Bystander or Upstander? (with Governor JB Pritzker)
Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois joins Sam to talk about what to do when the president declares war on one of your cities—totally normal stuff! The Governor explains why people need to finally decide if they’re going to be bystanders or upstanders and why he thinks people usually try to be upstanders. They talk about how President Trump talks a big game but also the federal government conveys nothing to the actual states they’re talking about, and why Illinois is always ready to go to court against Trump and will always try to call Trump’s bluffs. They discuss how if the government actually cared about crime they’d try to collaborate with Governor Pritzker to take illegal guns off the streets and how Trump is actually the one defunding the police. Governor Pritzker reminds Sam that Dr. Phil—yes, that Dr. Phil—joined an ICE raid in Chicago, and why he’s disappointed in some Democratic elected officials. They get into inviting the Texas delegation to Illinois, if Illinois will redistrict, and why compromise right now gets you nothing. Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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40:12
Actress or Animal Tracker? (with Martha Plimpton)
Actress Martha Plimpton joins Sam to talk about how she became a trained animal tracker in Africa, how she ended up living in the same apartment for 42 years, and at the risk of turning this into a total real estate podcast, Martha shares that for the first time in her entire life she won’t have a homebase in New York. She tells Sam about living in London and how people are less grossed out by menopausal women (and women in general) there, and why hot flashes were actually kind of fun for her. Then they talk about her new show, Task on HBO, and if her new role is based on Kash Patel (it’s not). They get into the current stage in the fight for reproductive rights, and finally settle why women their age are obsessed with birdwatching. Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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44:53
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44:53
A Bob or A Buzz? (with E. Jean Carroll)
Advice columnist extraordinaire and author of the new book Not My Type: One Woman vs a President, E. Jean Carroll joins Sam to talk about why she decided to write her book in secret even going to the length to edit it over Signal. Because Sam grew up reading E. Jean’s column, E. Jean also pauses to take credit for all of Sam’s success. They talk about the unwritten rules of jury trials like why you’re not allowed to entertain the jury with interesting stories and why E. Jean says it almost killed her. E. Jean regales Sam with the details of recreating her signature 1996 bobbed hair so the jury would believe she was fuckable (her words!), and the evidence she wasn’t encouraged to submit. Then she tells Sam about the Hideous Men Tour she used to run, and the year she spent as a writer at SNL. They had a gas! Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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47:16
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47:16
Hopeful Pessimist or Doom and Gloom? (with Jen Statsky)
Writer, executive-producer, and co-creator of Hacks Jen Statsky joins Sam to discuss her particular brand of hopeful pessimism, and their shared obsession with Jean Smart, who she says is one of the greatest nappers of all time. Jen explains that she is decisive if it’s a decision that only involves herself, but as soon as she brings in other people, there’s a big problem. Which is why she’s fortunate to have two amazing co-showrunners of Hacks, because they make most of the decisions together and she loves it—from hiring to writing assignments to what kind of office birthday cake to buy. They lament the lack of respect male comedians have traditionally held for female comedians who have come before them, and why six years may not sound like a lot but it’s an eternity in TV years. comedians have written off way more successful female comedians for eternity. They talk about what it’s like to go from being a staff-writer to being in charge of all the writers, and how the late night landscape has changed to be almost unrecognizable since Hacks began and how Jen kind of wants to leave her career to become a couples therapist. Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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43:40
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43:40
Listen or Speak? (with Piper Perabo)
Actress and activist Piper Perabo joins Sam to talk about the importance of listening to those who need help before speaking out on their behalf. Piper schools Sam on all the choices voters do actually have before 2028 (hello midterms!) and is the first guest to ever tell Sam that she is better at making decisions in the morning. Piper explains that she’ll probably never run for office because then she wouldn’t be able to keep saying exactly what she wants when she wants to, and why she prefers print news to online journalism. Plus they talk about Piper’s new show Butterfly, and why she’s thrilled to finally get to pay a villain. Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We make a lot of choices, every single day. Some explode, some implode, most we barely remember. Each week on Choice Words, Samantha Bee sits down with people she admires to examine the biggest choices they’ve made in their lives and the ripple effects those decisions have had. What’s a story a journalist took a chance on that changed history? A vote that a politician never should have cast? A song lyric a musician came up with in the shower that made them instantly famous? Sam’s made a lot of choices, too. She may have to interview herself about starting this podcast.
USA