When President Trump was elected in 2016, comedian June Diane Raphael considered dropping everything (except her new baby) and running for local office. Instead, she chose to write a book helping other women do it. In some small part, that decision led to 2018’s record year of women winning seats in office. Sam asks June where her propensity for sharp decision making comes from, whether having kids helped or hurt her career, and why she prefers true crime over comedies. Follow June Diane...

We’re off this week but wanted to share a new Lemonada Media series with you that we know you'll love. It's called I Need To Ask You Something.We all have terrifying questions that we can’t stop thinking about. Did I make the right decision as a parent? Can I share a secret with my mother or father? Usually, these questions go unanswered because it’s too scary to imagine saying them out loud. This is the place where young people and caring adults in their lives can ask the hardest questions...

When author and activist Raquel Willis came out to her parents, they didn’t both react positively at first. While that was hard for her, she did not let it stop her from continuing to come out to others and live her truth as a proud trans woman. Sam asks Raquel how online forums helped her find community when she was a young queer person, why she wishes more members of the mainstream media would trade in their “objectivity” for empathy, and what she would like young people to learn in school...

We are dropping in your feed to share Lemonada Media's newest series, The Defenders. On Friday, June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Since then, it's been a barrage of bad news and bleak headlines. But for every restriction, there are many more acts of resistance, and a growing network of activists, clinic workers, faith leaders, and everyday people working to expand access to care.This is the story of the fight for freedom in a post-Roe America, co-hosted by Samantha...

When actress and comedian Ellie Kemper was supposed to make her Broadway debut a few months ago, she was so nervous she kinda hoped she’d get sick and be unable to take the stage. Many negative COVID tests later, she made it through her show’s run, but did end up losing her voice at the end due to stress and anxiety. Sam asks Ellie if she’d consider upping the fear factor and doing a one-woman live stage show and if she’s good at setting boundaries for herself at work. Plus, a surprisingly...

When Congressman Ro Khanna has a big decision to make, he wants to gather all relevant information and hear many differing opinions before he makes up his mind. When he’s at home, he defers to his wife. (Smart man.) Sam asks Rep. Khanna what it feels like to make decisions that affect millions of people, how he stays optimistic about progress when things feel so dire, and what the heck is going on with House Republicans. Plus, Rep. Khanna makes a choice in real time when the vote buzzer goes...

When Rachel Bloom was making a name for herself in comedy, she shared her life openly online. Then she became a mom and realized she wanted her daughter to decide for herself how online she would be. Sam asks Rachel how she balances her instinct to overshare with her desire to keep her child’s life out of the public eye, how she came to combine her love for sketch comedy with her background in musical theater, and what she means when she tells Sam she fears creative atrophy.    Follow...

When Sam asked multihyphenate entertainer Phoebe Robinson what professional endeavor she’d pick if she could only choose one, Phoebe realized her answer was a recent shift in opinion for her. The writer-producer-podcaster-actor-comedian has recently rediscovered the joy of standup comedy. Sam and Phoebe get into why Phoebe used to dread every standup set, the freedom she gained when she realized it’s impossible to make everyone laugh, and how she’s learning to trust her gut more.    Follow...

When comedian Maria Bamford recently did some shows in LA and New York, she decided to perform her set early in the morning. Despite some “goofballs” who fell asleep, the time change from a traditional late night start was a solid choice for her. Sam asks Maria how her family feels about being such a big part of her comedy, why it’s important for her to talk openly about money, and her new memoir, “Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult.”     Apple Books has teamed up with Lemonada Media for an...

When actress Kerry Washington’s parents told her a massive family secret five years ago, it shook her entire world. And despite being an extremely private person, Kerry decided to reveal this shocking information in her new memoir, “Thicker Than Water.” Sam and Kerry discuss how learning this truth helped Kerry truly know herself for the first time in her life and what made her want to share her story with the world. Plus, how Kerry feels about people’s inability to differentiate her from...

When Tina Smith was lieutenant governor of Minnesota, she was asked to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy created when Al Franken resigned in 2018. She’s been a force to be reckoned with ever since, fighting for abortion rights, mental health care, the environment, and much more. In this conversation taped before a live audience for MinnPost Festival in Minneapolis, Sam asks Senator Smith how she decides which issues to advocate for, why she believes that reproductive freedom is indeed a winning...

When Karamo was 15 years old, he came out as gay to his best friend. That didn’t stop her from convincing him to lose their virginity together and ten years later, he found out he had a son. Sam asks Karamo about the choices he made to forgive his friend, take custody of his son, and stop living in fear. They talk about his experience as the first openly gay Black man on reality TV, how his social work background helped him land his iconic role on “Queer Eye,” and the best ways to break...

When comedian Eric André was boarding a flight in Atlanta, Georgia, he was “randomly” picked out of line by cops and searched for drugs. Instead of chalking the experience up to yet another racist day in America, he decided to sue the Clayton County Police Department for racial profiling. Sam asks Eric what went into making that choice, why he no longer works in coffee shops, and how one prank on his show led to his arrest. Follow Eric André @ericfuckingandre on Instagram and @ericandre on...

When Ricki Lake hosted her eponymous talk show in the 1990s, she wore hairpieces and extensions to hide the fact that her hair was thinning. After decades of privately feeling shame about her hair, Ricki learned she had androgenetic alopecia, a common form of hair loss in both men and women. Sam asks Ricki about her decision to go public with her alopecia diagnosis, how she landed the gig hosting her talk show when she was only 23 years old, and the 35th anniversary of her star-making role as...

When Alyssa Mastromonaco was Deputy Chief of Staff in the Obama Administration, there was a point in time when she was averaging two hours of sleep per night. After a doctor’s visit confirmed she was exceedingly sleep deprived, she decided it was time to leave the White House after working for President Obama for nearly 10 years. Sam asks Alyssa what it was like to go from that high-stakes environment to watching HGTV all day, what made her decide that she’s never wearing Spanx again, and how...

When Bob the Drag Queen was broke and working at a Ruby Tuesday in Georgia, a theater friend offered to buy his ticket to New York City if he promised to leave right away. The decision to take that ticket changed the entire trajectory of his life. Sam asks Bob how he went from performing in children's theater to drag brunches, where he received the most heat while filming the HBO reality series “We’re Here,” and why our politics seem to be backsliding into a sinkhole. Follow Bob the Drag...

When Governor Gretchen Whitmer was at the start of her political career, she found herself caring for both her newborn daughter and her mother, who was dying from brain cancer. The choice to become her mother’s primary caregiver as a new legislator, mom, and wife taught her to stay focused on what matters and not get distracted by things that don’t. Sam asks Governor Whitmer how she handles haters, what’s front of mind as we enter the 2024 presidential election season, and why there needs to...

Today as a special treat, we’re sharing an episode of Hysteria from Crooked Media featuring our very own Samantha Bee!    Each week on Hysteria, political commentator and comedy writer Erin Ryan and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco are joined by a bicoastal squad of funny, opinionated women to talk through everything from reproductive rights to romcoms. They break down the political news of the week, plus the topics, trends, and cultural stories that affect...

When actor Rob Delaney’s two-and-a-half-year-old son Henry died, Rob decided to share his family’s experience with Henry’s illness and death with the world. What emerged was the deeply personal memoir, “A Heart That Works.” Sam asks Rob about how his approach to his career shifted after Henry passed away, a seemingly small choice he made at a recovery meeting that ultimately changed the trajectory of his life, and his thoughts on the platform formerly known as Twitter going off the...

When Amber Ruffin was living in Omaha, Nebraska, she figured she’d stay there forever – carrying the mail, buying a home, and maybe doing some community theater. Then she attended the Chicago Improv Festival with her Omaha improv group, and decided to pack up and move to the Windy City and give full-time comedy a try. Sam asks her how she got from improv to hosting her own late night TV show, her Tony Award-winning turn as a Broadway writer, and how she finds her amazing wardrobe of...

When Greta Gerwig is directing a film, each choice feels like the next move in a dance. When she falls out of step, she just has to find the dance again. Sam asks her about the art of directing, why attending Barnard College changed her life, and if she played with Barbies growing up.   Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and Twitter. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.   For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this...

When comedian Michelle Buteau saw elementary school kids practice an active shooter drill, she questioned whether or not America was the right place to raise her newly born twins. Tack on Trump’s presidency and some not-so-choice Supreme Court justices, and her husband’s home country of the Netherlands started to look even more attractive. Sam asks Michelle whether her family’s summer in Amsterdam may turn into a permanent move, the perks of being an expat in Europe, and how her book,...

When Judy Blume was 22 years old, she decided to defy her husband’s orders and vote for John F. Kennedy rather than Richard Nixon. That tiny act of rebellion in the ballot box became a defining moment in her life. Sam asks Judy how that set her off to become one of the top banned authors in the country, what her ideal sex ed curriculum looks like, and whether she’ll ever write a book about Margaret in menopause. Follow Judy Blume @judyblume on Twitter and @judyblume4real on Instagram. Keep...

When actor Betty Gilpin was simultaneously filming “Masters of Sex” and doing wrestling training to prepare for “Glow” (oh, and planning her wedding), she went into full upper body muscle spasms. Her nervous system was having a panic attack. Sam asks Betty how that moment taught her to slow down and changed the way she approached her life and career. They also discuss horse feuds, fake authenticity, and why we need to stop calling women badass.  Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on...

When two-time Emmy-winning actor Uzo Aduba was in high school, she thought she was going to be a lawyer. Then her creative writing teacher asked her if she’d ever considered going to art school, which introduced a choice to Uzo that she didn’t even know existed. Sam asks Uzo how she chooses her projects, including her upcoming Netflix series "Painkiller," and about the day she decided to quit acting, which then turned into the day she booked "Orange Is the New Black."  Follow Uzo Aduba...