know, becoming a 249 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:38,400 Monica Padman: producing partner with her. But then I was also still 250 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:41,480 Monica Padman: doing some of the old things, like there just weren't 251 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:44,440 Monica Padman: clear delineations because we were just figuring everything out as 252 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:47,120 Monica Padman: it was going. And so at one point I did 253 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,480 Monica Padman: have to say, hey, so I can't do that other 254 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:55,000 Monica Padman: stuff anymore. This role has progressed sort of unknowingly, you know, 255 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,320 Monica Padman: We've just like been going through the motions and now 256 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,440 Monica Padman: I'm I'm here and I'm doing this level of job, 257 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:04,080 Monica Padman: so I can't also be doing that level of job, 258 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:06,680 Monica Padman: and that was a little bit of a hurdle, you know, 259 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:11,480 Monica Padman: at first, I think because understandably so Kristen was like, well, yikes, 260 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,200 Monica Padman: but I need that other stuff done too, and you know, 261 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,320 Monica Padman: what do I do? But we figured it out. I 262 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:20,479 Monica Padman: think that's also the beauty of her definitely, is she's 263 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:26,400 Monica Padman: very open to hearing things like that and understanding what's 264 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,720 Monica Padman: important to her and who is important to her and 265 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:33,560 Monica Padman: how to make that person happy and give them what 266 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:37,560 Monica Padman: they deserve. So I think like at first, when she's saying, oh, yikes, 267 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:41,040 Monica Padman: after a day, she's like, yeah, them actually makes sense, 268 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:44,080 Monica Padman: so let's figure this out. And so, you know, there 269 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:45,520 Monica Padman: there was times like that. 270 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,320 ETS: Was there ever awkwardness about the fact that you were 271 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:52,120 ETS: trying and not having the same level of success in 272 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:55,280 ETS: the same industry that they are in or they were in. 273 00:15:56,400 --> 00:16:02,680 Monica Padman: No, because they were at such a different level. So 274 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:06,240 Monica Padman: it wasn't like I was comparing myself to them at all. 275 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,400 Monica Padman: I was already I was a huge fan of both 276 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,960 Monica Padman: of them before. I loved Parenthood, I loved Ronica Mars, 277 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,800 Monica Padman: So I wasn't like, oh, they're working a lot and 278 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:19,000 Monica Padman: I'm not. You know, it just felt like we're at 279 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:22,400 Monica Padman: very very very different stages in life in general. I 280 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,480 Monica Padman: mean they're babysitting their children too, So I think that 281 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:30,160 Monica Padman: all helps. What's changed in our lives over the past 282 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:35,680 Monica Padman: ten years is that you know, like now I have 283 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:39,520 Monica Padman: changed in position a little bit in life, and it 284 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,720 Monica Padman: doesn't feel like we're in a very different stage. And 285 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:45,200 Monica Padman: so we've all sort of adapted to this like growing 286 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:50,160 Monica Padman: shifting dynamic. But first, no, it wasn't hard at all. 287 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:54,400 Monica Padman: It was like, oh, yeah, these people are extremely successful actors. 288 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,200 Monica Padman: That's what I entered into. It wasn't like I saw 289 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:03,240 Monica Padman: the rise. And they're both dreamly generous and would really 290 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:04,800 Monica Padman: do what they could for me a lot. 291 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:05,080 ETS: You know. 292 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:08,600 Monica Padman: Dax cast me in chips like early early when I 293 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:10,160 Monica Padman: was just like date night babysitting. 294 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 3: You know. 295 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,760 Monica Padman: Kristen if she had something and there was like a 296 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,040 Monica Padman: part that she could sort of slop me and she 297 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:18,119 Monica Padman: would do that. They did a lot for me. 298 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:24,720 ETS: As her responsibilities grew with Dax and Kristen, Monica still 299 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:28,000 ETS: had her sight set on acting and hadn't yet seen 300 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,960 ETS: that her pivot could be around the corner. When we 301 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:34,679 ETS: come back, Monica tells us how Armchair Expert was born, 302 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:52,720 ETS: how did it actually turn into let's do a podcast? 303 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,200 Monica Padman: Like what were those steps? Yeah, And it was early days. 304 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:01,359 Monica Padman: It was twenty seventeen. Dax has gone on a few 305 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:05,600 Monica Padman: podcasts and really enjoyed it. Just thought it was like 306 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:10,800 Monica Padman: a really fun medium of nice antidote to the two 307 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:14,439 Monica Padman: minute story where you hit your beats and you get in, 308 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,800 Monica Padman: you get out, and so he just liked it. And 309 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:21,119 Monica Padman: he came home one night I think Kristen and I 310 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:25,119 Monica Padman: were working or playing a game, probably more likely, and 311 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:29,640 Monica Padman: he said he wanted to try doing a podcast, and 312 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:32,440 Monica Padman: I said, oh, I can probably try to help figure 313 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:35,080 Monica Padman: out how to do that. And so I started looking 314 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:39,600 Monica Padman: into other people who had podcasts and doing research and 315 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:42,080 Monica Padman: I met with this couple that I know that had 316 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:44,000 Monica Padman: a podcast, and so, you know, doing all of that, 317 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,119 Monica Padman: and then it was like, yeah, let's try it. We 318 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:50,679 Monica Padman: brought Rob on to help with the technical stuff, and 319 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,000 Monica Padman: it was really just like, let's just see how it goes. 320 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:57,399 Monica Padman: There was talk about expectations like we had none. We 321 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:02,080 Monica Padman: had none, truly, and I know that it sounds weird 322 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:06,200 Monica Padman: now so many years later, because it's grown into such 323 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:10,760 Monica Padman: a fruitful business and we're so lucky and ironically, like 324 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:15,639 Monica Padman: now our expectations are too high, but they started at 325 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:20,000 Monica Padman: zero and it really really helped us on the ride 326 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:23,119 Monica Padman: because we could really enjoy it. At first, it was like, whoa, 327 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:25,720 Monica Padman: what is going on? This is so exciting, Oh my gosh, 328 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:29,360 Monica Padman: people are listening. Oh wow, instead of like not enough 329 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:32,480 Monica Padman: people are listening, or oh we need this, so we 330 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:43,439 Monica Padman: need that. We were just shocked and happy. We launched 331 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:50,040 Monica Padman: in February of twenty eighteen. We launched with three episodes, Kristin. 332 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,919 Monica Padman: My guest is the lovely Kristen Belle Ashton Kutcher. 333 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,120 Speaker 4: Today I get a chance to thank the person who 334 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 4: started my career, Ashton Kutcher and Joy Bryant. I am 335 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 4: joined by my TV wife, Joy Bryant, you know her 336 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 4: from Parenthood, Get Rich or Died Trying Antoine Fisher. 337 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:08,480 Monica Padman: We put all three of those out at once and 338 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,199 Monica Padman: it was a pretty big audience immediately, but then it 339 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:14,240 Monica Padman: did also continue to grow and grow and grow, which 340 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,520 Monica Padman: we were again surprised by. Even we had if we 341 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:21,000 Monica Padman: had guests that were lesser known, we would still notice like, oh, 342 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:25,520 Monica Padman: everyone's still listening. That's interesting, and that's good. That that 343 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:28,080 Monica Padman: that means it's about more than just whoever's coming on 344 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:31,800 Monica Padman: if we were learning so much as we were doing it. 345 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:34,600 Monica Padman: But yeah, it was. It was. I think it was 346 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:38,680 Monica Padman: a pretty quick, big audience that continued to build on itself. 347 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:42,560 ETS: Did you see any particular moments of really big growth 348 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:45,080 ETS: where were like, oh, that's interesting. 349 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,600 Monica Padman: I want to say yes, because I just listened to 350 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,439 Monica Padman: acquired and I want to sound really business y, but 351 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,920 Monica Padman: I we we were not business y. Like we we 352 00:20:55,920 --> 00:21:01,040 Monica Padman: were not paying that much attention to that, like oh 353 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:03,480 Monica Padman: my gosh, it was a big big you know, jump 354 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,199 Monica Padman: here or dip here. We just weren't. We were just 355 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:09,119 Monica Padman: doing our thing. We were asking people to come in 356 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,000 Monica Padman: who we thought were fun and cool for us. The 357 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:18,560 Monica Padman: one of the biggest early moments was when Katie Curic's 358 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:22,680 Monica Padman: team reached out to us. That was the first big moment. 359 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:25,760 Monica Padman: It's like, oh my god, somebody's asking us if they 360 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:29,119 Monica Padman: can come on. That was the first time that happened, 361 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:32,320 Monica Padman: and that at this point many years later, that's pretty 362 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:34,960 Monica Padman: much how it happens completely. We still reach out to 363 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:36,800 Monica Padman: people every now and then if there's like a you know, 364 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:39,600 Monica Padman: person we're really excited about, or who's on our mind. 365 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:42,320 Monica Padman: But for the most part, we have you know, requests 366 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:44,560 Monica Padman: come in, and that was the first time it happened, 367 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:46,679 Monica Padman: and so for us, we were like, we were just 368 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:51,080 Monica Padman: very excited, and that for us was growth, Like that's 369 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:53,280 Monica Padman: how we were measuring it, sort of like, oh, people 370 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:54,760 Monica Padman: want to come on, that's cool. 371 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:04,000 ETS: Armchair Exburg quickly became the number one podcast in the world, 372 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:10,120 ETS: boasting guests like Natalie Portman, Tom Hanks, Brookshields, and Hillary Clinton. 373 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:14,040 ETS: And for anyone who isn't familiar with the show, Monica 374 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:18,320 ETS: serves as co host, producer, and editor. But getting comfortable 375 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:21,000 ETS: with each of those titles and roles took time. 376 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,600 Monica Padman: Well, okay, so when we first started, we didn't know anything, 377 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:28,280 Monica Padman: Like you know, the first episode with Kristin, I'm sitting 378 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,359 Monica Padman: there like I'm sitting on the couch and I don't 379 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:32,200 Monica Padman: say anything. We don't know what we're doing, we don't 380 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,280 Monica Padman: know how, we don't know what we're doing. And I 381 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:38,800 Monica Padman: was I was so anxious for that whole first chunk 382 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:41,440 Monica Padman: of time that I wasn't saying enough, or I wasn't 383 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,040 Monica Padman: inserting myself enough, or am I just like the girls 384 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:46,880 Monica Padman: sitting on the couch for no reason, like what everyone's 385 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:49,840 Monica Padman: probably so confused And I think to an extent, a 386 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:53,160 Monica Padman: lot of that is true. And we were having people 387 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:55,560 Monica Padman: on this show that I really wanted the approval of, 388 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,320 Monica Padman: or had been wanting the approval of for so long. 389 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:01,040 Monica Padman: I remember when we had Judd Apatow on, I was 390 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:05,600 Monica Padman: so in my head because I loved him and his 391 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:07,800 Monica Padman: movies and everything he did. And I'm you know, I'm 392 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,600 Monica Padman: still an actress at this point, and I'm thinking, Oh, 393 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:12,119 Monica Padman: I don't want him to think there's just this like 394 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,000 Monica Padman: dud on the couch. I want him to think I 395 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,800 Monica Padman: have this shiny personality and like me. And so I 396 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,199 Monica Padman: was in my head a lot during that time, and 397 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:23,520 Monica Padman: I think once, well, first of all, there's like a 398 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:26,000 Monica Padman: sort of well known turn of events, and that we 399 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,800 Monica Padman: moved my chair so I was sitting on the same 400 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:32,919 Monica Padman: couch as the guest. When we had Jake Johnson on, 401 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:36,120 Monica Padman: he who was like, I can't see her. I want 402 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:39,080 Monica Padman: to see her. Can we move this around? And so 403 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:42,000 Monica Padman: we pulled a different chare up. From then on, we 404 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:45,760 Monica Padman: had a different configuration and that helped so much. Where 405 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,040 Monica Padman: now I sit by Dax, and I think as I 406 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:50,919 Monica Padman: just got more confident the more we did it, I 407 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:54,680 Monica Padman: also started to really understand my role as like as 408 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:59,000 Monica Padman: a producer on the show. I edit the show. I 409 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:00,840 Monica Padman: you know, I I do a lot for it. And 410 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:05,280 Monica Padman: I started to feel that, like, oh, I am extremely 411 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:10,320 Monica Padman: valuable here, so I don't have to prove myself on 412 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:14,840 Monica Padman: these episodes. Maybe not everyone will know my purpose, but 413 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:20,320 Monica Padman: I do and Dax does, and that is really all 414 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:22,760 Monica Padman: I have to kind of care about. And then when 415 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:25,440 Monica Padman: I started to get more confident, I did just start 416 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,480 Monica Padman: chiming in more or I felt fine to not. We 417 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:31,560 Monica Padman: also started to sort of come to the conclusion over 418 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:33,840 Monica Padman: time again all this is so trial and airy, and 419 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:37,119 Monica Padman: it's just like over time, I was understanding that my 420 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:41,400 Monica Padman: role there is mainly to be the voice of the audience. 421 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:46,000 Monica Padman: So I don't watch the tele like for the promotion piece. 422 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:47,840 Monica Padman: I don't watch the television show or read the book 423 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:51,399 Monica Padman: or do anything like that because I need to be 424 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:54,680 Monica Padman: the one also as the editor who knows when things 425 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:59,080 Monica Padman: are getting esoteric, if the audience would definitely say wait, 426 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,680 Monica Padman: what or what who's talking to? What about? What? 427 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:06,040 Monica Padman: So I'm also there as that sort of eye that 428 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:11,000 Monica Padman: I think the audience wants. And again when I knew that, 429 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,440 Monica Padman: that also gave me sort of like a place to 430 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:16,040 Monica Padman: plant my feet, which was very helpful. 431 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:20,879 ETS: And so as you became more confident in your role 432 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:25,320 ETS: in the show, did that increase your satisfaction? Is that 433 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:27,720 ETS: being the way that you spent most of your time, like, 434 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:31,119 ETS: were you still working on out their hustles outside ventures 435 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:33,159 ETS: trying to act successfully acting? 436 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,199 Monica Padman: No, I think you're right. I think as as my 437 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:38,520 Monica Padman: confidence grew and as the show was starting to grow 438 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:40,800 Monica Padman: even more, especially when we you know, we signed a 439 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:45,520 Monica Padman: deal with Spotify, it became one hundred percent my sole focus. 440 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:49,080 Monica Padman: I don't act anymore. I mean I'm not like I'm 441 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:52,760 Monica Padman: done acting, but I certainly don't have time to go 442 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,640 Monica Padman: be a series regular on a show at this point. 443 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:57,800 Monica Padman: You know, we have three shows. At one point we 444 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:00,199 Monica Padman: had five shows. We've done a ton of limits, did 445 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:03,680 Monica Padman: series and continue to do that. So we've just sort 446 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:07,600 Monica Padman: of expanded in that world, in the podcast world, which 447 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:13,760 Monica Padman: has been so fun and challenging. Back to a challenge, 448 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:16,280 Monica Padman: I mean, I didn't even when I moved to La 449 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,040 Monica Padman: podcasting wasn't a thing. I didn't know what it was 450 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:22,000 Monica Padman: like the idea of moving to this city and this 451 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,720 Monica Padman: is now my job when it wasn't even on my 452 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:28,119 Monica Padman: radar when I came out here is such a bizarre 453 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:32,919 Monica Padman: turn of events. But yeah, I think my satisfaction definitely 454 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:36,359 Monica Padman: got I mean I'm really just like sitting here thinking, like, 455 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:40,520 Monica Padman: am I satisfied? And I really am. I'm really proud 456 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:45,040 Monica Padman: of everything we've done and will continue to do, And yeah, 457 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:47,720 Monica Padman: I haven't really thought about that, but yeah, well. 458 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:49,280 ETS: Then maybe this will be a Solly question. But like, 459 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:52,119 ETS: do you remember if there was a moment when it 460 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,440 ETS: flipped for you and you were like, this is the 461 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:57,360 ETS: only thing that I do and I'm happy about it. 462 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:00,520 Monica Padman: I don't remember if there was like a certain moment. 463 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,960 Monica Padman: I don't remember thinking, oh, I don't have time to 464 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:08,960 Monica Padman: do the other thing. That's really bad. I think I thought, oh, wow, 465 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:11,879 Monica Padman: I don't have time to do this other thing, and 466 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:16,520 Monica Padman: I don't really miss the other thing, so that's interesting, 467 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:20,320 Monica Padman: Like this is much more fulfilling. This is giving me 468 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:24,720 Monica Padman: my own voice and a way that is really fun 469 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:28,639 Monica Padman: and the element of discovery is really interesting to me. 470 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:31,520 Monica Padman: So yeah, I don't think there was a moment. I 471 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:34,560 Monica Padman: think when we signed the deal with Spotify, it was 472 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:38,520 Monica Padman: clear just from the outside in the value of the show. 473 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:41,479 Monica Padman: I mean literally, there was a number a numeral value 474 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:45,320 Monica Padman: to it, and it did make me very clear, although 475 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:46,959 Monica Padman: I think I was probably clear before that, but at 476 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:51,159 Monica Padman: that point, one hundred percent like, this is our job, 477 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:56,320 Monica Padman: this is our company, you know, this is our legacy. 478 00:27:56,520 --> 00:28:00,080 Monica Padman: Really like there's it all sort of became clear. 479 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:04,960 Speaker 3: As is his co host on Armchair Expert, which goes 480 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:08,879 Speaker 3: to Spotify on July first, with President Obama, Monica Padman 481 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:09,840 Speaker 3: is here. 482 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:14,280 ETS: Okay, you've put out nearly eight hundred episodes. How do 483 00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:17,200 ETS: you put out so much content? That is so much? 484 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:24,640 Monica Padman: It is so much? Well, we have two Armchair show, 485 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:27,120 Monica Padman: you know, two interview shows a week. We have our 486 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:30,600 Monica Padman: celebrity guest on Monday, and we have our expert guest 487 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:34,440 Monica Padman: on Wednesday. And then we added a show. We added 488 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:38,160 Monica Padman: Armchair Anonymous, which is my personal favorite, where we talked 489 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:41,520 Monica Padman: to our listeners and that's on Friday. So it just 490 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:44,120 Monica Padman: adds up. And we've been almost doing it for seven years. 491 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:46,560 Monica Padman: And as I said, we also had, you know, we 492 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:49,479 Monica Padman: had a show call Flightless Bird that ran for multiple years, 493 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:52,600 Monica Padman: and we did a show Sync that ran for a year. 494 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:56,280 Monica Padman: Many limited series ten episodes series. I did one with 495 00:28:56,360 --> 00:29:00,560 Monica Padman: Kristen one with Jess Rowland, you know, we just we've 496 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:04,880 Monica Padman: sort of run the gambit on trying stuff out and 497 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:05,800 Monica Padman: it just adds up. 498 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:11,640 ETS: After the break, Monica's journey comes full circle as she 499 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:14,920 ETS: reflects on how she is still keeping the dream young 500 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:18,240 ETS: Monica had all the way back in eighth grade alive. 501 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:31,360 ETS: But You've said, I'm getting to do what I wanted 502 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:33,480 ETS: to do, but in a different package. 503 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:38,200 Monica Padman: Yeah. When I was watching Friends and Goodwill Hunting, and 504 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:41,640 Monica Padman: I was thinking, I just want to be a part 505 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:46,560 Monica Padman: of something that is making people feel moved or feel 506 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:51,880 Monica Padman: connected or learn something about yourself via what you're watching. 507 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:55,440 Monica Padman: That's one piece mixed with watching Friends, and I'm thinking 508 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:56,960 Monica Padman: I want to do that. I want to have fun 509 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:59,360 Monica Padman: all day long. They are all really they're actually friends. 510 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:02,600 Monica Padman: They're laughing the bloopers, blah blah. You know. Ah, That's 511 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:04,960 Monica Padman: how I want to spend my life. That is how 512 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,840 Monica Padman: I spend my life. I work with my best friend. 513 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:13,680 Monica Padman: We laugh NonStop. We put out a product that is 514 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:19,600 Monica Padman: honest and real, and I think people connect with that. 515 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:23,520 Monica Padman: And so I'm getting to do this. You know, when 516 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:25,400 Monica Padman: I think back to my original goals of what I 517 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:27,880 Monica Padman: wanted when I was watching those things, I'm doing it. 518 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:30,080 Monica Padman: And I'm so I'm so grateful for that. 519 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:34,960 ETS: So what is one thing that you at the time 520 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:37,400 ETS: you thought was like a negative or a low point, 521 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:40,400 ETS: and now in retrospect you see it as having really 522 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:43,600 ETS: launched you or changed your perspective to where you are now. 523 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:48,440 Monica Padman: Well, definitely at the beginning of the show, when I 524 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:51,880 Monica Padman: was not talking and I was really in my head 525 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:55,280 Monica Padman: about it, I told Dax. I was like, oh, I 526 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:58,000 Monica Padman: feel like I'm just sitting there and you know, I 527 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:01,080 Monica Padman: don't know what to do and I don't want to 528 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:04,000 Monica Padman: not talk. And he said, you know, I understand all 529 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:06,960 Monica Padman: of that, and we can. Let's work on that together, 530 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:11,200 Monica Padman: let's figure it out. But also, I'm telling you that 531 00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:15,360 Monica Padman: this is special and I don't want you to miss it. 532 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:19,440 Monica Padman: I don't want you to not be here for this 533 00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:22,600 Monica Padman: and be in your head about what you're doing wrong 534 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:24,200 Monica Padman: or could be doing, or what it could be or 535 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:29,360 Monica Padman: couldn't be. Like you need to feel this, And I 536 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:31,640 Monica Padman: heard him, and I do. 537 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:33,920 Speaker 3: So. 538 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:37,800 ETS: After over eight hundred episodes, millions of downloads, and a 539 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:41,240 ETS: new career path, I had to know. How does Monica 540 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:42,760 ETS: think about success now? 541 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:46,840 Monica Padman: I think when you enter the entertainment industry and at 542 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:51,440 Monica Padman: all you have to start redefining what success means in general, 543 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:55,040 Monica Padman: because it takes so long for anything to happen, if 544 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:59,400 Monica Padman: anything happens at all. So in order to succeed in 545 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,960 Monica Padman: LA at all, you have to have a flexible mind 546 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:06,920 Monica Padman: when it comes to success and happiness. I was told 547 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:11,440 Monica Padman: really early it got some really great advice early to 548 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:14,960 Monica Padman: fill out the rest of your life, Like it can't 549 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:19,000 Monica Padman: just be about booking auditions or acting like you have 550 00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:20,320 Monica Padman: to fill out the rest of your life. You need 551 00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:23,560 Monica Padman: to have friends, go out, you need to go to restaurants, 552 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:26,080 Monica Padman: you need to do it all like your life is 553 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:29,440 Monica Padman: still happening. And that was really helpful to me because 554 00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:31,880 Monica Padman: even when I think back at like the Soul Cycle time, 555 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:34,960 Monica Padman: I was also so happy, like we were playing, you know, 556 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:39,280 Monica Padman: we were having big game nights, and I think maybe 557 00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:43,360 Monica Padman: at that time I was happy, but I didn't feel successful. 558 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:47,320 Monica Padman: And when I moved over to be with Kristen and Dax, 559 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:52,520 Monica Padman: when I started showing what I could do so more 560 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,240 Monica Padman: than just after like the Nanny, but when I was 561 00:32:55,280 --> 00:32:57,320 Monica Padman: writing stuff for Kristin or when I was able to 562 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:01,479 Monica Padman: like flex my skills, I did feel sick successful and 563 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:06,200 Monica Padman: I felt very satisfied. This new layer of success happened 564 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:09,560 Monica Padman: after that, which is like a financial one right where 565 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:11,920 Monica Padman: it's like, oh my gosh, like we've hit this thing 566 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:15,240 Monica Padman: and we're hitting these things, and now that we're in that, 567 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:20,920 Monica Padman: it's definitely the least satisfying version of the success along 568 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:23,760 Monica Padman: the way, which is ironic and odd, and it's going 569 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:25,360 Monica Padman: to sound really bad. People are going to be mad 570 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:27,200 Monica Padman: at me for saying that, but it's the truth, Like 571 00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:31,720 Monica Padman: chasing these numbers is the least satisfying thing. Do you 572 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:35,800 Monica Padman: think you'll pivot again? I mean, life is long, so 573 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:40,440 Monica Padman: you know, I have no idea what the future holds. 574 00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:43,840 Monica Padman: I'm trying my best to be more and more comfortable 575 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:47,520 Monica Padman: just sitting with that, like I don't know. I don't 576 00:33:47,520 --> 00:33:51,240 Monica Padman: know what's going to happen. You know, we we know 577 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:54,480 Monica Padman: for certain we have some more years of doing this. 578 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:58,320 Monica Padman: We're in another deal and we'll see after that how 579 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:01,360 Monica Padman: we're all feeling. There is a lot I still want 580 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:04,880 Monica Padman: to do in addition to I love writing and I 581 00:34:04,960 --> 00:34:08,920 Monica Padman: want to put some real focus and energy there. I 582 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:11,280 Monica Padman: love fashion. I'd love to do something in that space. 583 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:13,200 Monica Padman: So there's you know, there's things I want to check 584 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:16,480 Monica Padman: off the list, but as far as like a massive pivot, 585 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:18,000 Monica Padman: we'll have to see. 586 00:34:18,760 --> 00:34:20,960 ETS: Thank you so much for joining us, Monica. I have 587 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:22,839 ETS: loved having you on. 588 00:34:23,640 --> 00:34:26,000 Monica Padman: This was so fun. Thank you so much for having me. 589 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:28,000 Monica Padman: This was such a delight. I'm very honored. 590 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:35,040 ETS: Monica still co hosts and produces Armchair Expert while also 591 00:34:35,120 --> 00:34:39,480 ETS: working on her show SYNCD. Monica lives in the LA area, and, 592 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:42,719 ETS: like us, is devastated at the immense loss experience from 593 00:34:42,719 --> 00:34:45,759 ETS: the LA fires. We reached out to Monica to see 594 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:48,359 ETS: if she wanted to share any organizations that are close 595 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:51,640 ETS: to her heart, and these are the organizations that she recommends. 596 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:57,480 ETS: Path LA World, Central Kitchen, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, 597 00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:01,600 ETS: Habitat for Humanity, for Greater Loss Angels, and two one 598 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:05,640 ETS: one LA. Visit Monica's page on She Pivots the podcast 599 00:35:05,719 --> 00:35:08,799 ETS: for the links. You can keep up with Monica on 600 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:14,600 ETS: Instagram at mL Padman. Thanks for listening. Thanks for listening 601 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:17,520 ETS: to this episode of She Pivots. If you made it 602 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:20,560 ETS: this far, you're a true pivoter, so thanks for being. 603 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:21,360 Monica Padman: Part of this community. 604 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:24,319 ETS: I hope you enjoyed this episode, and if you did 605 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:26,240 ETS: leave us a rating, please be nice. 606 00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:27,680 Monica Padman: Tell your friends about us. 607 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:30,840 ETS: To learn more about our guests, follow us on Instagram 608 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:33,440 ETS: at she pivots the Podcast, or sign. 609 00:35:33,320 --> 00:35:34,920 Monica Padman: Up for our newsletter where you can get. 610 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,840 ETS: Exclusive behind the scenes content, or on our website she 611 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:44,359 ETS: pivots the Podcast Talk to You Next Week special thanks 612 00:35:44,440 --> 00:35:48,280 ETS: to the she pivots team, Executive producer Emily eda Velosik, 613 00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:53,200 ETS: Associate producer and social media connoisseur Hannah Cousins, Research director 614 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:58,120 ETS: Christine Dickinson, Events and Logistics coordinator Madeleine Sonovak, and audio 615 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:03,320 ETS: editor and mixer Nina pollock I endorse Tea Pivots