Mindy Kaling

27:06And, um, we were, we were 21 or 22 writing about what we imagined Matt Damon and Ben Affleck were when they were 21, 22. It's so psychotic. Like if I was Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, I'd be like, this is, have you ever talked to them about it? I have met Matt Damon once and Ben Affleck like a handful of times. And I think they think it's weird. This is a real person. They've been nothing but gracious. Of course. For this very strange thing. I would not be nice if someone was playing Mindy Kaling in a play. Oh, and you? I would try to destroy them with my lawyers. My team of lawyers would descend upon them and crush them.

27:41But to their credit, Matt and Ben Affleck But what if Matt and Ben played... What if Ben played you? That would be pretty fun. I'd be... I'd try to crush them with my lawyers. That's smart. Yeah. Just cease and desist, babe. Just right away. Like, we'll padlock the theater door. I'm going to take all that good accountant money from you. Yeah. And accountant too. I remember even at the time, I was like, this is radical. Because it was exactly, it was like two young women kind of assuming what would be like in the heads of like, you know, they were, Matt and Ben were archetypes for just like young men like working together and figuring out life together.

28:20and I remember you guys making that show and I was like this is radical this is like oh my god that's so it was it was very cool well thank you for saying I mean it was so liberating to not have to worry about being pretty like we were dressed as men yeah it was um obviously we didn't invent camp but we got to discover how fun it was to just play men but really real yeah um and it was great to just we didn't have to worry about any of the things that our contemporaries were kind of worrying about because we wrote the script we directed it ourselves yeah and um it went to like fringe right so we did it at um the fringe festival we got into the fringe festival we won the fringe festival then it moved off broadway and that's when it started getting like attention that's when like like a couple celebrities came and saw it and that's how it moved to la and how i got hired on the office you go from matt and ben to basically being the only woman in a writer's room at the office, you are not the only woman and the only woman of color in a incredibly smart, hyper talented and nice group of men, but yes, who, um, but still it is your first job.

29:28Yeah. I mean, you come from that world. It's competitive and it's like, and so I think that going into that room, like a lot of people now will be like, wow, I can't believe you got hired in the office. You were so young. You must feel so great. And you were like looking, when I look at the people who were, I was working with, they had been working since they were 21, you know, and had already had Emmys. So I still felt like I was behind. So I think, but I will say also, like, I was such a workaholic. It helped that I was like friendless in Los Angeles and had no hobbies because I was just obsessed with work.

30:02I was dazzled by like Mike, BJ, Paul Lieberstein, Greg, you know, and who wouldn't be like, I had never been in a writer's room. And then I'm with these guys who are like, Like even to this day, I consider some of the very best comedy writers. Then later, like Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stipnitsky, like just as dazzling. Yeah. And so I really wanted to impress them. Yeah. I really wanted to date some of them. Yeah. Right. And I was varying degrees of successful in those. And when Kelly Kapoor was that written, like how did how did you find out you were going to be on the show? The way that I got the part was I think BJ had written this episode called Diversity Day.

30:41and one of I think one of the funniest episodes in the office ever and Greg decided that it would be the second episode and in order for it to be funny that like Michael Scott was offending a room of people it didn't it wasn't as funny if it was just like all white like you needed to be offending some people right and so I was so lucky to be in the writer's room and being Indian because he's like, would you play someone that he offends and then slaps him? And I was, I mean, I was just content to be a comedy writer for the rest of my life. That was like my dream come true. So to be on camera was like, just like outrageous.

31:20The one thing I think is so groundbreaking about The Office was that at that time, the aughts, like to be on a show where you didn't have to be like a straightforwardly hot woman. Yes. Like the whole point is, you know, and this is a real Greg Daniels thing. It's like, what is beautiful is what is real. Yes. And that wasn't very many shows. That's right. That's right. I also like love, and I'm sure you feel this way too. Actually, maybe you don't, but I love being a meme. It makes me feel young. Are you kidding me? It's my dream. When people send me a meme, like I've actually been like, can I send people my own memes?

31:55Oh, do it. It's such a mic drop. It might be too weird. But there's no higher compliment. I send people memes of Kelly saying this day is bananas all day long to Dave and Ike. I mean, Kelly Kapoor is the, to me, the definition of what the young people would say, like someone who has main character energy. She is in her own world, her own show and in that show. It's fun to be a nice, I think, to be, you know, she is a tertiary character, but believe she's a main character. That's like a really nice. Yes. She has one line every three episodes. Yeah, but she's in her own very, like, intense play and drama forever.

32:35And then the show does, like, I would say, like, any good character, like, the show, like, you know, and you know from writing, like, you start to realize, like, what people's strengths are and you start to write to it. The show starts to realize, like, oh, what Kelly can do is, like, be in this kind of fierce competitive fantasy world that can allow us to, like, like, you shoot a lot of threes in that show. because you, like— Thank you. That character is able to go to some really sharp and funny places. Well, she thinks she's the hottest person at the office and, like, feels bad for Pam. She is.

33:13You know, and thinks, like, Ryan's a huge catch and that she's, like, destined for, you know, fame. And so that is a fun— I mean, it's so fun to play, like, delusional characters. It's the best. characters. Yeah. And then to be able to then be delusional on the Mindy project with a different character was fun. Okay, good. That's a good segue because you go from—I just want to say you ended up writing more Office episodes than anybody else. Thank you for saying that. Okay, so everybody needs to know that. So all your Office episodes that you love, that everybody's watching every night, there's high probability that Mindy wrote it.

33:48Like my publicist was like, this is a talking point that needs to come across, Amy. I mean, I could talk about this with you forever, and maybe it's too kind of inside baseball, but the way you enter the business, you entered the business as a writer and then like in that same time became a performer and you're also a producer and all those things have like different pros and cons. You really did do it for Mindy. You created, you were like, I'm going to write, create, and star in this show. And there's nothing harder. There's nothing harder. And there's nothing more gratifying. Like I was so obsessed with it.

34:23I I mean, and then coming from the office where I had been there for eight years, had like a line every episode. You know, I was thinking about like recently just like call sheets. Yeah. And to be like the call sheet for people who don't know, but they might know is, you know, it's every day it just announces the hierarchy of the production. I love a call sheet so much. Yeah. I could stare at it forever for people that don't know. It's one piece of paper that tells you your entire day, week, month, and in many ways your life. You're exactly right. It tells you who is number one, who is number two, who is number three, who is number four.

34:57It lists the importance and descending order of the people that are there. And so for years on that show, as is obvious and should be, like, Steve is number one playing Michael Scott. And Kelly is number 11. And it's not like, you know, to come at the—we just talked about the first season when I was just lucky to have that first, you know, in episode two, being able to be in that scene with Steve and to be able to be in SAG and be able to actually do all that. That's huge. But eight years later, I was like, number 11 gets a little old. And I was like, I really want to see what it's like to literally just have more lines and to be able to take on the thing of like being the comedy engine of a show.

35:39And I, you know, I talked to Ike a lot about this and I think you did this with Parks and probably on SNL too, but like, it's a skill to be able to be the star of a sitcom and come in and just be like my engine is on from seven o 'clock in the morning until we wrap yeah and i am just like i had to bring the best out of other people and wake them up first thing in the morning and kind of like a constant host yeah yeah and it's and you're watching people leave all day that was the other thing that was so sad on friday night you're just waving everyone's wrapping and they're like have a good weekend And you're like, you too.

36:14Like, it's just the saddest goodbye. But at the same time, I felt like the days were so much shorter than when I had one line at the office. Yeah. Like the day flows by because it's just like funny scene after funny scene. Entire departments who are there to help you do your job the best. Yeah. You know, and that was like such a joy. I mean, it's so obvious to say this about being a star of your own show. But like that was it was what I was longing for to assemble my own writing staff. so many of whom like Lang Fisher, Tracy Wigfield, Ike, Dave, Matt Warburton. Who are doing a great new show right now.

36:47Four Seasons with Tina. And so to be able to work with all these people that made me better, inspired me. And let's talk about our friend Ike, Baron Holtz, who was here and who you met on that show. Yeah. And Dave Stassen. Those guys are, I mean, let's just, Ike is listening. So we should say something nice about him. We should say something nice about him. Um, look at us making sure that the white guy is taken care of. Feel comfortable and seen. Look at us. It's just because, you know, his personality is that like he would, he would do that for us. He would.

37:22This episode is brought to you by eBay. Lately, more and more people have been talking about selling on eBay and we can see why. Everyone has stuff that no longer fits their lives. And selling on eBay is actually really easy. Just snap a few photos, write a description, and set a price. Suddenly, the stuff that's just been sitting around is in front of millions of buyers already searching for what's next. Find what you love. Sell what you don't. On eBay. This episode is brought to you by Purdue Global. What no one tells you is how chaotic adulting really is. I swear, there's just no clearing the to-do list these days.

37:56That's why a lot of times, chasing dreams gets put off until someday. But if you want to level up your education, Purdue Global meets you exactly where you are, right in the middle of real life. The moment doesn't have to be perfect before it can be your moment. Start your comeback today at purdueglobal.edu slash goodhang. This episode is brought to you by all free clear detergent. Are you trying to be a bit more mindful of the things you buy for you and your family? You know, reading the labels, checking the ingredients, trying to understand what all those letters, numbers, and long words mean.

38:30I get it. Sometimes we don't really know what's in the things we buy, and we want to feel good about our choices. So when it comes to laundry detergent, choose All Free Clear. 100 % free from dyes and perfumes, All Free Clear detergent uses only essential ingredients that tackle tough stains and odors. And it's gentle on skin. It's a powerful clean you can feel good about. So go on, pick up a bottle of All Free Clear for your next laundry day. Now streaming on Acorn TV. There's a killer on the loose. Brooke Shields leads an all-star cast in the hit original mystery series, You're Killing Me. I sell mysteries for a living.

39:09I think I'm good to go. Maybe in one of your books. Not in real life. Catch every killer episode. You're someone who can vouch for your whereabouts at the time of the incident. What are you, the alibi police? That's literally who he is. Exactly who I am. You're Killing Me. All episodes now streaming on Acorn TV.

39:31The other thing is that I love that you've spoken about with Mindy Project is like in many ways it is a tribute to your mom. Yeah. And because your mom was an OBGYN nurse, doctor. Doctor, yeah. Yeah, sorry. OBGYN doctor. For Indian people, that's a huge distinction. I know. I was so sexist. Daddy wanted him to come for you now. No, no. Okay, so she wasn't a doctor doctor though, was she? Oh, she was a doctor. She was a woman doctor. Surely she was taking notes and the male doctor was. Yeah, the male doctor was coming in for the baby. part yeah no but um but your your character was kind of a tribute to her and your mom um uh can you speak a little bit about your mom you spoke you speak about her all the time and she seemed just talking about my mom so the character on the mindy project i mean she was she couldn't have been more different than my mom's personality um but i loved the world of playing an ob-gyn my mom's had such a great personality because she spent her entire day with women telling who told her the most personal things about their love lives and reproductive hopes and just everything and all their problems.

40:35It's such a personal relationship. And to have a world like that, I, it was like, honestly, some of it was laziness. I didn't have to research that much. I just understood what the office looked like and what the nurses were like. And so, but so that was that. I also think it's nice for a lead character in a show, particularly when the character is so out there and sort of selfish and flawed to have such a selfless job. Yeah. You know, helping women. You were like, inherently, she's a good person, even if all she says all day is that she wants to get married and get railed by hot men. You know what I mean?

41:12You're like, okay, like she's helping women through some of the hardest transitions of their lives. Do you feel like you could, after doing that show, do you feel like you could deliver a baby? Do I feel like I could deliver a baby? Do you think you could? I feel like I could affect the confidence that could really put a woman at ease. Oh, yeah. Do you know what I mean? And I think this is like a real stupid actor over a confident talk. I feel like I could figure it out. I think you could. I've had three kids. I feel like— I was watching. Yeah, I feel like you could deliver a baby. Thank you. I think—I mean, I have a problem where I think I can do things that I wouldn't be able to do.

41:49What? Like what? Deliver a baby. Deliver a baby. I feel like I could. I don't want to, but I feel like, I feel there's a part of me that's like, I could at least be enthusiastic about, like, getting people to push. I think there's some parts that would freak me out a little bit. Sewing a lady back up. Yeah, we don't need to do that. Let her nurse do it. We're going to get somebody to come in and finish it up. I just mean the delivery part. Yeah, I don't think I could do a C-section. Like, I have a, yeah, no, a C-section. Forget it. No, I'm not going to do that. You know what? I take it back. we shouldn't do it um we shouldn't do it we shouldn't be around anyone who's pregnant um um oh and then before i move on to um your more tv stuff i do want to talk about we had a really fun trip one time you and i where we went to can together yeah for inside out and it was like i've never been before or since i've never been back to can really glamorous and it was very Very glamorous.

42:45Yeah. And it was the first time I had ever been on that kind of like international like press tour, like on the steps of the. Amy, I think about that press tour so much. I do too. I think about it a lot. One, it was so hot and sweaty. Yeah. Very hot and sweaty. Like we were always like in the beating sun. Yeah. And like, but beautiful. Yes. But like always like I was sweating through my clothes constantly. And I remember this distinctly, and maybe this is offensive, that we would be doing like an international junket. And unlike an American junket, it would be like, the questions would be like, I don't know, maybe because of, I don't know, culturally it was just a...

43:24Ruder, let's just say it. Why are you, you are so fat. You're smiling, but your face is not nice to look at. Your face is not nice. Why do you think that people like to look at your face? In America, a fat and smiling woman can be starved. we've read you can, you have your own sitcom, but you are fat. Yes. You are obviously Hufflepuff, and yet you believe you're Gryffindor. Stuff like that. You play Joy, but you are not in your 20s. Yes, and you didn't smile at me when I was asking you a question, so I don't find you joyful at all. And so, okay, remember, you know that Javier Bardem clip when he's on a junket that has gone viral where someone's like, he was working with Penelope Cruz, and he's a European journalist, is like, so you work with your wife you must be crazy to work with a woman like that you're married to most people would want to kill themselves if they had to do such a thing and he's like I find that very offensive and I was like watch that and I was like oh like if only like can you I can never imagine sticking and being having a spine in an international press junket and being like how dare you sir I was like just laugh I mean I feel uh let me ask you what are your generational pronouns, how do you identify?

44:39Are you a millennial? Do you identify as millennial? Hey, this is a, this is a very sore topic for me. Okay. Because for a while I was considered a zennial. Okay. Which was a, have you heard of this? Zennial? Zillennial? Zillennial. Zillennial. No, I don't, I'm, this is making you be a millennial. This is making me be a millennial. But I was like, oh, thank God. Because when I was growing up, like when I was like in middle school with like the movie Singles was out. Yeah. And I was like, that's to me, Gen X. That's Gen X. You know, Ben Stiller. Yes. That's Gen X, right? Yeah. And then now Zaniel went away and now they're just like, people are just like, you're Gen X.

45:18Like Ike and Dave are like, we're all Gen X together. That's not true. They're making themselves younger than they are. You have a lot of Gen X qualities, I will say. And I love Gen X. I love Gen X too. But you have, but you're 10 years younger. So you might be like millennial. To your point about pleasing, like getting somebody who's hard to please. I realize I have that with boomer men. Interesting. I'm just a little bit like in there, like mid 65. I'm like, you know, it's a little like boss situation. You saying that may, it so resonates with me because I felt that way about Greg Daniels. Greg and like Conan.

45:56Yes. You know, and then obviously all the SNL people that were there when you were there, like I feel exactly the same way. But now I'm technically the same generation, which is breaking my heart. Yeah, that's a little weird. But I do feel that way because they were the gatekeepers. We didn't talk about Conan. You were, you were, you did get that page job. I was an intern at Conan. Oh, intern. So I didn't, when I was still in college, I applied to be an intern at Conan. That's actually, that job is what made me thought that I maybe would get the page job. Yeah, got it. Because those internships were like considered hard to get.

46:30And that's where I first learned what comedy writers did. Although like a variety show comedy writer is like such a different job than like a sitcom comedy writer. And I actually think the personalities of a variety show comedy writer is very different than a sitcom guy personality. How is it different? I think that there's, well, I think of one as like a quintessentially New York job. Although, of course, there's variety shows out on the West Coast and one is like an L.A. job. Yeah. I think they are both very funny, but there's like a more, this is not true, but this is the way I thought of it.

47:02But like there was more of like a cerebral darker energy to New York variety show writers, right? Where it was like joke, joke, jokes. How do we get the best jokes? Monologue sketches. Like it's got to be like quick and funny and then you're done if you live or die by hard jokes. And then the sitcom writers, which is like story and let's think about the characters. and so as someone who wanted to be in the New York world, but that was slammed, the door was slammed shut in my face. I kind of came up in this other world. And so I always thought like, oh my God, that's so intimidating. That's why I guest wrote on SNL.

47:39Right. Which is where I think that was the first time I met you. Okay. I was trying to remember the first time we met. Was it when you were guest writing? I was a guest writing at 2005. Yeah, sure. And that was when I met you and Tina. and I remember this and I don't know why I remember this story and I'm not proud of it. And I don't know why I would possibly come up with two women that I admire and just came up. I don't know, but we were somewhere and I was like, yeah, I just want to lose 30 pounds. And the two of you stopped and were like, what? That is too much weight. And I remember I was so happy for like three weeks after that.

48:15I was like, wow, Amy and Tina don't think I'm a fat load. Like I was so happy. No, Mindy, never. even in the odds like you guys are like what are you crazy but i was thinking like why would i have told that to them that's so weird i would say because if we're to get real it's because that's how women talk to each other is that i think it is like i think we all like weight watchers it was because at the time there was a conversation about weight watchers i think you know we were like we just like everybody else were like constantly trying to figure out um everybody's relationship to being on camera.

48:47Yes. And I do think that for better or for worse, what women do for each other and to each other is they talk about their bodies to each other. Like we are, we like, you know, it's one of the things I love so much. And I, I am sure you're the same way. Like I love about my female friends is I can really say like, I'm feeling this way and that way. And it's kind of how we like say hello. No, I mean, I think to be able to be with two of my heroes and have them acknowledge because you could have easily been like we don't ever think about it we're naturally thin do you know what I mean imagine yeah people are like I don't know what you mean I don't understand I just it's I just eat whatever I want I mean for you to say that that you weren't just like we are naturally thin we eat whatever we want you didn't and so I think that that was a I think a really it was a kindness for you to acknowledge like oh yeah that so I could I could see that in my heroes but it is really it is really fascinating and nice that culture has changed so much it has but it hasn't it hasn't right because we're still asking people about their weight we're still asking people about their bodies I mean I actually really try I I have a couple like rules that I never say out loud on this podcast but one of them is I try not to talk about people's bodies because it's like people's bodies are their own business if you had the male cast of off-campus here yeah i don't want him i just want him to throw me against that bookshelf yeah and i guess and they'd flex and they'd be fine with it i know it's a fine line you can't you can't yeah you can't um but but you and it's good it's good that you can't it's good that okay but this is a good segue into the okay because you have made into well into non-suitable for work okay okay yes yes what you can't do yes what you can't do yeah i'm so surprised like I was wondering what is this a segue to but you're you're you have a new show out on Hulu not suitable for work and it is you've called it kind of the third in a trilogy can you I'm really trying to get that I have a trilogy that I'm like Peter Jackson you're a mogul you have a trilogy I have a trilogy just like me and I mean one of the things about being a mogul is you have to start talking like everything you did was like a perfect you know it's all part of a master plan that I master plan I have to embody that more yeah that things are not just like accidental no it's just not a series of moments whatever's happening no making it up on the spot this makes sense because this is the third in the installment but you have made three tv shows never have I ever um sex eyes of college girls thank you and um not to do a workplace all three are like I mean I they're very very different but what would you say is a unifying theme in all of them?

51:29I think I love writing for underdogs. Yeah. And ambitious people and people with lots of big wants and needs, both like romantically and professionally and who feel like they don't have access to it. And that's sort of, I think, the thing in common with all three of those shows. Yeah. A lot of horniness. Working on Not Suitable for Work. I mean, this cast is, they're so funny they're so good and they were all none of them were unknown they'd all had like a lot of success but I wouldn't necessarily say that they were like super super well known yet but Will Angus was in a very popular sketch troupe Ella Hunt was on that wonderful show Dickinson Avantika was in Mean Girls but this is just a a way to have them all together and they're super funny they're super appealing and I I loved working with them Avantika is who we spoke to today to get the question for you.

52:25Really? And Avantika is, so we did, you know, we do this thing at the beginning where we talk well behind our guests back. And I really wanted to speak to Avantika for a couple of reasons. One is she is like, you know, you are the example of what she watched growing up. You were representation in real physical form. Somebody who wrote their own parts, who created their own stuff for themselves and who also, like you said, like enjoy, like you enjoy being entertained. Your shows are not homework. No, I think I'm not writing shows for like television studies professors. Yes. Do you know what I mean?

53:10Not that I don't think that's an important job and things, but I'm, I want to do something that's like when times are hard. That's right. You know, when like my mom was sick and we wanted to watch something, it's like we watched Modern Family. It was like, I want to watch something that's like legitimately so funny. Yes. Yeah. And I like seeing people fall in love and I love like great costumes and doing something in the city. I also love The Office where it has not those qualities, but it's super funny. But I do know what you're saying and I take it as a compliment. And she spoke about being around you and like your curiosity and also just like your curiosity about other people's lives and young lives and like really like your support as a as a producer and as a person.

53:54And also, Mindy, just what I think is so impressive about you is you feel like you're working within the system and you're also still a person like the rest of us, I guess. So it's like you are this mogul who also is like just along for the ride like the rest of us. Like it's very hard to do both of those things. And I think you do it really, really well. Thank you. Oh, my gosh. And she speaks about that. And it's funny. Her question is so cute. It was like, what is your EGOT? But she was like, what are four things that Mindy wanted? Four? I know. I said, that's too many things. That's so many things.

54:36I agree. Do you feel this way where if you see a movie you love or you listen to an album or you see a Broadway musical, you're kind of like, should I try to write a Broadway musical? Podcast. Or should I? Like, I'll listen to it. I'll go to it. Which you're nailing. So now you should do the next thing. I feel you. I see something and I'm like, should I try it? Should I try that? And that's, I think notoriously how bad art is formed, right? When people do stuff that they're not equipped to do, but have this delusional feeling that they can. And I've done that many times. But you know what I'm really impressed by is like, I always think about Jordan Peele and Greta Gerwig.

55:15Oh, yeah. And how, as does the rest of the world. But I love that Jordan came from sketch comedy. Yes. And with Greta, like coming from being an actress and like the muse of Noah Baumbach and then being like, well, I want to direct. And then taking something like Barbie and making it like this great movie about feminism. And so and now doing the Narnia stuff like so I'm always really inspired by them. I think that's the thing is I'd love to be able to write and direct movies. Yes. Yes. Another thing, and this is not creative, but like, I feel like my feed on Instagram is just always about how fleeting our time with our children is.

55:56It's just like, it's just like frightening post after frightening post about how like you have 18 summers with these people. I didn't know it was the last time I would pick him up. Exactly. It's like Jesus Christ. These haunting things about these wonderful children that I love. And so I really want to be able to hang with them and be with them in a real way where they look back at it and they're like, how was mom able to do that? But then also do these other be there for us so much at the time. And I know I'll fail, but like I really want to try to be there. My mom really set the bar. She was so busy.

56:31Like we missed Thanksgiving's because she was delivering a baby. She wasn't there for the school play. and I was the perfect match for her as a daughter because I just thought it was like glamorous. Yeah. And I was like, wow, mom's like really doing a lot. But I have three kids. I don't know that they're going to think maybe one of them will be that way and the other two won't. So I got to really, I got to really invest in being them. So that's the second thing. What else would I want to do? I don't want to hold public office. No. I don't want to adopt like seven kids. I love the people who do that.

57:02I can't. Three is enough. Three is a lot. I don't think I want to like teach at a college you don't know that don't rule that out think about this think about this future though that you get to come in I often think about the next decade think about coming in like a beautiful sweater like Dartmouth let's say drive in at 10 o 'clock in the morning have your coffee you you know you create the door creaks open and there's like 150 like kids staring at you and you start your class nobody gets to interrupt you're done in an hour you know you write a book about it then you write a movie about it that's all i'm saying i think that that sounds that does sound good doesn't that sound good we don't have to grade papers no papers nothing like that well it'll all be like robot there'll be no paper yeah i will be doing it right yeah there'll be no i I like that or I also like when they, you get to a certain age and then like TV shows just want like that kind of like decrepit grand dame.

58:07Oh, yeah. To come in, you just say a couple lines and everyone's like laughing. They just like lift you onto a seat. Yeah. I want to get to the point where people are like, she looks good. She looks good. This has been so fun, Mindy. Has it been? Yeah. I'm so. That's very Enneagram 6 of you. It is. That's very Enneagram 6 of you. No, I'm stressed. I'm stressed. Tell me why. No, I just, I love this so much. I've been very entertained by previous episodes. And I just, I'm just fast-forwarding to my nanny Jenny sitting on the sofa. Yeah. And hoping that she doesn't click away. No, she's going to have.

58:44I mean, she's going to be, she's going to be wrapped. She's going to be wrapped. Okay. And also, my last question to you is like, what are you, because I know you are like, you're a pop culture consumer. Yeah. Who is making you laugh these days? What, what, when you, when you want to, like, you know, I know for me, it's hard for me to kind of watch comedy. Like it's like, what do you watch to check out, tune out, laugh, like feel like, is it a video? Is it TikTok? Is it a show? So I'm not on TikTok for no real reason. It's not like a decision, but I think it's tied to in some way like productivity.

59:23Like I'm worried I'd be too into it. Damn, that's so true. But for me, the biggest thing that I'm into, I mean, I do like a lot of dramas. And like your friend Emily Spivey, love murder. But I think for me, I loved The Curse. Is that, that's the right name. It was the Nathan Fielder show. Yes. Really strange and interesting. Really, let's talk about Nathan Fielder. And Nathan Fielder, who is like, I think for people my age or women, he's a real heartthrob too. He's a millennial heartthrob. He's a millennial heartthrob. a big time. And I'm happy for him. He's so funny and talented. With Emma Stone, I loved that show.

1:00:01Yes. That was a really good weird show. Weird show. And then, I mean, it's honestly like, it's like, what don't I like? Like most of the time I, I like stuff. Like I like all the things that you would expect. Like I love Abbott and I love Hacks and I like all the dramas, like who doesn't like the pit? It's like, I like those things. And I, that's like, I love, it's such a delight to watch them and see people who are really good at their craft doing things. Yeah, you're able to enjoy still knowing how things work. You're able, like, kind of like in the very beginning when we started talking about it, which is, like, you know how hard it is to make something good.

1:00:38Totally. Mindy Kaling, thank you for being here. Thank you for taking the red eye. Only for Amy Puller. I'm so happy you could do this. Thank you so much for doing it. Thank you, Amy. It was such a good thing. It was so good. Thanks, everybody.

1:00:52Thank you so much, Mindy Kaling. You're always so honest and forthcoming and funny. And it was really great to have you. And, you know, Mindy and I got into a lot of really interesting topics, including being a working mother and deciding to just do the things you love and try to, as best you can, avoid the things that you hate. And I have a strong feeling about that. I feel like in motherhood, there's things that you like, you love, you feel neutral about, and you really don't like to do. And if you can try to avoid the things that you really don't like to do, then the rest, you know, the rest might come a little easier.

1:01:28So some people get stressed around, you know, bath time. Some people don't want to go to the park. Some moms hate taking their kids to get shots. I mean, who loves that? But you know what I mean. Either way, I would just say, give yourself a break. You're not supposed to love everything. And it doesn't make you a bad mom if you don't. Try to offload anything that you really, really, really have a hard time handling. And don't ever feel guilty about it because, God, we just really beat ourselves up. And enough's enough, you know. So I guess that's my polar plunge today. I don't know. I just am thinking about all the ways in which we make it harder for ourselves and are harder on ourselves.

1:02:12Let's try to take some lessons from this interview and do a better job this week. Do a better job of not doing a good job. Okay. Bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss-Berman, and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by The Ringer and Paper Kite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane, Kaya McMullen, and Alaya Zanaris. For Paper Kite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss-Berman. Original music by Amy Miles.

1:02:50Legally, we can't say drinking Storm makes you smarter and more focused. But with zero sugar, 200 milligrams of caffeine, and immunity support, you're smarter and more focused for drinking Storm. Storm. Good energy in, good energy out. Energy for life. Pandora jewelry brings the sparkle to your summer. Now with even better prices. Enjoy up to 50 % off select styles. From personalized pieces to must-have favorites made for the summer. Timeless designs that shine with you through every moment. Wherever the summer takes you. Shop in-store or online. Now through July 6th. Terms and conditions apply.

1:03:27Visit Pandora.net for details.