In short
Rachel Sennott discusses “I Love LA,” a weekly HBO sitcom she’s involved in (as showrunner), plus stories from filming and writing/producing. The conversation also covers car accidents in Los Angeles, “popping in” on sets, and her high-school Les Misérables experience.
Guests
Rachel Sennott (comedian/actor; showrunner for “I Love LA”; previously worked in comedy writing and acting; plays Madame Thénardier in high school Les Mis). Other speakers include the host(s) of HeadGum (not fully identified in the transcript) and mentions of collaborators like Ali Pankey, Chance/Shelby (friends), and show staff (Emma Berry, Max Silvestri, Lorene Scafaria, Aida Rogers).
Key claims
LA feels special after COVID; the show’s title reflects that era. “Popping in” (briefly visiting a set) is a dream because it’s fun without long exhaustion. Writers’ rooms are “art by committee,” and actors’ performances make scripts feel real.
Notable examples
Toronto filming “I Used to Be Funny” (including a “big crying day” and a courthouse scene); COVID testing/vaccine in Long Beach; multiple car accidents (including a Valentine’s Day crash and a walking hit on Shakespeare Bridge); high-school Les Mis corset changing how people treated her.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOHappy Valentine's Day
0:05 to 0:25
Discussion on an unexpected Valentine's Day greeting.
“Anyways, at the end of it, he said, happy Valentine's Day.”
Canceling Rachel
0:25 to 0:45
Lighthearted banter about 'canceling' Rachel and sharing secrets.
“I just think the show, you're getting too powerful.”
Surprising Revelations
0:45 to 1:08
Exploration of surprising moments guests share on the show.
“You would be surprised at how many people seem to be taking that approach on this show.”
Memories from Toronto
1:08 to 1:50
Recollections of forming bonds while filming in Toronto.
“I'm going to go through and try to see from clips.”
The Film's Impact
1:50 to 2:29
Discussion on the unexpected emotional weight of their film.
Press and Promotion
2:29 to 2:56
Conversation about press interactions and film promotion experiences.
“There was, of course, the famous crying day.”
Crying on Set
2:56 to 3:38
Rachel shares a personal experience of a difficult scene she filmed.
“Because obviously I come across kind of childish in it.”
Behind the Scenes
3:38 to 4:50
Insights into funny moments and challenges while filming.
“of me, Caleb and Sabrina with me in the background like this.”
The Joy of Popping In
4:50 to 6:04
Discussion about the perks of short visits on set and camaraderie.
“And I'm not, you're so good and so locked in, And I would be terrified, by the way, if I had to do your role in a movie like that and be so emotionally convincing.”
Experiencing New Places
6:04 to 8:30
Sharing thoughts on discovering local culture while filming.
“So it's like people didn't really get to know me and like have my personality great on them gradually over the course of a couple months.”
Show all 31 chapters
Adventures in LA
8:30 to 11:10
Rachel recounts her experiences and challenges after moving to LA.
“But then if I'm there for two days, I do fantasize about living in a town.”
Car Accidents and Lessons
11:10 to 14:00
Light-hearted discussion about car accidents and driving skills.
“Moving to North Hollywood is a rite of passage.”
Valentine's Day Car Accident Story
14:00 to 15:56
Rachel shares her recent car accident on Valentine's Day and its aftermath.
“I got, my most, you know, like my most recent car accident was on Valentine's Day.”
Recollections of Accidents
15:56 to 20:56
A humorous exchange about past car accidents and their unexpected outcomes.
“I just want to say to your defense, you're a beautiful, sweet girl in LA who works in entertainment.”
An Unexpected Collision Experience
20:56 to 23:56
Rachel recounts a time she was hit by a car while talking on the phone.
“You're on one skate holding pizza boxes.”
Sympathy and Sisterhood in Accidents
23:56 to 26:19
Discussion on how women bond and empathize after accidents, reflecting on their shared experiences.
“Because then the couple was like, all right, we're just going to walk, do the rest of the walk with our dog.”
High School Theatre Memories
26:19 to 28:00
Rachel shares a nostalgic memory from her high school performance of Les Miserables.
“She was like, no, we have to call someone.”
Costume Choices and Les Mis Experience
28:00 to 29:10
The hosts discuss costume choices and personal transformations during Les Misérables.
“And this is sort of me in between full costume and makeup.”
The Hierarchy of Casting in Theater
29:10 to 30:40
Exploration of the competitive nature of theater casting and the excitement of getting a role.
“and being in Les Mis, I'm not wearing it there, but I wore a corset and it was the first time I connected with my boobs.”
The Experience of Writer's Rooms
30:40 to 32:50
Discussion about the challenges and dynamics of being in a writer's room.
Creating Authentic Comedy
32:50 to 35:35
Insights into how to craft authentic comedy and the role of actors in enhancing scripts.
“And Claire, we talked about this a lot where it's like when you're only in script, you get to a point where you're like, is this even real?”
The Anticipation of Weekly Shows
35:35 to 37:50
The hosts share their thoughts on the excitement and community created by weekly television shows.
“I'm getting in a car crash every six months trying to write one sentence.”
Balancing Showrunning and Other Projects
37:50 to 40:10
Discussion on the challenges of being a showrunner while handling multiple projects.
“But, like, I, you, it's fun to, like, get into something.”
Learning and Adapting in the Industry
40:10 to 42:00
The hosts talk about the learning process in the entertainment industry and adapting to new roles.
“I am show but like how are you how are you balancing all of those things while you're doing this crazy big undertaking I think I didn't know how psychotic it was when I did it I was like Totally.”
Navigating the Writer's Room
42:00 to 45:20
Learn about the challenges and dynamics of working in a writer's room.
“So one day in front of all the writers, I was like getting really like in my head about like the shape of what an episode should be.”
The Importance of Toxic Relationships
45:20 to 49:40
Discover the necessity of challenging relationships in personal development.
Learning Through Hard Times
49:40 to 56:00
Understand how difficult experiences shape our perspectives and resilience.
True or False Game with Rachel
56:00 to 58:25
Rachel participates in a fun quiz game answering true or false to various statements.
“This one has nothing to do with high school theater.”
Memories of Toronto
58:25 to 59:06
Caleb and Rachel reminisce about their time together in Toronto, sharing personal anecdotes.
“Are you going to get to go on a vacation?”
Promises and Busy Lives
59:06 to 1:00:26
Rachel discusses the pressures of work and making promises to friends that often go unfulfilled.
“I was so, when I was on tour in the spring, I was like this.”
Wrapping Up and Goodbye
1:00:26 to 1:01:13
Caleb and Rachel conclude their conversation, expressing affection and excitement about future projects.
“They're like, I had to call twice again.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:01This is a HeadGum Podcast. Anyways, at the end of it, he said, happy Valentine's Day. And I think... In what way? Just in like a like, happy Valentine's Day, I guess.
0:23We are trying to cancel you this episode. Okay, good. I just think the show, you're getting too powerful. And we should shut it down. now. So now I'm looking, I'm asking people, I'm pulling skeletons out of your closet. I'm saying, let's cancel Rachel. Let's cancel Rachel. And I'll try to like come up with stuff too or say incriminating things. About yourself. About myself or just bad takes or things that people will really hate. Yeah. Just to, just so that we have like a lot of options. You would be surprised at how many people seem to be taking that approach on this show. Yeah. How many people come on here and they say something and I'm like, I've never heard you say something like that.
0:58Yeah. You're like, I've known you for 10 years and this you chose today. You're like, oh, okay. Yeah. That's how you feel. I'm not going to talk about who in specific, but there has been, Casey, what's up, brother? We got a problem? I'm going to go through and try to see from clips. No. You also know when someone's like, this is going to go viral. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. Where you're like, the. They're like, um, I've got something to say. I have something to say. It's really crazy. Smoking is good for babies. Or what? They just do something so insane that you're like, got it. Dude, how are you?
1:30I'm good. I miss you so much. No, we've been bad. We've been, but we have, I feel like, when you shoot a film in Toronto, you create a bond for the rest of your life. Yeah. Well, something funny about the film that we shot in Toronto, it's where I fell in love with you. It's where I fell in love with you. That I said, I already liked this girl, but this is actually a soul sister of mine. and when we made that movie I didn't necessarily think about the fact that because at the time it wasn't called I Used to Be Funny I don't think and then I didn't think about the fact that Book and Sam famously it was called Book and Sam I didn't think about the fact that with so many comedians in it people were going to think it was a comedy I get so many DMs being like hey just watch your movie with Rachel Sinnott she's amazing in it total star I'm like very fucked up from it people are like so I'm really confused I wanted like just like a fun plane watch and now I feel sick how about devastating film about the worst topic we have yeah can I offer you that can I offer you that can I offer you that and then also when we did press we were like what was it like filming well there were all these cute like places to go in Toronto nothing about and then the content of the movie it's like okay okay so that's actually deeply devastating to me yeah but I think that made our like I don't know because then we had more fun we were like We have to have fun on set.
2:53There was, of course, the famous crying day. Well, do you want to tell this? Because obviously I come across kind of childish in it. No. What's a bad look for me, and I would love for you to tell it. No, no. It was just, it was like I had to cry a lot. It was a big day where you had to be, you're an incredible actor, and I think people who are watching this already know that about you. You're an unreal, very, very talented actor in addition to being fun. It's like insane, actually. But you had to do this big crying day that was like, for any actor, it would be like, it's a feat. You have to like walk in.
3:23You have to lock in. You do, you sort of like choose your corner of the room and you sort of like sit. By the way, I think I'm better now. At that point, I was like so stressed about like crying and then I would like sit in the corner and like stare at a wall and like think about things. And then, so anyways, there's this really great photo of me, Caleb and Sabrina with me in the background like this. Trying to pull, trying to pull on something. me and Sabrina truly like there was the there was the courthouse day yeah where you had a big like in this film I used to be funny written and directed by Ali Panky a genius genius friend of the pod but there was this this scene where the courthouse was very emotional for you and for us too but we're in the background you know so Sabrina and I walk onto set not reading the room at all Sabrina walk onto set like who wants to fuck like being insane true and Rachel's just like trembling in the corner but it's also a lot to ask because I've been in scenes where it's like you your character is in the scene but you're not in this it's not as demanding for you and you're like do we really have to all like do I have to cry too just out of you know what I mean out of support when like someone especially in like an ensemble thing yeah where you're like you cry over there I'm gonna do games on my phone like I'll watch TikTok with the captions on.
4:44You lock into your journey, but that was, that photo was amazing. Dude, there was, one of the biggest regrets I have from that movie is that they didn't choose, there was a, I'm behind you because the scene's about, the shot's about you, but I did get myself to cry during one of the announcements of that scene, and they didn't use the one where it was close on me while I was crying. Yeah, you're like, hello! I was like, guys, I got it! I got it! I cried. I cried on that one. And I'm not, you're so good and so locked in, And I would be terrified, by the way, if I had to do your role in a movie like that and be so emotionally convincing.
5:18So for me in the background to get it to you, I was like, turn the camera. Turn the camera. Turn the camera. Turn it around. Show that you can do it. I was wanting it bad. I know. Whenever you have a take where you're like, that was the one. And they're like, well, it's a wide. And we were on your back. And I'm like, fuck. Well, fucking always have one on my face. Always have one on my face. I don't care what you see in the background. Because you're going to get it once. Yeah. I mean with me you're getting it once you're getting it once I get so much FOMO seeing the when I see anybody like you've been posting stuff from your show of you guys working on it and I just get so excited because I'm like oh man I would love to be hanging out over there right now I want to hang with those guys yeah it's like do I want to work the 17 hour days that Rachel's probably working right now no but I do want to go over there and hang out a little bit I want to pop in for like six hours I want to like bring coffee yeah I'm going to be like yoo hoo yoo alright I'll leave y 'all to it good luck you guys good luck that's like my favorite just when it gets just when it gets unfun I'm like okay good luck with the rest of the day yeah I'm going you guys have fun I love it love you guys yeah and then everyone everyone's just like god it was nice that Caleb dropped by yes that's like my dream the other thing that's amazing is like when you're like a small role in something or like you're not like a cameo but when you get to like be a part of a shoot but you leave before the shoot gets hard yes and then everyone's like oh remember when Rachel was here and it was so fun But it has nothing to do with, it's just that you were there earlier in the shoot for a less amount of time.
6:44So it's like people didn't really get to know me and like have my personality great on them gradually over the course of a couple months. Which doesn't happen with you, but yeah. But you know what I mean? It's like you pop in, you pop out. You're like, that's all. It's a dream to pop in. I love to pop in. Popping in is the dream. Yeah. Popping in is the dream. I really, that was what I did a thing in overcompensating where I was in it for like two scenes. By the way, mind you, one of them got cut. and shout out to Benny. Benny. Benny. But truly popping in is the dream. I was like, they've all been there forever.
7:14Yeah. They're exhausted. I come in for two days. I'm a fucking delight. You're a delight. Leave. Then you leave. And you get to like, I also, it's like, I can find a fabulous establishment anywhere for two days. Like, do you know what I mean? You go to the one restaurant. You go to the one coffee shop. Yes. But when you're there for three months, you're like, all they have is this one type of food or this one place. Yeah. But if you're there for a second, you're like, I want to sample their cheesecake factor or whatever their, like whatever their, like diner, whatever, like I feel like every state has like some random thing or restaurant that you're like, I'm going to pop into this and like experience this.
7:55The first, I 100 % identify with what you're saying. The first two days in any place, you're like, I get why people live here. I envision my whole life there, by the way. And then week six in Wilmington, you're like, someone must kill me. Someone must kill me. I have nothing to eat. I've run out of stuff. I've run out of stuff. You also want to tell the residents of the town. You're like, you choose to live here all the time. Why are you going to the same? There's only one museum here, and it's kind of a joke. And I've been three times. And I've been a bunch, and I don't know how you keep going.
8:19Yeah. And they're like, we don't go. And I'm like, okay. Okay. So you have a family. Okay. Huh. I need to look into that. Yeah. Oh, the school system is really good here. Okay. Got it. Got it. Got it. So different priorities. Got it. You're not me. But then if I'm there for two days, I do fantasize about living in a town. Also, like, I can really get behind, like, do you know how in, like, random towns there's sort of, like, fashion for that town? Yes. Like, you walk by a store and it's, like, knit ponchos. I'm like, I need six of those. I'm a knit poncho girl. I'm a knit poncho girl. I live in this random town in, like, upstate New York and I go to their one bakery.
8:54Like, that's the fantasy. It's the knit poncho essence. Yeah. And I'm leading the charge. Yep. Yeah, I'm moving to Beacon. I'm getting up there. Done. Well, okay. I have to ask you. I want to ask you about the show. You're, what can you tell me about it? Can you tell me what it's about? Can you tell me who's in it? Can you tell me what you're loving and hating? I can tell you the title because we just said it. I know. I'm so excited. It's called I Love LA. I love LA. I love LA. That song bangs, by the way. That song fucking bangs. I listened to it when we were moving out here from Chicago, like a bunch of our friends.
9:26that was like a big joke because we were playing that for weeks being yes get into it get into it we love it yeah i feel like it's it's also like layered because when when you first moved here did you love it right away like what was your journey with when you moved here i actually did i mean i don't live here anymore but like i moved here during covid it was such a funny thing where like everything was shut down no one was on the freeways so i was just like every day for fun me and chance and shelby and a couple other buddies who had moved here around the same time we were just the only thing we could do is like COVID test, get in the car, drive around together with the windows down and listen to music.
10:01And so I was just driving around LA being like, this place is gorgeous. There's no traffic. There's no traffic. And that's how I got to know like driving around LA. Yeah. And then, yeah, the second thing started coming back, it just felt like, it felt like we were in the most special place on earth. Yeah. And I do feel that LA is like such a beautiful, special city. Yeah. Is that, is the show, why did you choose I Love LA for the title? I think like it was because I moved here also during COVID, but I had a. And by the way, the memory of there, all there was to do was take COVID tests. That took up so much time of our life.
10:33Yes. And I took like so many different times. I did like spit in a jar, fill the whole jar with your spit. Yes. Nose swab. Yes. Like mouth temperature, cone thing. It was really interesting. Mind you, I got the vaccine from two soldiers in a parking garage in Long Beach. Like it was a scary time. It was scary. And I cried. When you got the vaccine. When I got the vaccine, I cried. I literally stepped outside the parking garage in Long Beach and I was like, ah! I was like seeing colors again for the first time. It was insane. They're like, stay here for a little bit. You might pass out. I was like, I don't care.
11:04I don't care. I have to go. I would love to die at this parking garage. I would love to with these two. With soldiers? It's crazy. National Guard's people were like, okay, lift your sleeve. I was like, yes, sir. Yes, sir. I was scared, but I was ready. Yeah, totally. I feel like I came here to be on a sitcom and I didn't really know it was a sitcom when I did it because I auditioned for it before COVID and then I just got the pilot but then they picked up the show but I was like I didn't realize it was on a stage I was so confused I didn't know anything and I crashed my car one week into being in LA my rental car it was a disaster and there were really bad fires and I was living in North Hollywood.
11:46Same. That is such a... What? By the way! By the way! North Hollywood! Moving to North Hollywood is a rite of passage. You have to. You have to. You have to. I was in... Do you know how they pop up those buildings that are like... This used to be a parking garage. Now it's a parking garage with three apartments over it. Yeah. That was where I was staying and I remember I got out of my car, out of my Uber, out of the airport and I walked up to the building and there was human shit, like a huge amount of human shit. I love LA. I love LA. I love LA. It was like, it was just a steaming pile of shit, like right outside the door.
12:27And the sky was like brown from the fires. Yeah. And I was like, fabulous. Okay, my dream has come true. My dream has come true. And so I think like it took me, I think it's like a little bit the perspective of like moving from a different coast and like figuring it out but then like loving so much about it um but yeah that was that also like i'm not a good driver like i have gotten into so many car how many car accidents have you gotten oh god probably i want to know what a normal amount is before i say a lot okay yeah before i say my number yeah um we're doing body count yeah what's your your number i'll do like three less than that yeah um god i don't know i guess maybe i'm trying to think i think i think three i think three yeah okay ever or in a total of life a total of life really and one was a deer in high school okay so is that making you feel really bad because i don't want to make you feel bad i want to say some of my car accidents i'm calling them car accidents are like little scratches or scrapes like in a parking garage.
13:44I'll go to five then. I'll go to five. Okay. I can go to five on that. Okay. If it's hitting something in a parking garage, I can go to five. Okay. Okay. Yours is, is yours north of 20? No, no, no. Well, just the way you're responding, I'm like scared for you. No, no, no, but it's like each one is like, you know, is one, you know? I got, my most, you know, like my most recent car accident was on Valentine's Day. Yeah. And it was a disaster. And the thing that I really struggle with is not immediately taking fault. To be fair, it was fully my fault. I changed lanes at a stoplight where no one was moving and a car was coming.
14:23And I checked, but I didn't. I have a hard time guessing the speed of other cars. And also knowing how close other cars are to mine. And then also how big my car is. Yeah, those are some pretty important things. I get my license. Each one is a one. Each one of those. So I got overwhelmed. So anyways, he crashed. Basically, I went into the lane without warning from zero speed to fast speed. And he crashed into my car. And then we both got out of our cars. And then he was mad at me. Totally fair. Totally. Totally fair. That's his right, yeah. And I like immediately was like, I'm so sorry, whatever, blah, blah, blah.
15:08Because you're not supposed to do that. But I just was like, I know this is my fault. I totally know this is my fault. Yeah. Anyways, at the end of it, he said, Happy Valentine's Day. And I fixed it. In what way? Just in like a like, Happy Valentine's Day, I guess.
15:28It was like so. Okay, loving him actually. Loving him. He was actually really sweet after I was said sorry. Yeah. And then it was totally fine. No one was hurt. There was just damage to both cars that I had to pay for, which was ultimately not great. But it's okay. It's okay. It's okay. But that was my most recent one was Valentine's Day. So it's actually been a while. It's been a while. That's months ago, by the way. I feel like I, we talked about this, it's like every six months, once you get in a car accident, you're safe for six months. Yeah, totally. And then you get another. I just want to say to your defense, you're a beautiful, sweet girl in LA who works in entertainment.
16:07They should have a subsidy for you. Twice a year, some network should pay for your car accident. Warner Brothers, pay for this. Just cover it. She's a beautiful, fun young woman. I'm driving to work, stress. She's making TV so that nurses can watch something when they get off shift. Pay for her car accidents. Yeah, exactly. She's going to merge without signaling. Yes. I don't know what to say. I don't know what to say. Sorry. I can't signal. I'm thinking of ideas. Hello. She's breaking story. She's breaking story. She has to merge without signaling. Yeah, I can't. We need a C-runner now. Yes. We need a C-story runner now.
16:42No, we can't be C-story. Yeah. I, one time in college, I hit a girl.
16:51Hold on. I was turning in my car. Okay. And this girl, she was in the right. She was driving. I was turning. She hit my car. Okay. She was in a car. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Yeah, yeah. Girl was in car. I hit a car that contained a girl. Okay, totally. Already I'm on your side. Right. It's like the car contained a girl. I had no way of knowing that. By the way, if I knew it was a girl in there, I never would have done this. Never would have. But I turned in a way that forced her to hit me. It was totally my fault. We got out and I was like, oh my God, I'm so sorry. And she was like, I actually come to your improv shows every week.
17:22And I was like, oh my God, that's so sweet. Do you want to go to dinner? And then we went to dinner, and she was like, it's crazy how you made me hit you back there. I was like, I know, girl. And then we talked about life, and I was like, I have an improv show tonight. Do you want to come? She's like, yeah, I was planning on going. I was like, okay, do you remember this? And she came. I believe her name was Becca, maybe. Becca! But she came to the improv show, and then I was like, hey, no pressure at all, but do you think our parents could just talk this out kind of buddy style without the insurance companies?
17:50And she was like, I'll ask my dad. And her dad was like, absolutely not. so I didn't have to pay for that but you did the dad do you want to come to my improv show how do you feel about improv comedy sir yeah he said I feel like give me your insurance yeah give me that card right now go ahead and call Geico yeah oh my god but yeah girls yeah girls and entertainers like I just think we deserve to merge yeah we just we we were thinking we're juggling a lot we're juggling a lot we have a lot going on and it's like people think being an entertainer is so easy, but you try thinking of a third act interesting scenario while signaling that you're going to turn.
18:27You can't. You can't. You could never. No. And nor can I. Nor can I. I can't do it. By the way, I can't do it. I've never thought of a good idea, but I'm trying. But I'm trying. But I'm in the car and I'm trying. I also, when you said I hit a girl, I've been hit by a car walking. Okay. But I'm okay, obviously. She's good. She's good, everybody. But. I'm totally fine. It was on the Shakespeare Bridge in Los Feliz. Okay. And it's like, do you know that intersection? It's sort of like three walkways. Yeah. But to cross, you're sort of asking minimum three, sometimes four cars not to drive. Yeah. Which is really hard to do when you're in L.A.
19:10is to ask a car not to drive. Cars love to drive in L.A. Cars love to drive in L.A. In New York, it's like sort of like good luck. Yeah. But here it's like you're asking a lot. Well, in New York you just bang on the hood and you go, I'm going, I'm going, I'm going. You know? But in LA you have to go like, sorry. Sorry. Even if it's a walk signal. Yeah. So anyways, I'm walking. I'm on the phone with my friend Emma. And I'm like, whatever, complaining, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And then a car turns and hits me, but like slowly. Yeah. And it was like a low car. I don't know the name of any cars.
19:43That's okay. Except for like truck. Yeah. Truck. No, and that's one of the biggest types, by the way. Yes. Like, in your defense. Truck is one of the main cars. Truck is one of the main cars. And thank God it wasn't a truck. It was, like, a low car. It was, like, a little car. Yeah. It was, like, a business car. It was, like, mm. Yes. Like, I think of, like, someone who, like, goes to an office. That's kind of the car they drive. Yeah, they have, like, a small clutch. Small clutch. Yeah. Little purse. Yeah. And the front of it was long. If anyone knows what kind of car this is, let me know. At the moment, it sounds like an El Camino.
20:20That's old. Yes. Okay. But that's one of the types of cars. One of the types of cars. Especially in LA. It was like medium new. Okay. It felt like they bought it used but good. Yeah. Anyways, she hits me and I sort of fall onto the car. My phone gets knocked out of my hand in my water bottle and then I fall on the ground. Where? Okay, so can I just tell you, when the car hits you, so if these are your legs and they have the knee joints. Yeah, yeah. Do you get hit like this and fall back onto the car, or do you get hit from the side? It's sort of like I saw the car coming, and I go, whoa, whoa, whoa.
20:59Hey. Hey. Mister. Whoa, whoa, whoa. I literally was trying. You're on one skate holding pizza boxes. Yeah. It's like, they can't hear you. If they're making the turn, they can't see. You know what I mean? It's like me saying, whoa, was not going to stop. But I go, whoa, whoa, whoa, and sort of turn towards the car. Really good survival on six. And so then I land kind of like on it, but then I fall back on the ground. Water bottle and phone out of my hand. Then it's like already this is like a packed intersection. Everybody like stops. There's like a couple walking their dog. I start to cry because I'm like scared or whatever.
21:39You can get by a car, yeah. Because I got hit by a car. I can't explain it, but I do start to cry randomly. I do start to cry embarrassing. And then the woman who hit me, she gets out of her car. She starts crying. This is beautiful. Which I would also do if I was crying. This is frankly sisterhood of the traveling pants. Literally. This is the ya-ya sisterhood. Yep. And she starts crying. And then everyone's sort of like looking. Wind's knocked out of me, and I have little scrapes, but I'm fine. Yeah. I get up. I forget, by the way, that my friend is on the phone. so they're my friend Emma they're like listening to this whole thing and it's like by the way like imagine me on the phone being like yeah I just I think it's like weird that like you know they didn't reply to my email blah blah blah whoa whoa whoa car whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa is so funny like bitching on the phone about something so unimportant whoa whoa whoa crash I don't get out of bed for less than 50 whoa whoa whoa literally Literally.
22:39And then the couple walk walking the dog. They like intervene in case like they're sort of trying to intervene between me and the woman that hit me. But me and the woman that hit me sort of connect immediately because she starts crying. She goes, this is so devastating. I'm on my way to a funeral. No. Yes. And by the way, if she's lying, brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant. She goes, I'm on my way to a funeral, and I'm so sorry. This just reminded me how precious life is. Well, and this is, do you see what could happen if the world was only women? Do you see how a horrible thing immediately became, like, an interesting, beautiful musing on, like, our time here on Earth?
23:20Yeah. If it was a man, he would have been like, you dumb brah. You know, it's like. Why are you walking down the road? Why are you walking that way? What do you mean, whoa, whoa, whoa? What do you mean? and then and then the couple with the dog was sort of like are you okay to me i was like yes and then to the woman they were like are you okay and she was like no and then then she gets back in the car drives away i sort of pick up the phone and say to my friend emma like don't worry i'm not dead emma was like that was crazy and then it was fine but it was sort of the it was almost awkward after we all realized like we were all fine.
23:56Because then the couple was like, all right, we're just going to walk, do the rest of the walk with our dog. And the woman was like, I'm going to go to the funeral. Everyone's like embarrassed that they made a big deal. Yeah, no, literally. I was like, I'm just going to go home. It's all good. But that was my car hit. Your whoa, whoa, whoa reminds me of something I do. I bike in New York a lot. Yeah. And many times on a bicycle in New York, someone's about to hit me and I'll just go, don't! I just yell, don't. Don't. And then they usually don't. Yeah. See, the thing is, though, is that I feel like a verbal warning is helpful.
24:30And it's also like an energy thing. Yeah. When you go, don't. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Yeah. I'm going to try don't next time. Try don't because it works. Because whoa, whoa, whoa sort of feels like, I can't believe this is happening. Versus like, don't is like, stop right there. Yeah. It's not going to happen. I had like truly a week ago I was biking in Bushwick. A humiliating thing to have to say out loud. Because it's just like of course you were. Of course. You know what I mean? I was biking through Bushwick and this woman like threw her door open and almost doored me to death. Yeah.
25:03And I like swerved and I was like god damn it. And then she gets out of the car and she was a beautiful young woman. And she goes, I'm so sorry. I'm a huge fan. And I was like not now. Not now. I was like girl that means the world to me Not now You almost killed me No but truly it was psychotic how quickly I turned She said that and I was like thank you for watching You're like should we do a video Do you want me to say happy birthday to anyone I'm like do you want a picture I immediately went into psycho mode But it was scary It was scary but Again beautiful If only women and gay people got into conflict Peace Because when two women are crying it's like no one's at fault.
25:46You know what I mean? Like when you got hit by that car you were both women crying so everyone just agreed like nothing happened to her. It neutralized the situation. Yeah. I think if a woman I did actually I let a woman hit me with her car one time hit my car with her car that was containing each of us. She rear-ended me and she got out and she was she fucked up the back of my car and this is when I was like very broke. She fucked my car up and she got out and she was like I'm so sorry my kids are in there and everybody's okay but I have no idea how I'm going to pay for this but I'm going to figure it out.
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26:15And I was like, get out of here. I was like, go. I was like, go. She was like, no, we have to call someone. I was like, get out of here. And I let her go. You're like, I'll let them take me. She's like, well, we can just leave. She's like, no, we do get to make that choice. I'm like, go before they get here. You're like, I'm going to jail for the rest of my life. I don't care. Go, go. Go, honey. Go. You be free. I'm going to take this. Yeah. And truly, she left. And then like 10 minutes later, I was like, my neck hurts and my car's broken. you're like hold on i was like what do i just do i was like truly my neck hurts and my car's fucked up yeah but it was like you know she had other shit going on yeah girls are going through a lot sometimes they're going through a lot yeah oh my god kids in the car is rough kids in the car is crazy yeah and it's like of course my neck is a little fucked up but your kids are in there yeah hold on i want to show you something okay okay i'm scared don't be scared it's gonna be beautiful I think okay okay I just had to oh gosh it's just so tough because I don't want you to have to see all of it you know yeah there's just one little thing I want to show you if that's okay yes so um you well I'll just I'll just show you oh can we show it on the screen chance yes well I just want the image I just want the image now Rachel oh my god this is an image from you uh This is an image from you and Les Miserables.
27:34Les Miserables. Les Miserables. I want to know how this informed where we are today. Because here you are, this iconic actress with this incredible HBO show. Wow, you really are trying to cancel me. But it's her, you know? It's her. Wait, is this bad? No, it's not. It's just... I'm like, because by the way, we will cut this. We will. No, no. It's just the... What's really... Let me explain. Go ahead. What's going on. Okay. So I am playing Madame Tenardier in my high school performance of Le Miserable. And this is sort of me in between full costume and makeup. This is like a fitting photo. You know what I mean?
28:15So it's also the plays would run for two weekends in like February. So it's the dead of winter. I've made the creative choice to wear a heads I don't know what that is It looks just like a beanie, I don't think there's anything wrong with that It's like a scarf It's like trying to be ski core or something but it looks it's confusing because you're sort of like what's the costume what's her? What's her, what's the costume where does it end? Yes and what's crazy is that what's her, what's me is worse is crazier than the costume and the costume is crazy. The costume's nuts. But beautiful. Thank you to the designers.
29:01Shout out. Jack Sullivan's mom. Shout out. But the, yes, there's a lot, there's a lot going on. I will say, playing Madame Tendier and being in Les Mis, I'm not wearing it there, but I wore a corset and it was the first time I connected with my boobs. Really? Yes. Whoa. It was like, it was like, it was the first time I connected with my sexuality. I put that corset on everyone treated me different. No. I was like, it changed my entire, like, do you know those movies where it's like, we've been losers all of high school and then we have one last shot to like blow them all away. That was me. That was me.
29:39That was me. To being in Les Mis, wearing a corset, everything changed. It was like, I was a loser and then all of a sudden, by the way, I wasn't like cool, but then I had boobs and it changed like everything and different people started to talk to me. I also in my mind it was because I was good in the play but looking back I think it was just that I wore a corset we're all doing some version of that we're all doing some version of that but that that was like a that was a big shift yeah yeah was it like a big was it like a big thing to get that role like did you feel like oh my god yes because I was ensemble every other year yeah I didn't do theater so I hear about these things and I'm like oh my god getting a role must have been like whoa huge yeah because it was like it was like every there was definitely like a hierarchy there were people that were expected to be roles there was the whole the cast list everyone running to it all of that stuff yeah and was it a physical list that you would run to at your school okay that fucking rocks and it was like they would post it on like a friday night and so then people would drive back to school to see it and everyone would like run but you didn't know what time he was going to post it so it's like you're waiting to see when it gets posted and then you come and you look at it and like and then everyone gets mad over the weekend and people text about it and like make weird posts it was yeah they should do that they should create like a they should create a billboard in la that's like just all the casting directors send who got what and your team isn't allowed to call you to tell you you have to like go just look up at the billboard you have to drive to the billboard yeah you have to drive to the billboard and it's just like hundreds of actors being like fuck fuck and one guy being like yeah and everyone hates that guy and then if you do get it you have to like maintain some sort of dignity and be like great i'm really happy and leave yeah yeah yeah in your car yeah yeah i think that'd actually be really good for the community i think so i think like let's stop doing all this in silence let's make the billboard no yeah let's bring the group chats into real life yeah let's fight in front of the billboard let's fight let's have people fighting let's have people fighting in the streets over the role over the roles i think it would be really really interesting actually and i would like that i think let's do it let's do it so the show comes out in november yes and tell me about the cast cast is fabulous love them all we have jordan firstman who you know um odessa zion true whittaker josh hutcherson leighton meester crazy um we have some fun i don't know how to call there's do you know how they're like guest star series regular we have guest star i don't know what which the terms mean something but it's like yeah i know what you're trying i know what you're saying you have fun people popping in fun people popping in yeah um quen blackwell who's amazing moses ingram who's amazing um yeah the whole cast like everyone everyone i feel like really blew me away with because when you're in the writer's room oh my god i have to talk to you about writer's rooms because you've get into it let's get into it let's get into it i never done one before yeah and then i'm running one disaster i'm literally like there's so much thinking and like there's so much like talking about thinking yeah and at the risk of sounding really stupid but it's like you have to like say your thoughts out loud to other people usually i'm keeping my thoughts in my head or i'm telling them to like one other person all of a sudden you have to defend your ideas to a room full of people it's truly like art by committee it's like i'm giving my thought and everyone's sounding off on if it's good or not it's horrifying it's horrifying yeah and and and like so anyways you get so into the headiness of it.
33:28And Claire, we talked about this a lot where it's like when you're only in script, you get to a point where you're like, is this even real? Are any of these people even real? Like who is Maya? Okay, like she's made up. This is fake. And then like you bring in actors and they like add their sauce to it. And I feel like all of the actors who are on the show, like every one of them were, would just bring something so funny and unique and real and honest to the characters. Or sometimes like also you write a joke that sounds like too much like a joke. Like this is something that I think you're really brilliant at, which is like you can play anytime you're doing comedy.
34:15there's such like truth to it and like they're it's backed up by like this emotional honesty and like i think that that's something that's so special because anytime you have someone who's like doing a joke when they're like i'm doing the joke it feels like it feels like when someone's like trying to make you come and they're like you're coming up you're coming like do you know what i Yeah, they're doing too much. Yes, too much. And it feels like, it just feels like weird. And anyways, you have this. And I feel like the actors on the show had this where it's like, they just live in it and breathe in it.
34:53And it allows it to play so much more. And like, anytime I would hear that, like, we did table reads for all the scripts. And then I would like, hear them read it out loud. And I would like, breathe a sigh of relief. Because I would be like, okay, okay. This sounds like real. this sounds like people talking as opposed to like like I hate when you can like hear the people on the typewriter being like ha ha ha this is funny like you know what I mean but yeah you you don't you hate when and we all do it sometimes yeah I I do it in my own writing a lot where you hear it read back to you or you hear it on its feet and you go oh it feels like I was trying to be clever yes and I don't even know if I was but that's just how it's it's it's reading in the room you know And I'm not even trying to be clever.
35:36I'm just trying to write a sentence. But it's like, which is hard enough. I'm getting in a car crash every six months trying to write one sentence. But it's like, yeah. And then there is also the joy of like working with other writers and they all have like better ideas than you. And you're like, thank God. Thank God you guys are here. because like I think that that is the exciting part of the collective is like you get all these different ideas and perspectives and like stories and I think it's fun like even just like you and me going back and forth on our multiple car accidents for 10 minutes like it's like one story sparks another story and whatever and like that part was really fun for me getting to like hear everybody's different like just ideas and like things that have happened to them where it's like oh that's genius I never experienced that like I could never think of this idea on my own yeah you know I mean so many people are gonna watch the show obviously because of you and because of HBO and the incredible cast that you have put together like what do you want what do you want the show to do for people like I think you know shows do different things like I think the like when you watch girls or sex in the city or a lot of these shows that you're probably like um you know i think they're in conversation with like when people are thinking about your show they're going like oh my god these incredible shows that have informed our culture they do different things for different people they make you want to live in new york or they make you want to be in a psychotic relationship or they make you want to like whatever whatever like what do you want the show to do for the people watching i want well one thing that i would love is like i I when I was in college, like I would watch with my roommates like HBO show Sunday nights and it was like we would make a huge thing of banana bread and then just like watch all the shows back to back to back.
37:25Yeah. And I feel like there's something special about getting to like be a weekly show and sort of like create the anticipation and wait for something to drop. Like, I think I always, like, felt like I got to be a part of something when I was doing that. And I love, like, having something to gossip about that's, like, not real but feels real. Like, I got into the summer I turned pretty because I was, like, I need my, what are my sister's taxi about? I have to get into this. And I'm so into it. And now I'm, like, oh, my God. Oh, my God, Conrad. Like, oh, my God. But, like, I, you, it's fun to, like, get into something.
38:03So I think that. And then the show itself, like, I feel like I want people to have fun and feel like they're a part of the world of the show and, like, get to go on adventures with the cast. Like, I think, like, you know, drama happens, of course. Drama happens in life. But I think like I recently have been like wanting to watch stuff that is like fun and like takes me to a place away from everything. Yeah. And like. For sure. And like escape and have fun. Yeah. Yeah. It's so cool that you guys are doing it weekly. That's so exciting. I mean I'm really craving and missing that. The like eventized like.
38:55Yes. No, we all tune in and we wait a little bit and we have some delayed gratification for anything ever anymore. Like, I like that. I think it's fun and you get to like, it makes it like a ritual. Like, I remember that was like our Sunday night ritual. It was like big little lies, girls, whatever. And like, you, I love to when they're like, last week, these girls texted each other. Like, and then you're like, oh my God. I remember that. And it brings you back. Like, whoa, whoa, whoa, they're texting. Don't do that. Like, that. Like, I think that's really, that's fun and special. Okay, how are you balancing all of, like, you're doing so much.
39:38Mind you, I would never show run a show in a million fucking years. Like, when I heard you were doing that. It's a disaster. I was like. It's a huge mistake. No. No, I think it's, it really, like, I'm so impressed by that, genuinely. And when I heard you were doing that, I was like, thank God, because I trust her to do that. number one and number two like I just am very very impressed by that and I don't know if people know how difficult and psychotic that is and so you're balancing so many different things though I feel like you've got all these different like irons in the fire and obviously I imagine right now like show is the big thing yeah I am show and anything else other than show I am show I am show but like how are you how are you balancing all of those things while you're doing this crazy big undertaking I think I didn't know how psychotic it was when I did it I was like Totally.
40:24Showrun. Run the show. Perfect. And then I was like, oh, I feel like I'm running an insurance company sometimes where you're like, I've got to do the paperwork. And I think it's a lot, but also everyone who works on the show is so incredible. Emma Berry, my co-showrunner, is amazing. Max Silvestri, who you know. Max is a genius. Genius. and he's one of our EPs, Lorene Scafario, who directed the pilot and two other episodes. Aida Rogers, one of our producers. Like everyone is so amazing. And then Amy and Allie who work at HBO are amazing. So I felt like, I never felt like judged that it was my first time doing it.
41:11And I was like able to be, I constantly was like, so today, like you get an email being like, today we're going on a scout for this or we have a meeting a mix thing or this thing or whatever and i'm like i don't know what that is yeah obviously i will be there but i don't know what it is i will show up that's what i can promise you i can promise you i'll be there yeah claire and i will be there but we don't know what's happening and so and so literally there were times where i would like google stuff and i would be like what is this or what kind of they're like we're looking to hire a da da da da da like this person for editing blah blah blah and the name of a job that I don't know and I would be like that sounds awesome and then I get to the interview and I'm like so what would you say this job entails what do you do what do you do in your words in your words what happens when you come to the office if you come at all do you work from home what is this yeah let's work through this I hire you then what what's next yeah what's next what's next and frankly what should i be looking for what should i be asking you what's if you were to ask yourself a question that you want me to ask you what would it be oh okay fun idea fun idea say 10 things you do in a day quick go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go um yes so it was it was a lot of that there was one day in the writer's room where because i also had only ever written i'd written pilots multiple pilots but i had pitched multiple shows that never got sold and i like had submitted scripts for staffing i never got staffed and so my only experience really was like writing movies and writing bottoms just burping really quick just really quick um And so I know the like shape of what a movie is supposed to be.
43:13But it's different than a TV episode. So one day in front of all the writers, I was like getting really like in my head about like the shape of what an episode should be. And it's like all of our writers were lovely and no one would ever judge me. But still, you're in front of a group of people that you're supposed to be leading. So I walk up to the board and I draw like a squiggly line. And I'm like, so if a movie is like this and then a show is like, and then I start drawing these lines and I turn around and I look at the room and everyone's like.
43:48And I was like, so I was like, fuck, how do I how do I back away from this? And I look to Max and Max is like, Max is like, yo. and I was like then none of this matters and I literally like I literally like erased it as if it's like an exercise I'm like throw it away we don't need this guys screw formula we're just let's just blue sky a word I learned two days ago like it was it's house numbers it's bad pitch it's throw anything out there we don't even need the board burn it like it was so it was like i so in that moment was like i don't know what i'm doing and it was so scary max in the corner being like no no there would be so many moments max is amazing and so is emma where i was like they they had so much more experience than me but they never made me feel like i was stupid or like my ideas because I still knew like what I wanted the show to be about and I knew I had all these ideas for the season but like I didn't always know how to like express them and I feel like there were so many times during the room where I would like start to say something and then I would be like and trailing off and Max would be like exactly and so what Rachel's kind of the save I was like whoo texting him under the table like thanks girl needed that but it was yeah it was it was definitely like a learning curve and then the other thing that i feel like the process of show running is i would i would learn a new word and i couldn't stop saying oh of course you learn a new word you go oh i'm gonna run that i'm gonna beat that into the dirt yeah i'm gonna like when i when i learned the word vestigial oh vestigial yeah yeah yeah let's go vestigial yeah when they're like that's vestigial from the last draft let's pull it now i'm like in my life i'm like that shirt's vestigial that's from 2018 let's pull that shirt it's a little vestigial no there's something addicting there's a very specific language and way that people talk about making tv yes that when i wrote for big mouth like my first writing job the whole first season really was me and max was there and he's so has such a brilliant mind for tv that the whole first season was me just being like someone would be like oh this dialogue feels sweaty and i'd be like it does it does feel sweaty it's sweating all over us learning the terminology yes and then season two like having younger writers come in and being like oh now they're learning the way we talk about this it's a lot of fun it feels like i have a secret i know i'm like in a club yeah yeah you're like yeah the the different terms that was really fun learning that the other thing is i feel like i pulled different advice from like friends who had written on show like i guess i had the experience of when io and i wrote our comedy central thing she had already been a writer's assistant and i remember saying something to her that was like it feels like we just read we we get notes and then we write it different and then we just go back to the old way and she was like uh-huh yeah she's like that's the whole process i was like okay cool just checking making sure but like texting different people who had done different things same with directing because i directed for the first time I directed one of the episodes and I was like the whole time we were shooting because I directed the finale I was like stealing phrases from the other directors like Bill Benz would sometimes say like just do like the stupid version which is like the version where it's like so obvious what you're playing and then like what else did he say like a little bit of chuffa yeah he's like let's just get a little more chaffa off the top i'm like i love that a little chaffa just a little just a little extra before we get in we're gonna cut the chaffa but we need it just in case like little terms like that or different ways people would do stuff like lorraine like i think like sometimes she would come over and like say something to you really quiet like why don't you try to do that and i was like oh girl i'm gonna take that that's mine now that's mine now like you try little things and I feel like like my favorite part of the show running process as a whole is you get to work with so many like amazing people and learn from everyone and it's like everyone wants the same thing which is they want to make something great that was the other thing is I didn't feel like there was a single person who worked on the show who wasn't like I'm giving you my best energy and like I want this to be good so you're like we're all on the same side yeah and even if we like disagree about how something should be like if if I have to defend my argument or my point of view to someone then I have to like be better at expressing my idea which in turn makes me like understand more why I think it should be that way and sometimes in the process of explaining my point of view i'm like i'm wrong yeah like you know what i mean sometimes you're like well it has to be this way because actually so what you said as it turns out is interesting yeah yeah yeah interrogating your point of view is like such a beautiful part of collaboration to be like oh i was i was dead certain that i was right about this and then you see someone else talk about it you're like actually i'm wrong i'm willing to give on that i'm willing to give on that and i'm like i'm totally willing to give if you have a better idea done yeah i'd rather have the better idea than than whatever i thought of when i was crashing my car this morning rachel i have a question for you okay you know we ask everyone on the show what's so true to you okay what's so true to me is that like i think everybody needs
49:53a toxic in a fun way not like you know but everyone needs like a toxic relationship where they get dragged through the dirt yeah or if you don't have that maybe like a really bad friendship
50:08to shape your personality yes yeah yeah it's necessary you need it it's crucial you have to go through hell yeah you have to go through hell with somebody yeah i feel like most people do have one of those you have to and then it's like where because anyone who's like i learned healthy boundaries on my own it's like you think that yeah but then you even let's say you have like the perfect childhood everyone's kind to you and you learn like healthy boundaries it's like you don't actually know healthy boundaries because they haven't been tested yet by somebody by a crazy person in there yeah because there's crazy people out there so you need to you need to experience a crazy person with the means test your wellness yes yeah yeah and then the boundaries really they lock in yeah and you need i think it needs to be like tested against something also being with a crazy person in any kind of relationship it's awesome create it's genuinely it's kind of awesome creative romantic platonic it doesn't matter sometimes a crazy person enters your life and you're like i like how insane you are this feels good this feels good yeah it's nice and so those boundaries do start to dissolve a little bit because you're like i know we're being crazy but it's so fun but it's kind of fun yeah and then after you do it then after the fun part goes away it goes gets really bad yeah and then and then you go okay this is what i have my boundaries for and then you can and then after this i feel like is my journey is i was like no boundaries at all and then i got to this area where i was like it's all boundaries
51:42don't come in here yeah it's like all these little rules that i came up with i've i have so many little rules i live by little rules that are like if i don't have my bum breath and i can't move and And then if I don't have five minutes alone and I have to meditate and I can't see someone on weeknights, like whatever, all these things. And those are awesome, too. Yeah. But then then you can once you really feel good in your rules, then you can sort of peel back on rules and go this Wednesday. I'm going out to dinner. Yeah. Like, do you know what I mean? Or like, I'm going to have milk and I plan.
52:15I'm having milk. Oh, I know it hurts my tummy. I'm doing it anyway. I'm having milk tonight. I truly had a milk night last week. Milk night! I was like, I'm having full dairy Ben and Jerry's and I will feel bad in the morning. It doesn't matter. Because you know, this is the other thing that's great. It's like when you're younger, like something happens and you're like, wait, why is this happening? Why does my stomach hurt? Why do I feel crazy out of control? Why am I like completely like unable to stop myself from whatever, being in this thing with this person, whatever. You don't know what's going on.
52:51Then you learn. Then you know and you go, I don't want to do it. But then after time you go, now that I know, I can do it a little. Yeah. Because I know my stomach's going to hurt tomorrow. That's okay. I'll plan. Exactly. It's like you plan milk night for when you don't have something early the next morning. No. I can wake up and feel a little bad. And then you have shit morning. You have shit morning. It's milk night into shit morning. Poopy boopy Monday. No, but you're actually saying something so real, which is like you do just, you go, okay, I figured things out. Yeah. I made my rules. I lived really strictly about this, that, or the other, this relationship or this food or this whatever.
53:25And then once you know the consequences and you fully reckon with them, then you're like, I can break the rules. I'll just plan on how I break them. I plan on how I break them. Yeah. Yeah. Really, really good. The other thing, this part kind of sucks is like, do you know, like when you're going through like a hard time. Never happened to me. Really? I've never had a hard time. Isn't that crazy? Totally. Yes, I know when you're going through a hard time. No, yes, when you're going through a hard time. Yeah. and before I would only realize that it was a hard time after I would be like wait that was a really hard time now I realize that when I'm in I'm like shit and you're sort of like you know that it'll be over at a certain point so you can't even do the drama like to me it used to be like if I was going through a breakup or something I would be like it's over it's oh like you know what I mean I would just like throw myself into it and now you're like this will pass yeah I'll be okay couple nights with the girls it'll be fine and you're like oh i kind of miss the not knowing of like what's going on this is the i think about this all the time when i think about like the kids in my life like my little cousins and stuff that i'm like i love you so much and i want you i want to give you lessons as quickly as i can so that your path in life will be easier yeah but the number one thing i can't give you that makes life so much easier is just data that you have been through things and you've seen yourself you've had a hard time and then you've had an easier time and then it's gotten hard again and you look back and go like oh this is how i got through that hard time you create your steps you create your processes you surround yourself with certain types of people yeah i can't give you data you will just have to live through some really uncomfortable moments yeah to get to the place you're talking about of like yeah i can't really do the drama because i know yeah this yeah this week sucks yeah and next week it won't and that's just what it is and that's just what it is and and it doesn't matter if you tell them there were so many things my mom told me that i was like okay bitch and then literally years later i was like she was right she was right she literally took me like sorry back to the milk but my mom was like you're allergic to milk i took you to a doctor i was like you're a liar i'm having milk i'm having every night and then i was like oh okay and then i discovered all these other milks that are delicious but like the it's just like a rule where it's or even like being in a bad relationship your friends or your mom or whatever could be like you shouldn't do this and you go okay i'm gonna do it for two more years yeah and then never again.
55:44But it's like those types of things, it's like you can tell them, but they're going to learn it on their own. They need their own data. They need their own data. Everybody has to get their own data. Everyone has to get their own data. And you'll figure it out. You'll figure out what you are good and bad at when things go good and bad. Totally. Rachel, we have a segment for you. This one has nothing to do with high school theater. Okay. Am I drinking too much water? No, not enough milk though. I feel like I'm drinking so much. No, it's really, really important. and you're actually setting a great example for everyone watching.
56:13This is a segment we play with everyone, Rachel. True or false? I'm going to read you 15 statements. You're going to tell me as quickly as you can if you think what I just said is true or false. Okay. If you get 10 or more correct, Rachel, we're going to give you 50 US dollars. Whoa, whoa, whoa! Okay, are you ready? Okay, okay. Okay. A goldfish's memory span is only three seconds. True. False. It can be several months. Carrots improve your vision. True. True. Basketball was invented by a Canadian. True. True. The first email was sent in 1971. True. True. There are no active Six Flags theme parks in the United States.
56:44False. False. Simsbury, Connecticut's sister city is Whitman, Germany. True. True. Sutton Foster was born in Australia to American parents. True. False, Georgia. Fuck. 30 Rock was nominated for 56 Emmys. True. False. Fuck. 114. Chimpanzees can't swim. I've seen them walking around in the water. True. True. Okay. Blackberry's last phone was released in 2018. Blackberry the phone? Blackberry's last phone was released in 2018. False. True. Fuck! There are 108 cards in a standard deck of Uno cards. I hate games. They stress me out so much. True. True. NYU's motto is look to the future. True. False.
57:27Fuck. To persevere and to excel. Jingle Bells was originally written for Thanksgiving. True. True. The Trix Rabbit's real name is Arnold. True. False. He has no real name. 99 % of our solar system's mass is the sun. False. True. Fuck. How'd she do? Oh, so close. It was so close. Damn, I'm sorry. If you need 50 bucks, they'll call me, girl. You know I've got you. Okay, thank you. I've always got you. I will always hold you down like that. Okay, thank you. You will. I really will. I really will. I remember you treated me for dinner our first night in Toronto. Do you remember that? Pasta. Pasta. It was a delicious meal, and it was so beautiful.
58:03It really was. It was such a funny, like, our little life in Toronto was like, Rachel and I are hanging out every day for a little bit, actually. It was perfect. It was cute. We went and bought a sweater. You got a big Canadian flag sweater. Do you remember that? Oh, my God. I do. It was cutie. And we went out, too. Yeah. We did. We were fun back then. We were fun back then. Now all we do is work. Grandma and grandpa. Grandma and grandpa talking about data and milk. Talking about the memory of a goldfish. Okay. So the show's coming out. Very, very excited about that. It comes out in November. Are you going to get to go on a vacation?
58:34Are you going to go away for a little bit? What are you going to do when you get free time again? I am going to hopefully move. I need to move. A big stressful thing. A big stressful thing. I need to move. I need to repair my relationships with my loved ones. You know how it's like you go away and you give no one any time. Apology to her. Yes. And then, sorry, one other thing Claire and I were talking about was we were like, you make promises the whole time. You make promises during the shoot, which is like, you're like, when we wrap, I'm going to be at the club. Yeah. I'm gonna be I'm out I'm out yeah dinner Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday let's go on a weekend trip I think we should all go to Cape Cod it's like what yeah it's like promises after promises by the way it's like no one's even holding me to them but I've like made them up in my head yeah um and so I am looking forward to doing to spending time with my loved ones again yeah and going to the club with them as I've said uh I'll be making good on promises I'll be making good on promises yeah that's my big plan I truly relate to that so much.
59:37I was so, when I was on tour in the spring, I was like this. I mean, they're already laughing because truly you should have seen all of tour, you know, getting up, doing show until midnight, getting up at 4 a.m. for a flight to a new city like that. The whole tour, I was like, this summer, you're not going to fucking hear from me. I'm going to Europe. I'm not, no one's going to. Truly worked every hour of the summer. Every day. And it was just like. The curtains blocking out the light. In here. It's 4 a.m. You're like, good morning. Hey, what's up, y 'all? I worked every fucking minute of the summer and I'm just laughing at my old self that was making these promises.
1:00:09I know. You'll be lucky if you even get a text back from me this summer. No, I was on the phone every hour. Every hour. Yeah. You're like completely reachable. Yeah, totally. If I'm anything, it's reachable. I am reachable. Unfortunately. I am reachable. Yeah. You can get a hold of me. Yeah. I got my phone on do not disturb. Everyone in my life just calls through it. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Everyone just calls twice. They're like, I had to call twice again. I'm like, I know. I know. I was trying. I was trying to set a boundary. Yeah, no, no one respects it. And it's like. They're laughing because they don't.
1:00:41They're like, oh my God. Seriously though, Caleb, we need to schedule tomorrow. Pick up. For real. I just love you, Rachel. I love you so much. I'm so excited about the show. I'm so happy that we got to talk. This is the other thing, last thing. To hang out with your friends, you have to schedule a podcast or a work. It's really embarrassing. Or a work. You have to schedule a podcast or a work. Or a work. Yeah. and I'm so glad you don't count doing this podcast as a work this is not a work it's a different thing this is a different thing dude thanks for being on thank you for having me we did it with Rachel yeah that was a hate gum podcast
From the publisher
Welcome! This week’s guest is the talented and hilarious Rachel Sennott! Rachel and Caleb talk car accidents, a never before seen moment from early in her acting career, vocabulary words, and her new show I Love LA coming to HBO MAX on November 2nd!
Join our Substack for an exclusive post-episode chat with Rachel and other bonus content! https://calebsaysthings.substack.com/
Follow Rachel! @treaclychild
Follow the show! @sooootruepod
Follow Caleb! @calebsaysthings
Produced by Chance Nichols @chanceisloud
Ready to say yes to saying no? Make the switch at https://www.mintmobile.com/sotrue.
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About Headgum:
Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com.
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So True is a Headgum podcast, created and hosted by Caleb Hearon. The show is produced by Chance Nichols with Associate Producer Allie Kahan and Executive Producer Emma Foley. So True is engineered by Casey Donahue and engineered and edited by Nicole Lyons. Kaiti Moos is our VP of Content at Headgum. Thanks to Luke Rogers for our show art and Virginia Muller our social media manager.
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