1 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: What do you do when life doesn't go according to 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: plan that moment you lose a job, or a loved one, 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: or even a piece of yourself. I'm Brookshields and this 4 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: is now What, a podcast about pivotal moments as told 5 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,600 Speaker 1: by people who lived them. Each week, I sit down 6 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: with a guest to talk about the times they were 7 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: knocked off course and what they did to move forward. 8 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: Some stories are funny, others are gut wrenching, but all 9 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: are unapologetically human and remind us that every success and 10 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 1: every setback is accompanied by a choice, and that choice 11 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: answers one question. Now, what one of the guys that 12 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: moved me into my dorm room freshman week, freshman day, 13 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: he's now working there and he drives by in the 14 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: car and he goes, Shields, get in the god Carney boy, 15 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: you took me to Huahwah. I got me a subway. 16 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:04,479 Speaker 2: Now. 17 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: It was like you're. 18 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 2: Eating this right now, a Wawa subway sandwich. Heals all wounds. 19 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 2: It is that there's nothing. And I don't know how 20 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 2: recently you've been back. They've now changed the wabble, or 21 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 2: they've remodeled, they've reloaded that. 22 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: Well, they moved the trend, didn't they moved the station 23 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:19,559 Speaker 1: or they. 24 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 2: Moved a whole dinky station I think, and the wah 25 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 2: wah with it. But there is nothing. I mean, you 26 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 2: can't compare Princeton reunions. I don't know how that statement sounds, 27 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 2: but it is what it is to anything. I mean, 28 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 2: it's like the Kentucky Derby. 29 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 1: Do you know it's the It's the second largest amount 30 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: of alcohol consumed. Oh lord, next to yep, second only 31 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: to the DY five hundred? 32 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 2: Are you kidding? 33 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:45,479 Speaker 1: So there? I was close. 34 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:46,919 Speaker 2: I was close with that comparison. 35 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: My guest today is Elliet Kemper, an actor and author, 36 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: a podcast host, a wife, a mother, and, as you'll 37 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: hear us discuss throughout this episode, a proud Princeton, a lion. 38 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 1: Like many of you, I fell in love with the 39 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: contagious optimism she portrayed through her roles and shows like 40 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:11,519 Speaker 1: The Office and Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt, And though I personally 41 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: didn't know Ellie before this interview, I was thrilled to 42 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: discover that she exudes the best parts of her most 43 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: iconic characters. She's hilarious, she's gracious, resilient, and downright impressive. So, 44 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: without further ado, here is Ellie Kemper. Ellie Kemper, Hello, 45 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: I am so happy you wanted to do the show. Obviously, 46 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 1: I'm a huge fan. My gosh. I also love that 47 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: I'm speaking with a fellow Princetonian. 48 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 2: I am so happy to be a guest on your show. 49 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 2: I am the enormous fan of you. So I'm not 50 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 2: even looking you in the eye right now. I'm looking 51 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 2: off to the side of my laptop. But the Princeton 52 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 2: Vaughn dies hard. 53 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: Have they ever asked you to speak at commencement? Yes? 54 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 2: I y And actually I'm sort of embarrassed to not know. 55 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 2: Did you You must have spoken several times. 56 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 1: No, it just just once. And Andrew Dureki, who's also 57 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: a past Princetonian, he talked me into doing it because 58 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 1: I was just I was sort of obliterated by fear 59 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: and it was just one of those things when I 60 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: just I wanted to be funny and I wanted to 61 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 1: and I just wanted to, you know, it was such 62 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: an important time for me. Have you been back lately? 63 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 2: So I just celebrated my twentieth reunion last year in 64 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 2: twenty twenty two. I know and so I live in 65 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 2: New York. So I went for the day. 66 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: Did you alone or did you bring your husband or 67 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: my husbands stayed at home. I brought my best friend 68 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: who also went to Princeton. Her name is Joe, and 69 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: we went together. And I can't imagine what it's like 70 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: for you. Have you been back to reunions. I've gone 71 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: back to the big ones. But I had my thirty fifth. 72 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: So I'm I'm well. And you know, it's funny because 73 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: my mom, my, my mom, listen to me. Oh, she 74 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: she wants to be in every conversation even though she's dead. 75 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: She's died. 76 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 2: Well, I'm sorry, but yes, that's so. 77 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: That's Wendy Williams. When she's talked about her mom, she 78 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: goes she's died. So I went. So I said to 79 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: my husband, Okay, I'm gonna go. And he's like, look, 80 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: why don't you just go alone for the first day 81 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: and then I'll come the next day and bring the 82 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: kids or whatever. And I was like, okay, all right, 83 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: I just I'm not gonna stay long. And then at 84 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: every tent I kept saying, okay, I'm not, I'm not 85 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna stay a long I'm not gonna stay 86 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:43,919 Speaker 1: long four o'clock in the morning. I am like meandering, 87 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 1: not in a straight line. 88 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 2: And the guy, one of. 89 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: The guys that moved me into my dorm room freshman week, 90 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: freshman day, he's now working there, and he drives by 91 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 1: in the car and he goes shields, get in the 92 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 1: goddamn car. And I was like, but I nice man. 93 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 2: And I was like, oh god, he. 94 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: Goes, some thing's never changed. Getting the goddamn carney boy. 95 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: He took me to it, got me in a subway. 96 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 1: It was like, you're yeating this right now. 97 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 2: Yep, a wah wah subway sandwich. Heals all wounds. 98 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: If you say the wah wah wighs the way to go. 99 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: People understand you wholeheartedly. What did did you always want 100 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: to go there? I? 101 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 2: And oh is the answered? No, it wasn't. 102 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: I didn't. 103 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: I mean, I don't know what your thought process was. 104 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 2: I mean, you and I had very different childhood experience. 105 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: Tell me about your but I so what. 106 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 2: I wasn't instantly recognizable to you every person on the globe. 107 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 2: But I didn't really give too much thought about where 108 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:50,719 Speaker 2: I wanted to go to college. I knew I wanted 109 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 2: to go to college in the Northeast, and I when 110 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 2: I visited Princeton, I mean, it's iconic, it's gorgeous, it's stunning, 111 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:00,919 Speaker 2: it's beautiful, and there was a comb anas I played 112 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,720 Speaker 2: field hockey. I knew that. You know, Princeton had these 113 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 2: great theater You were also in the Triangle Club, which 114 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 2: is a theater musical theater group at Princeton for those 115 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 2: of us who don't know what that is. And I 116 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 2: and I just I had such a great experience visiting 117 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 2: and then I got in and I and I accepted. 118 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 2: But it wasn't a life long whatever dream. It just 119 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 2: felt like I felt very lucky to be able to 120 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 2: go there. 121 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 1: Now you grew up, you grew up in Saint Louis. 122 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 2: I grew up in Saint Louis, and uh yes, I 123 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 2: went to I live there all my life and in fact, 124 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:35,360 Speaker 2: I mean until I graduated high school and in fact, 125 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 2: my experience leaving for college. This is one thing that 126 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 2: I don't want to like forget, which is that I 127 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 2: was profoundly homesick. My first song too, oh it was 128 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 2: my sobbed and I was like, you know, I'm just 129 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 2: I remember going home for Christmas break, but I brought 130 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: all of my laundry with me, but like not to 131 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 2: do it at home in Saint Louis. But because I 132 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 2: was like, well, I'm not I'm not going back, Like 133 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 2: in my head it was a weird I wasn't consciously 134 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 2: doing but but I sort of was because it. I 135 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 2: remember thinking for the first time I realized that the 136 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 2: Midwest is a different uh reagion from the rest of 137 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 2: the country. Because when I went to for instance, I said, 138 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 2: I remember checking my mom on the phone and I 139 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 2: was like, Mom, it is you know. I say hello 140 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 2: to people here, like passing them on campus, and they 141 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 2: do not smile back. And I remember feeling like this 142 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 2: is so different now, like why are people saying hi? 143 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: But did you feel like Saint Louis. So I'm born 144 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: and raised in Manhattan, right, and that has shaped me undoubtedly. 145 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 1: How do you think Saint Louis has shaped you as 146 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: a child. 147 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 2: I feel very lucky that I grew up there. I 148 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 2: grew up in a suburb of Saint Louis. I had 149 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 2: a very lucky childhood I had. I have a wonderful, 150 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 2: supportive family. I have three siblings, two parents. I went 151 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 2: to an excellent school. I have a kind of I 152 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: recognize how lucky I was, and I have maybe a 153 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 2: childhood that would make other people angry because there weren't 154 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 2: any major traumas. And I feel like living growing up 155 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 2: in Saint Louis, I now see having lived in New 156 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:17,679 Speaker 2: York and Los Angeles, I do feel grateful for growing 157 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 2: up in a relatively quiet place. And I do think 158 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 2: about now. I have two boys, ages seven and almost four, 159 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 2: and I do wonder about, you know, where I will 160 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 2: be raising them because I have a different job than 161 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 2: my parents had. It as you know, it requires you 162 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 2: to be in possibly different cities than Saint Louis, And 163 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 2: you know, I do think that like having experienced the 164 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 2: Midwest and Saint Louis growing up, it had to have 165 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 2: had an impact on my outlook and personality. Like I said, 166 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 2: I do think there's just a I mean, this is 167 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,839 Speaker 2: no great insight, but there is a friendliness and openness 168 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 2: I think to the Midwest that isn't everywhere, and I 169 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 2: appreciate that it does actually feel genuine like fake. 170 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 1: And it's got something you're trying to really impart to 171 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: your boys, like do you want them to also really 172 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: know that. 173 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, yes, yes, and I think that there's you know, 174 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 2: I had a friend say once, you know, it doesn't 175 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:17,839 Speaker 2: matter where you're raising your kids if you have to, 176 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 2: you know, if you have family, parents, blood relatives or not, 177 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 2: you know, chosen family, whatever it is, who have a 178 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 2: good head on their shoulders, then your kids will be fine. 179 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 2: So I do think it's it doesn't matter where you 180 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 2: know they you will be raising them so long as 181 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 2: you're setting a you know, kind of grounded example. 182 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 1: You mentioned your career, which has been incredible. How did 183 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 1: you discover that you were a comedian? 184 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 2: I did? Quick Fire? 185 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 1: Was quick Fire? 186 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 2: I don't know when was founded, Okay. 187 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: I think it like ninety like ninety two. I founded 188 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 1: because it didn't exist. Yes, so quick Fire is the 189 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 1: improv comedy at Princeton. 190 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 2: And I loved it, so I auditioned my sophomore year. 191 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 2: I played field hockey my freshman year, but I used 192 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 2: the term play very loosely. I sat on the bench 193 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 2: and observed it. I was just telling my friends the 194 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 2: other day who also went to Princeton. I believe it 195 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 2: was somewhere between thirteen and eighteen seconds of a playing 196 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: time that I had my entire field hacking career. That's 197 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 2: not a lot too. My friends goes, he goes. Isn't 198 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 2: that more insulting than just not playing at all? I 199 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 2: was like, you know, I've never thought of that way, 200 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,839 Speaker 2: but yeah, I guess it is. I think. Yeah, So 201 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 2: I decided to leave that behind and I auditioned for 202 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 2: quip Fire, and it was this clicking that I sort 203 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 2: of had never really experienced before where I did feel 204 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 2: like I am good at this and I had never 205 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 2: I didn't suffer from low self confidence, but I don't 206 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:58,319 Speaker 2: think I had ever felt as confident as I did 207 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,319 Speaker 2: when I was in that improv group. 208 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: Triangle was a bit that, but it was really it 209 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: was doing comedy with like Bob Hope and and then 210 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: doing friends and realizing that my instincts were actually funnier 211 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: and better than what was on the page. Like it, 212 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: you know, the combination that I really that was like 213 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: a revelation to me. And it was just like, oh, 214 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 1: I finally found home. It says where I belong. 215 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 2: Well, well that's what I loved because in high school 216 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 2: I was in my high school plays and musicals and 217 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 2: you know, oh who was I? And anything goes? Bonnie? 218 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 2: I think she's like the cut up, she's like crazy, 219 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 2: but it's so it's comedy in like a very specific way. 220 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 2: This stuff that I was doing at Quip Fire in 221 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 2: Princeston or in quip Fire at Prinston felt for the 222 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 2: first time what I call now improv, which was, you know, 223 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 2: I both studied that our Citizen's Brigade and and you 224 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 2: know started in Chicago, and it was the first time 225 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 2: again where it instantly clicked and like you said, there's 226 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 2: a shorthand. So it felt like, oh, these people that 227 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 2: I'm with they get it too, like we all get it. 228 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 2: And I hadn't been in that environment before. I had been, 229 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 2: you know, kind of a jock, but I was in 230 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 2: the school plays. But then this I felt, you know, 231 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 2: at home. But I say that, I don't know why 232 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:18,679 Speaker 2: I say that tongue in cheek, because I really did 233 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 2: feel at home. And I'm friends with those you know, 234 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 2: well they are mostly guys. I'm friends with most of 235 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,839 Speaker 2: those guys to this day, which is says something you know. 236 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 1: Which says it's yeah, I mean that those those friendships 237 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 1: and comedy friendships. To me, John Ham, it comes to mind. 238 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: He he was your teacher, your drama teacher. Is that crazy? 239 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 2: Is that insane? Oh, it's so crazy, It's so crazy. 240 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 2: He went to my high school in Saint Louis, and 241 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 2: he went to college and then he came back to 242 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 2: teach at our school was called John Burrows. He came 243 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 2: back to teach at Burroughs for a year. He taught 244 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 2: theater and so I was in ninth grade at the time. 245 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:01,079 Speaker 2: So he taught. I took a semester of I think 246 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,679 Speaker 2: it was called like theater nine ninth grade, whatever ninth 247 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:06,079 Speaker 2: grade theater was, and he taught the improv portion. 248 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: We were just at his wedde Oh. Yeah, he's really 249 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: good friends with my mi Okay, yes, who's a comedy writer. 250 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:15,319 Speaker 2: Yes, yep, yep, yep. So I have always thought of 251 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 2: him as like an uncle, Like he's just kind of, 252 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 2: you know, there's that he he feels. I have no 253 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 2: idea if I'm just like projecting this and it's he 254 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 2: doesn't actually feel protective, but the air he gives off 255 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 2: is that of a protective uncle. I feel like because 256 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 2: I contacted him when I went to Los Angeles to 257 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 2: do my one person show, and I you know, emailed him, 258 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,720 Speaker 2: just cold emailed him from our Burrows like alumni website. 259 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 2: I said, I'm doing this show. He was on mad Men. 260 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:44,719 Speaker 2: I think it was like a third season of mad Men. 261 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 2: It's like, any chance you can call to see my show, 262 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 2: and you know, he showed up and he was in 263 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 2: the bah. Of course he did, and he's like that. 264 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 2: He helps out anyone from Saint Louis who like reaches 265 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 2: out to him. He's like, how can I help? He 266 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 2: is so giving. I adore the man. 267 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 1: And then you worked with him, Yeah, yeah, better. 268 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,679 Speaker 2: I couldn't believe this. It's so talk about nerves. Now 269 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 2: you just think I'm always a nervous wreck. But when 270 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 2: he came so he was the reverend on Unbreakable Kimy 271 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 2: Schmidt where I was Kimmy and he uh showed up. 272 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 2: I guess it was the end of the first season. 273 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 2: And so I'm in a scene with him. Of course 274 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 2: I fled my first line. Of course I did. And 275 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 2: I was like, oh, because there was a combiny so 276 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 2: many things at play. One I knew him as Don 277 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 2: Draper from mad Men. Two he was my teacher, so 278 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 2: I feel like he's great me. And then three he's 279 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 2: a phenomenal actor. 280 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: So I was. 281 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 2: Like, I hope I don't. I hope, I like, bring 282 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 2: my a game. But all of that was after I 283 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 2: got the flubbed line out of the way. It was easy. 284 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 2: I was like, Okay, this is actually fun. 285 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 1: You know what though it's it's it's surprising to me 286 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: all that you've done, but that you really sort of 287 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: didn't kind of break into the entertainment industry until we 288 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: were like twenty nine, like you were. 289 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 2: Yes, I was actually thinking about that in anticipation of 290 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 2: our conversation because we've had so like two totally different experiences, 291 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 2: and I feel like, in talking about Saint Louis and 292 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 2: my upbringing there, it does seem how you've navigated your 293 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:19,040 Speaker 2: way is so different from from me. But I do 294 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 2: feel I feel grateful that I had this quote unquote 295 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 2: normal childhood because then I think it has given me 296 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 2: perspective as I continue to navigate the entertainment industry and 297 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 2: especially getting older, there's been some life experience that has 298 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 2: just been non show business, which is valuable. 299 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: You know. 300 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 2: I'm not sure that I said that eloquently, but I'm 301 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 2: grateful that I began work a little bit later. 302 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: So what were your twenties really like you when you're 303 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: living and you're working in New York. But prior to 304 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: my office, what were those years like for you? Those 305 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: years were? They were? 306 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 2: I wouldn't call them. They were fine. I wasn't like happy. 307 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 2: I wasn't unhappy, but I wasn't, you know, living it up. 308 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 2: I'm much more content now, And I know that sounds trite, 309 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 2: but it's true. I do feel like as I've gotten older, 310 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 2: I feel more secure and confident, and in my twenties 311 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 2: it's more like, Okay, well, what is the plan here? 312 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 2: I'm doing improv at the People's Improv Theater at the 313 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 2: Upper Citizens Brigade. I'm doing that at night. I was 314 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 2: very lucky to have gotten a commercial agent and to 315 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 2: have booked commercials. I was earning a paycheck, which is 316 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 2: hugely satisfying, and not having to rely on my parents, 317 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 2: which I did have to, and was grateful to be 318 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 2: able to do that at first, but then began to 319 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 2: make my own money, which is just so satisfying on 320 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 2: many levels. But it also felt like, well, what is 321 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 2: the end goal? Is it to be a commercial actor 322 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 2: and do improv? 323 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: Did you have a plan? B? 324 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 2: No? And still don't, And so that's why I often 325 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 2: I don't know how your mind works. But every time 326 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 2: I'm like out of work for more than a month, 327 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 2: I'm like, well, what, I guess I'm like a peloton 328 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,640 Speaker 2: shut I could become a peloton instructor, I really don't. 329 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 2: I don't have any others. I don't have another skill set. 330 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 2: So so, and not that I could become a peloton instructor, 331 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 2: I would get too tired. But there was no plan B. 332 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:22,199 Speaker 2: And it was more like, you know, I got to 333 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 2: audition for Saturday Night Live, I think in like two 334 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:27,640 Speaker 2: thousand and eight, so maybe when I was like twenty eight, 335 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 2: and I didn't get apart, but that felt like progress. 336 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 2: That felt like okay, I had and parks and rec too, right, yes, 337 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,199 Speaker 2: actually sort of right next to each other, like the 338 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:40,119 Speaker 2: same year, and didn't get either. 339 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: And how do you deal with how did you deal 340 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: with that? It's to me, it's like, you know, I 341 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 1: never get used to rejection. I just don't. 342 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 2: Oh, I'm I'm really deep, don't. 343 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: It's because it fills personal and you know it's not. 344 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 2: Personal, Yes it does. You know it's not, and yet 345 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 2: it's so. 346 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 1: How did you deal with that rejection? What did it 347 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:57,919 Speaker 1: spur you to do it? 348 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 2: Oh? Do you know what it was? Actually, this is 349 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,480 Speaker 2: maybe a good I don't know if it's a good quality. 350 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 2: It's something that I just have, which is I get 351 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 2: angry when I'm rejected, so it makes me work harder. 352 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:13,119 Speaker 2: So it was a thing of like, and you know, 353 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 2: for Saturday Night Life, they don't outright call you and 354 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 2: say you didn't get it. They just don't call you. 355 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:18,679 Speaker 2: So after like a few months, I was like, I 356 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 2: have a feel that the season has started. 357 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:24,160 Speaker 1: And I'm not there, and I'm not there. 358 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 2: I have a Princeton education, so I was able to 359 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 2: put two and two together and I realized I didn't 360 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 2: get the job. 361 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:34,160 Speaker 1: Were you afraid when you auditioned? Were you nervous? Oh? 362 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was. I was sick with nerves because yes, 363 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 2: it's like it's Lauren Michaels and it's everything you've. 364 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:41,880 Speaker 1: Read Apperiales work. 365 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah, you present When I did it, there 366 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 2: were I think it was three characters of your own 367 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:52,439 Speaker 2: invention and then three celebrity impressions, which, oh wow, I 368 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:58,160 Speaker 2: cannot do impressions. I my face sort of looks like Renezelwegger's. 369 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 2: It's not that's not a compliment to myself. That's not 370 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 2: it just is it happens to look like her, and 371 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:05,359 Speaker 2: so I can scrunch up my face and look like her. 372 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 2: It requires no skill, it's just like what happens. So 373 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 2: I did her, and then I did I cannot. I 374 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 2: did a Miley Cyrus something with Miley Cyrus and I 375 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 2: don't know the third. But it's like I've honestly felt 376 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 2: the relief. I don't remember the nerves. I remember the 377 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 2: relief afterwards, like I did it. It's done. I never 378 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 2: have to do that again, Like I remember it like 379 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 2: a dream, I think, because it did feel so surreal 380 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 2: and there's no prep time. It was like a week 381 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:36,919 Speaker 2: before I met with Seth Meyers and Lorne Michaels, and 382 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,120 Speaker 2: then it's like you have a week before the actual audition, 383 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:42,160 Speaker 2: so there was no I felt like, that's not time 384 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,880 Speaker 2: to prepare anyway, and so you just have to It's exhilarating. 385 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 2: That was an exhilarating experience. But I should say that 386 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 2: it also inspired confidence because I felt like, oh wow, 387 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:56,439 Speaker 2: I've been invited to audition by Lorne Michaels, who is 388 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 2: the king of comedy, and so it felt like, okay, 389 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 2: well I made it. That far that's something and then 390 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 2: you know, and then from there I think I do 391 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:09,360 Speaker 2: feel like you know, I was able to make contacts 392 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:14,159 Speaker 2: through the Saturday Night Live audition that introduced me to 393 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 2: people in Los Angeles, and that's how I was able 394 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:19,719 Speaker 2: to audition for parts and rec and also not get it. 395 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 1: So I call this show now What because it really 396 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:36,719 Speaker 1: is about those unexpected things that pop up into our lives, 397 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: you know, personal, professional, spiritual, any any of that. But 398 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 1: they force us to really ask ourselves, now what Now 399 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: what do I do? So looking back, do you have 400 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:49,720 Speaker 1: is there any pivotal now what moment for you? 401 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:53,879 Speaker 2: There are two pivotal now what moments, and the first 402 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 2: one is and I'm going to talk like profession wise 403 00:20:57,119 --> 00:20:59,880 Speaker 2: because it's what you and I were talking about earlier 404 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 2: about it happens to have taken place at Princeton, but 405 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 2: just about college and being nineteen years old and feeling like, Okay, 406 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:09,680 Speaker 2: well I'm going to college to play field hockey, because 407 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 2: like I said, I played field hockey and I sort 408 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:15,439 Speaker 2: of laughed it off, but I did find sitting on 409 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 2: the bench to be somewhat demoralizing because I was the 410 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 2: star in high school and I prided myself on that 411 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:24,919 Speaker 2: and I thought it gave me a lot of I 412 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 2: felt a lot of self worth from that, and so 413 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 2: being humiliated at whether on purpose or not, at a 414 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,439 Speaker 2: higher level was ultimately I have to think good for 415 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 2: me because I think humility is always a good thing. 416 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:42,400 Speaker 2: But also walking away from one thing, the now what 417 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:44,880 Speaker 2: moment of like, oh, you know, this is not going 418 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 2: as I planned. I thought that I would be good 419 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 2: on this team. I thought that I would be a 420 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 2: contributing member of this team and gain recognition from that, 421 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 2: and I was not. And instead of sitting on the bench, 422 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 2: which would not have been you know, I don't know 423 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 2: that that would have been a bad move, but I 424 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 2: do feel like your four years in college are precious. 425 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 2: I didn't want to. I had to recognize that I 426 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 2: am not going to succeed at the level I want to. 427 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 2: So pivoting from that, I now feel was invaluable because 428 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 2: if I hadn't quit the team, I would not have 429 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:25,440 Speaker 2: auditioned for the improv team, and that is what absolutely 430 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 2: changed my outlook on what It's not that I wanted 431 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:30,880 Speaker 2: to become a professional field hockey player, but I don't 432 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:33,719 Speaker 2: think I would have taken improv and comedy as a 433 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 2: serious career track. Had I not had that experience with 434 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 2: Quippire where where I was introduced to the you know 435 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,359 Speaker 2: history of Chicago improv and all the legends that have 436 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 2: come out of there, Like, I didn't see that as 437 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 2: a viable career for me. And then but that pivot 438 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:53,679 Speaker 2: did I think open my eyes to that, which was 439 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 2: I feel. 440 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 1: Very grateful for it. And what was the second one? 441 00:22:57,400 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 1: What was the other one? 442 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 2: And the second one was I think that moment of 443 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 2: not getting the Saturday Night Live job and the Parks 444 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:07,199 Speaker 2: and Rec job which you brought up, which is like 445 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 2: I was doing this one person show and so it 446 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:12,239 Speaker 2: was like, well, you just got to keep working on 447 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 2: that and doing creating your own content, you know, to 448 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 2: bring something to it's it's it's weird with our jobs 449 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,159 Speaker 2: because you're rejected in a way that feels out that 450 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,479 Speaker 2: is usually out of your control. It doesn't mean you're 451 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 2: bad at your job. It means that you weren't chosen 452 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 2: for this job. So I feel like the you know, 453 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 2: being rejected from those two jobs opened the doors to 454 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 2: be on the office and that led to a lot 455 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:41,400 Speaker 2: of other you know opportunities. So it's weird. The now 456 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 2: what thing is like endlessly interesting because that's all life is. 457 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 2: It's like so many pieces of this are out of 458 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:49,639 Speaker 2: our control. 459 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:53,679 Speaker 1: I think, once you have a child, you live in 460 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 1: perpetual Now what moments do you have any that staying 461 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: out as a parent for you? 462 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:00,119 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, yeah, I. 463 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:01,959 Speaker 1: You know. 464 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:04,879 Speaker 2: I think it's I mean, this is probably infinitely relatable. 465 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 2: But just the pandemic, which was like, okay, so my 466 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 2: kids were on the whole. I feel lucky that they 467 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:13,199 Speaker 2: were as little as they were because they were they 468 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 2: didn't know what was going on. But it is that 469 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 2: feeling of just like okay, there's do you remember the 470 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:23,159 Speaker 2: brainwash we all what the necessary like brainwash we all 471 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:25,199 Speaker 2: went into, which was like okay, now we're living in 472 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,160 Speaker 2: a world where nobody can see anyway. So that felt like, 473 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,119 Speaker 2: but I'm raising two babies, okay, and so are millions 474 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 2: of other people. 475 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:32,399 Speaker 1: Now what. 476 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:36,200 Speaker 2: We went back to Saint Louis, we lived in we 477 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:39,120 Speaker 2: were able to live with family for almost a year 478 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 2: and and hunker down in that way and that and 479 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,720 Speaker 2: then it was like, but now things are ebbing, where 480 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 2: do we go now? And then I think, now, what 481 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 2: going back to New York and trying to, you know, 482 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 2: figure out how to how to resume some sort of 483 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 2: normalcy there. 484 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,679 Speaker 1: Have they seen any of your stuff? Like you're do 485 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: they know who Aaron Hannon in the office is. 486 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:02,640 Speaker 2: I think someone told him who Kimmy Schmidt was. Someone 487 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:06,480 Speaker 2: told my almost second grader who Kimmy Schmidt was, and 488 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:10,200 Speaker 2: so he he was like, he wasn't He didn't really 489 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:11,879 Speaker 2: have a strong take on it. He was like, he 490 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 2: knows that I'm an actor and that my husband's a writer, 491 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 2: but he doesn't know too much about it except that 492 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:19,880 Speaker 2: I also did a voice on Sophia the First so 493 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:22,720 Speaker 2: he knows, which is a cartoon, so he knows those things. 494 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 2: How old were your daughters when they knew that you 495 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 2: what you do? 496 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: I mean, the irony is that I did. I did 497 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:33,160 Speaker 1: the voice of Miss Spider this cartoon, and yes, and 498 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 1: yeah that was like they thought that that's they thought 499 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:40,360 Speaker 1: that that's all I did. And then and tried on clothes. 500 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:42,960 Speaker 1: My daughter was my younger one. When they asked her, 501 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:45,159 Speaker 1: she was like seven or something. They so, what does 502 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 1: your mom do? She goes, yeah, you know, clothes. I 503 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 1: was like what, Because I'm always I was always in 504 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: fittings like, so I yes, and i'd have to be 505 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:57,880 Speaker 1: she thought that's what I did for a living. 506 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 2: Oh I love that, but I yep, I could see 507 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 2: that as a kid being like, yeah, that's what she does. 508 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:05,119 Speaker 2: She she haes on closed and then they being her 509 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 2: after Oh okay. 510 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 1: So you know, but they were like, I'm we're never 511 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:14,359 Speaker 1: seeing any of your movies unless it's like a flat 512 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:18,199 Speaker 1: out comedy like they've seen, Like they'll see if I 513 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:20,479 Speaker 1: do a rom com, they'll watch that. But they have 514 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: no interest in seeing any of my earlier stuff because 515 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 1: it's like then it's not their mom. You know, they 516 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:29,760 Speaker 1: don't want You're owned by the other by people, and 517 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 1: that means that all of a sudden, they're not just 518 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: You're You're not just their mom, and they don't like that, 519 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 1: you know, even at twenty right, I don't like that. 520 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 2: But I'm so glad that they recognize that that that 521 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,880 Speaker 2: limitation is there, or that boundary is in place, because 522 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 2: I do think about that. 523 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:52,119 Speaker 1: Susan Loop though. Yeah, that their rooms at night. 524 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 2: That's smart, that's smart. 525 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: Their mom was funny, look at her, you might. 526 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:02,639 Speaker 2: That's the worst when I try to make them laugh 527 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 2: and I fail, and I'm like, you know that I 528 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:08,800 Speaker 2: do this for a job, and I don't say that, 529 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:10,720 Speaker 2: but I do think it, and I'm like, oh, well, 530 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 2: I hope someone thinks they're much. Are they always funnier? 531 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 1: They always? 532 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:16,399 Speaker 2: They always their kids, of course they're funnier. 533 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 1: I mean that's you know, would you ever consider like 534 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 1: a darker role that wasn't comedic? Would you ever do that? 535 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: Or is that? I think so? 536 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 2: I don't, you know, I don't know where I stand 537 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:29,879 Speaker 2: on that. I used to think, yes, I want to. 538 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:32,919 Speaker 2: I want to, you know, expand my range and explore 539 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:35,399 Speaker 2: something like that. But I also wonder it's sort of 540 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:38,080 Speaker 2: the same thing as you know, admitting I guess that 541 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 2: you went to Princeton. It's like here where it feels 542 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:44,639 Speaker 2: like should I not be you know? Is that something 543 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:47,199 Speaker 2: to be ashamed of? Is that something that sounds too 544 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 2: you know, privileged and crazy in this world? And I 545 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 2: do I know this is a strange comparison, but I 546 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 2: I kind of feel like I enjoy doing comedy and 547 00:27:57,640 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 2: I feel like I'm good at it, and I don't 548 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 2: feel all a strong poll to try to do drama 549 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 2: or at this point, so no, the answer is no, 550 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:09,359 Speaker 2: because I don't. 551 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:11,680 Speaker 1: You know, I used to think that I would only 552 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:15,440 Speaker 1: be credible if I, you know, went to those dark 553 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:19,400 Speaker 1: places and was really yes, all this yeah, And then 554 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:23,159 Speaker 1: I got older and I was just like, I don't 555 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:25,960 Speaker 1: enjoy it. I only enjoy comedy. 556 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 2: You are your words of music to my ears. It 557 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 2: doesn't I have done you know small I've had. I've 558 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 2: had experiences doing that. I don't feel like I've plumbed 559 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 2: the depths. I don't feel like I have. There's no 560 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 2: I don't feel the same sense of satisfaction as as 561 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 2: do when I do comedy, which isn't to say like, oh, 562 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 2: I want to do the thing I know I can do. 563 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 2: I feel challenged in comedy all the time. Anytime you're 564 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 2: in like what a scene with johnnym okay forget, that's 565 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:57,800 Speaker 2: a huge challenge. So I would and I would prefer 566 00:28:57,880 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 2: to continue to challenge myself in that way. 567 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 1: You also started a You've launched a comedy podcast. 568 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 2: On my Heart as I have on iHeart. 569 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:11,480 Speaker 1: Yes, and it's called Born to Love. Yeah. 570 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 2: Correct, It's wonderful. I have been co hosting the show 571 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 2: with my quick Fire. He's my friend from back at 572 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:23,080 Speaker 2: Princeton we were in our improv group together and I've 573 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 2: known him for over twenty years. So we host this 574 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 2: show called Born to Love and every week we have 575 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 2: a guest on to talk about something that they love 576 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 2: and talk about keeping it light. It is a light buoyant, 577 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 2: I hope boyant show where our guest talks about something 578 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:44,120 Speaker 2: totally unrelated to what they do for a living usually 579 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 2: and it's just supposed to be. I think when Scott 580 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 2: and I were trying to think of, okay, we want 581 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 2: to work on something together every you know, there are 582 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 2: a lot of podcasts out there. What's something sort of 583 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 2: different we could do. What I like about this is 584 00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 2: that you hear people talk about something you might be 585 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 2: surprised to know, you know that they love, and people 586 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 2: like talking about things that they like. It actually works 587 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:03,680 Speaker 2: out well. 588 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 1: And what do you what do you think you were 589 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:07,440 Speaker 1: born to love? 590 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:10,240 Speaker 2: If I were a guest on my show, I would 591 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 2: probably talk about running. And I know that maybe sounds boring, 592 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:17,920 Speaker 2: but I do love running. It's always been an outlet 593 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 2: like ever since, I mean field hockey aside, it's just 594 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:23,240 Speaker 2: I need to do it. You have the thing I 595 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:27,440 Speaker 2: do I need, Endoyan. I'm a junkie for Endorfis and 596 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 2: so it doesn't matter if I run for fifteen minutes 597 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 2: or you know, two hours. I never run for two hours. 598 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:33,720 Speaker 2: I don't know why I just said that, but I 599 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:38,080 Speaker 2: do feel like the release, the meditation it is. It's 600 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:42,240 Speaker 2: just like I it's a both a chemical, you know, release, 601 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 2: but it's also just gives you time to think. And 602 00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:47,200 Speaker 2: so everybody, I know, I feel like this self care 603 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:51,560 Speaker 2: mantra is to me. At first, I kept telling myself, Oh, 604 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 2: this is trendy, this is going to pass. No it's not. 605 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 2: It's like so valuable, Like you have to take care 606 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:02,440 Speaker 2: of yourself. You just have to. Everybody does everybody. 607 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 1: That was the hilarious Ellie Kemper. If you want to 608 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:09,719 Speaker 1: hear more from her, go listen to her new podcast 609 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:14,240 Speaker 1: Born to Love on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you 610 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:17,200 Speaker 1: get your podcasts. That's it for us today. Talk to 611 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:25,080 Speaker 1: you next week now. What with Burke Shields is a 612 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 1: production of iHeartRadio. Our lead producer and wonderful showrunner is 613 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:33,800 Speaker 1: Julia Weaver. Additional research and editing by Darby Masters and 614 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:39,240 Speaker 1: Abu Zafar. Our executive producer is Christina Everett. The show 615 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 1: is mixed by Baheed Fraser.