Digest

This podcast episode features a conversation with renowned comedian Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The hosts discuss her impressive career, including her roles in SNL, Seinfeld, and Veep, and her numerous awards, including the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Julia shares her experiences in middle school, including her early development, her discomfort with her body, and a memorable dance where she got her period. She also discusses her early comedic influences, her relationship with her mother, and her reflections on aging and the wisdom that comes with experience. The hosts delve into Julia's new film, "You Hurt My Feelings," which explores themes of family dynamics and honesty in relationships. They also discuss Julia's experiences on SNL, her journey to landing a role in Seinfeld, and her time working with Tony Hale on Veep. The episode concludes with Julia sharing her views on mortality, spirituality, and the mystery of life, and the advice she would give her 12-year-old self.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Julia Louis-Dreyfus: A Comedy Icon

The podcast hosts introduce themselves and their guest, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, a renowned comedian known for her roles in SNL, Seinfeld, and Veep. They discuss her impressive career and numerous awards, including the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

00:06:04

Middle School Memories and Navigating Boys and Humor

Julia shares her experiences in middle school, including her early development, her discomfort with her body, and a memorable dance where she got her period. She also discusses her experiences interacting with boys in middle school, particularly during a dance class where she first touched a boy and was surprised by his humanness.

00:10:40

Early Comedy Influences and The Power of Humor and Female Voices

The hosts delve into Julia's early comedic influences, exploring whether she was aware of her own humor at a young age. Julia explains that humor was ingrained in her family culture, and she gravitated towards performance arts, participating in school plays and shows. The hosts discuss Fran Liebowitz's observation that "boys don't like funny girls," and Julia shares her own experiences with boys who didn't appreciate her assertive humor. They explore the power of humor as a superpower and the importance of female voices in public spaces, particularly regarding aging and wisdom.

00:13:40

Julia's Relationship with Her Mother and Reflections on the Podcast and Aging

The hosts express their admiration for Julia's podcast, "Why Is It So Hard to Be a Woman?" and her practice of calling her mother at the end of each episode. They discuss Julia's close relationship with her mother, which was forged during a challenging period in her childhood. Julia shares that her mother is a writer and poet who has been a role model for her, particularly in terms of aging and embracing life fully. Julia reflects on the most surprising aspects of her podcast, highlighting the recurring themes of doing things that frighten you and the joy of engaging in meaningful conversations with diverse individuals. She expresses her excitement about aging and the wisdom that comes with experience, emphasizing that it's hard to be young and there's much to look forward to as you get older.

00:20:36

First Love and Heartbreak and Exploring Themes of Family and Honesty in "You Hurt My Feelings"

Julia shares a story about her first love and heartbreak in high school, where she discovered her boyfriend was cheating on her with his ex-girlfriend. She recounts a dance where she and her ex-girlfriend both wore dresses made from the same fabric, highlighting the awkwardness and irony of the situation. The hosts discuss Julia's new film, "You Hurt My Feelings," which explores themes of family dynamics and honesty in relationships. They discuss a scene where Julia's character discovers her husband's true feelings about her work, highlighting the importance of truthfulness and the challenges of separating oneself from one's creative work.

00:30:39

Rejection and the SNL Experience and Leaving SNL and the Path to Seinfeld

The hosts discuss the theme of rejection and Julia's experiences on SNL, where she felt initially overwhelmed and unprepared for the demands of live television. She shares her perspective on the competitive nature of the show and the valuable lessons she learned during her three years there. Julia discusses her experience being let go from SNL and her subsequent move to New York City. She shares her struggles with finding work and her journey to landing a role in Seinfeld, which came about after she had already signed a development deal with Warner Brothers.

00:37:29

Working with Tony Hale and the Power of Laughter and The Cultural Impact of Seinfeld

The hosts discuss Julia's experience working with Tony Hale on Veep, highlighting their shared joy in creating the show and their ability to make each other laugh. Julia shares that Tony is one of the actors who has made her laugh the most, praising his sublime and authentic performance. The hosts discuss the cultural impact of Seinfeld, and Julia shares her realization of the show's significance during the filming of the finale. She describes the intense fan interest and the overwhelming sense of the show's importance, acknowledging its lasting legacy and its unique brand of humor.

00:42:16

The Political Landscape and Veep and The Bond of the Veep Cast

The hosts discuss the political landscape during the run of Veep and how the show's satire became increasingly relevant as the Trump administration took office. Julia shares her initial concerns about the show's ability to maintain its satirical edge in light of real-world events, but ultimately acknowledges the challenge and the show's eventual conclusion. Julia discusses the bond she formed with the cast and writers of Veep, highlighting the importance of their close-knit community and how it translated onto the screen. She emphasizes the importance of familiarity and shared experiences in creating a sense of authenticity.

00:48:32

The Metaphor of the Shark and Cancer and Mortality, Spirituality, and the Mystery of Life

Julia shares a story about a time she was swimming in the ocean and her husband alerted her to a shark in the water. She describes her focus on the ladder back to the boat, ignoring the danger and focusing on the way out. She draws a parallel between this experience and her approach to her breast cancer diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of focusing on healing and taking manageable steps. Julia discusses her views on mortality and spirituality, sharing her experiences with her father's passing and the profound impact it had on her. She expresses her belief in the mysteries of life and her respect for the unknown, acknowledging her non-religious perspective but recognizing the presence of something beyond our understanding.

00:55:24

Advice for Her 12-Year-Old Self

Julia shares the advice she would give her 12-year-old self, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and the inevitability of facing challenges on the path to a calmer place. She acknowledges that difficult experiences are necessary for growth and ultimately lead to a more peaceful state.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was Julia's experience like on SNL, and what did she learn from it?

  Julia found SNL to be a challenging and demanding environment, initially feeling unprepared for the demands of live television. She learned valuable lessons about performing in front of a live audience and developed her comedic skills, even though she didn't achieve star status during her time on the show.

• How did Julia's relationship with her mother evolve over time, and what role has her mother played in her life?

  Julia's relationship with her mother was forged during a challenging period in her childhood, when her parents divorced and her mother's father died by suicide. They formed a strong bond, and Julia's mother has been a role model for her, particularly in terms of aging and embracing life fully.

• What is the central theme of Julia's new film, "You Hurt My Feelings," and how does it relate to her own experiences?

  "You Hurt My Feelings" explores themes of family dynamics, honesty in relationships, and the challenges of separating oneself from one's creative work. Julia relates to the film's themes, as she relies on her husband's input for her projects and values his honesty, even when it comes to criticism.

• How did Julia's perspective on the political landscape change during the run of Veep, and how did it affect the show's satire?

  Julia initially questioned the show's ability to maintain its satirical edge in light of the Trump administration's actions, which seemed to outdo the show's fictional satire. The show's tenor shifted, and the writers faced a greater challenge in creating effective satire, ultimately contributing to the show's conclusion.

• What is the metaphor Julia uses to describe her approach to her breast cancer diagnosis, and what does it teach us about healing?

  Julia compares her experience with breast cancer to being in the ocean and encountering a shark. She describes her focus on the ladder back to the boat, ignoring the danger and focusing on the way out. This metaphor highlights the importance of focusing on healing and taking manageable steps, rather than dwelling on the illness itself.

Show Notes