Good Hang with Amy Poehler - Ariana Grande

Episode Date: November 18, 2025

Ariana Grande has no problem with being 5-foot-2. Amy hangs with the 'Wicked' star and talks with her about game nights with her mom, her Eugene Levy impersonation, and getting work done in the bath. ... Host: Amy PoehlerGuests: Bowen Yang and Ariana GrandeExecutive Producers: Bill Simmons, Amy Poehler, and Jenna Weiss-BermanFor Paper Kite Productions: Executive producer Jenna Weiss-Berman, coordinator Sam Green, and supervising producer Joel LovellFor The Ringer: Supervising producers Juliet Litman, Sean Fennessey, and Mallory Rubin; video producers Jack Wilson, Belle Roman, and Aleya Zenieris; lighting director Caroline Jannace; audio producer Kaya McMullen; video editor Drew van Steenbergen; and booker Kat SpillaneOriginal Music: Amy Miles Walmart.com/shop/gifts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. Boy, we have a superstar on this podcast today. And a wonderful person, Ariana Grande, is joining us. And, you know, I never had the pleasure of meeting Ariana. And I walked away feeling like the biggest fan, but also like I had met just a dear, dear, openhearted and tender and nice person. So we are going to talk about a lot of things today. We're going to talk about Ariana's love of the Christopher guest movie Best in Show. We are going to talk about what it was like singing with Mariah Carey. We're going to talk about how she likes to take a bath. And she's going to demonstrate what she does in there. And we're going to, of course, talk about Wicked 2, the film that's out this week, the gigantic hit that she is the star of. But before we get started talking to Ariana, with a person this special, we really need a special person to kick us off. And, you know, I wanted to talk to somebody who knows Ariana, who is, you know, close to her, who wants to speak well behind her back and give me a good question to ask her. And we have the one, the only Bowen Yang.
Starting point is 00:01:11 Bowen Yang from S&L, who I just got the chance to perform with a few weeks ago. Incredible actor, comedian on a terrific podcast with Matt Rogers, Las Culturistas, which we all know in love. So let's hear what Bowen has to say about our girls. Ariel Ariana Bowen? Hi. This episode is presented to you by Walmart. I'd like to say that I'm a pretty good gift giver. And for me, it's about making the extra effort
Starting point is 00:01:43 to find the perfect gift. Walmart has the top brands we all love in one place. Nespresso, Nintendo, Apple, you name it. That's why it has to be Walmart for all my gifts this year. Guess best gift giver award goes to yours truly. Get the brands everyone loves at prices you'll love at Walmart. Who knew? Go to Walmart.com or download the app to get all your gifts this season.
Starting point is 00:02:04 Get up. What do you say? All I ever wanted was a really good hey. Hi! I love this print and this pussy bow. Oh my God, thank you. I really was trying to think about what to wear for Ariana, and I wanted to go a little high femme.
Starting point is 00:02:25 Yes. And this one will come. come as a surprise, but I don't have a lot of that in my closet. You are the high femme. You don't need adornments for that. Wow, thank you. She does bring out a, um, a feminine, a real, like, delicate feminine energy. Yes, a daintiness. That's really nice to try to get into. Um, okay, we're going to talk to her today and thank you for this time. But before we do, I just have to say, once again, confess my love for not only you and all of the work that you do,
Starting point is 00:02:57 But Las Colch, which congratulations on the award show that you created out of nowhere that I hope is very strong and lucrative IP for years to come. Congratulations on your podcast, which continues to delight in form and entertain me in all different ways all the time. I love it. The fact that thank you so much I receive that. The fact that I was watching my heroes, you and Kristen, name-dropping us very casually in your discussion about Salt Lake City Housewives, I, like, leapt out of bed. I was like supine in bed, maybe flirting with seasonal depression.
Starting point is 00:03:46 And then I, y'all cured me right quick. God, seasonal depression is a funny drag name for, For, I don't know, anyone, for me, ladies and gentlemen, seasonal depression. Coming to the stage. By the way, before we get to, before we get to the question, what, where are we right now? Are we in an office of yours? We are in my home office. And I feel like I'm a commentator on MSNBC.
Starting point is 00:04:20 I was going to say, if we were on a Zoom right now, like a Zoom pitch or something, I would pin your photo, make it full screen right now and I would look at everything. Do you not do that when you're on Zoom? Listen, if this were my podcast, I would go into it I don't think so funny about blurring your background on Zoom. I get why people do it. I don't like it.
Starting point is 00:04:39 I think a blurred background is usually hiding a bed. Yeah, unmade. An unmade bed. And I remember those days of COVID where heads of giant film studios were talking in front of their unmade bed on Zoom. Have some respect.
Starting point is 00:05:00 Not for you, for me. Exactly. Have some respect for me. I don't want to see that. I don't want to see a crumpled duvet. No, get in front of a blank wall, babe. Anything but a bed in the background. You're a grown man.
Starting point is 00:05:16 You're a grown, and somehow you're underlit, like, fix it. But I just, so congrats on your background. It's beautiful. I love it. Thank you. So, okay. So, um, we're talking to Ariana Grande today. And, you know, I have been very heartened and not surprised by the relationship that you two have, like talent, talent loves talent. And the both of you feel like you have just become very genuine and warm friends. Is that the case? It is absolutely, miraculously the case. When did you guys first meet? We first met in,
Starting point is 00:05:53 rehearsals for Wicked. And this was after the saga of me maybe not being able to do the movie because of the SNL schedule. And it has always been, was always in that time, like my top priority, our wonderful benefactor friend boss, Lord Michaels was like, you can't miss shows. Like, if you're going to fly back and forth to London, like, I just don't think it's going to work. And then on the wicked end. They were trying to figure out how to make it happen. And they were like, okay, I think we're going to deploy Ms. Grande to pick up the phone and call up Lorne and try to convince him to let me do it. And I think that was the beginning of like sealing the deal of finalizing it. Right. It's like she like just that imagining that convert, like to be a to be a wiretap,
Starting point is 00:06:47 fly on the wall for that phone conversation is. is really thrilling to me. Just like hearing the two of them talk to each other. I mean, they have a great relationship too because she's been at the show. She hosted the first time. I thought that was a gangbusters episode before my time there.
Starting point is 00:07:04 And so she really like, she already like went to bat for me before I even met her. And Lauren was like, Ariana. I get it. Ariana, I get it. I get it. It's that thing where you're trying to balance.
Starting point is 00:07:19 and friendship and your dreams. Are you going to Wimbledon? Are you going to Wimbledon? You know, I was at Tom Stoppard's birthday. Yes. He's written some of the best plays ever. And I think, you know, Wicked is, I think Wicked's a play. Wicked is a book first.
Starting point is 00:07:40 Would you say it's a play? But, you know, shout out to Lord. He did not need to give you that time off, babe. He didn't need to give you the time off. and she closed the deal. And she closed the deal. And then that began this like really organic thing. And I was very,
Starting point is 00:07:57 this thing that I've learned from working at SNL is like, you never step on the gas. If you want to like make any sort of genuine connection with the host, you never want to force a friendship or camaraderie. And so I went into that experience being like, I'm going to be boundaries king mutually like respecting other people's and honoring my own. And I was not like forcing this friendship necessarily. but she was just so warm and inviting.
Starting point is 00:08:23 And somehow within like a couple of weeks, we were like watching Mommy Dearest together and like playing Rummy Cube and like baking cakes. And it just happened in the most unforced way, I think. And that also speaks to like the tone of the friendship and sort of her personhood in herself. Like she's just a very, I don't know. I think she's someone who like is,
Starting point is 00:08:48 strength in softness. She is, like, you know, incredibly vulnerable, and that is why people adore her. So what question, do you have a question that you think nobody ever asks Ariana or would be an interesting question for her to speak about or, you know, something that would be fun for us to talk about? Yeah, I mean, like, what does she think the through line of her work is?
Starting point is 00:09:16 Like, I think she has had such a, varied career, right? Like, start off Nickelodeon, or I'm sorry, you start off Broadway, you go to Nickelodeon, you go pop star, you go actor, and like there's like fashion iconography on top of that, like throughout.
Starting point is 00:09:36 It's like, I want to see what the unifying theory is from her. She will kind of like squirm at that question because anytime I like want to like talk to her about like what her favorite album is, she's like, don't do that. Like, it's great. It's great.
Starting point is 00:09:52 It's like true French. She's like, I don't want, you're not like entertainment tonight. Like, what are you doing? I'm curious to see how she would answer that through you, through me. And also the second question is, silly dumb question. What's the best note to sing?
Starting point is 00:10:06 Ooh. What's the best note to sing? That's such a good. It's so good because, I mean, I'm sure you are the same. I mean, I just love me. music and watching when the way singers sing I feel that way about when dancers dance like it's just like it's just like wow how did you do that I just can't it just feels like magic and there's so many notes that she can sing right she must have one that she must say let's do it let's do it let's do a
Starting point is 00:10:40 let's keep it in g keep it in g let's do g5 or whatever the octave is it's like it's like the the letter and the number because it's the octave on the piano or whatever. Like, I don't, you know, I'm not a music theorist, but she, I'm sure she has a thought around that. That's such a good question. It's like, we've done B minor too many times. That old hacky note. Oh, that old chestnut.
Starting point is 00:11:06 Ugh, get that away. Get B minor away. I need to do major. Well, I cannot wait to see you soon. Thank you so much for doing this. I know she will be thrilled that you did, Bowen. just adore you. I love you so much. I'll see you very soon. Same, same, same. Thank you so much for your time. Okay. Bye guys. This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Apple Card members can
Starting point is 00:11:28 earn unlimited daily cash back on everyday purchases wherever they shop. This means you could be earning daily cash on just about anything like a slice of pizza from your local pizza place or a latte from the corner coffee shop. Apply for Apple Card in the wallet app to see your credit limit offer in minutes. Subject to credit approval, Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank, USA, Salt Lake City Branch, terms, and more at applecard.com. Ariana. I'm so excited to be here with.
Starting point is 00:11:57 I don't even know how to talk anymore. That was not English. Did you just use an English accent? I know. I have to start over. Do you, I feel like you're a sponge, though. I feel like you pick up on the way other people talk. I think I've always loved to do voices.
Starting point is 00:12:15 Like when I was a little girl, I loved to. impersonate and do characters and voices and accents and you're so good at them and that's kind of what I wanted to start with today first of all it's nice to meet you it's nice to meet you too I love you so much I love you too I feel like I know you as most people do but I am thrilled to meet you in person me too and I was thinking about how to start today and I was thinking yes we'll talk of course about the huge success of wicked and we'll talk about your music and we'll talk about your life and all that But I wanted to talk about you as a funny person, as a comedian, as a deeply, genuinely funny person. You're very funny.
Starting point is 00:12:51 Thank you. Coming from you, I am, yeah, I'm shitting. I've been saying since I walked in, but that's really how I feel. I like, I can't. I adore you. And I, yeah, I look up to you so much. I love S&L. You're so funny.
Starting point is 00:13:07 Well, what is your relationship to comedy? Like, when you were growing up, what were you watching? What did you like? My favorite movie was best in show from a really young age, which is so strange, you know, to be a child and to really love that. I don't know. I was really young. Did you love that style of, you know, that like mockumentary style? I did.
Starting point is 00:13:27 I did. I loved, like, dry humor. And it made me feel so close to my family, like laughter. My dad and I bonded over our favorite movies. What's your dad's sense of humor? We love Jim Carrey. We love, you know, all the Adam Sandler movies and, you know, that kind of thing, the Christopher Guest, of course, and S&L. And that was just sort of how we bonded was through comedy.
Starting point is 00:13:52 Do you remember getting your first laugh? Do you remember, like, being in getting my first laugh? Yeah, I actually, wow, I've never thought about this in my life. But I was really little, I don't know how old I was, but I was doing stand-up. forget the name of my persona that I had created, but I was doing stand-up as a guy, as like this guy, this old guy for my grandparents. And I got a laugh from them. And I just remember it felt so special. I don't know. You were in their house doing it. Yes. And I don't remember the name of the character, but it was full out. It was like, I had disappeared into this man.
Starting point is 00:14:33 I'm always interested in the connection between musicians and comedians, because I think they have some kind of love for each other. And I don't know exactly know what it is. I think so. I think for me personally, the thing that I love about both so much music and comedy is that they've always made me feel so, like, safe and like I can relate to the person, you know? Yeah. Yeah. And you learn a lot about somebody by what they laugh at. Yes. You do. Yeah. And when you find someone who has the same sort of like ticklish spots as you, that's just the best thing. You know, when you work with someone and you find. someone that tickles you the same way. My best friend Liz Gillies, we look up to you and Tina so much because we are like, oh my God, we should do things like that during the day. Because you're so funny together. Oh, my God. What I love about your, what I've seen of your relationship is, again, that kind of feeling of play, like you know each other and you kind of
Starting point is 00:15:27 like being stupid basically. You love to be stupid. Yeah. What a gift it is to be able to play and be stupid sometimes. I know. And I mean, I feel that when you do SNL is that you're not afraid to be stupid and you kind of like it. It's the best. the best. And it's so vulnerable, but you can't be afraid. It's like, it's just the most thrilling thing. You really have to be down. You do. You can't go in halfway. No. And it is, whether it's, you're impersonating someone or you're doing some stupid idea. It's, it's, it's, I'm sure you feel this way too. I bet it's similar to singing, which is you have to kind of push through to the other side and make sure you're committing to whatever you're doing. Have to see it through. It doesn't matter. And if you're, You're on the, and if you're locked eyes with someone in the scene, because you've done SNL a few times. And their bald cap is sliding. And you're like, what the hell are we doing? Yeah. Or you're like, this scene's never going to see the light of day. Like, we're, this is not making the show. But we have to be safe with each other. Totally. It really is where like love blooms.
Starting point is 00:16:28 It really is. It's true. It's true. Because if you hang in there with each other, then you're kind of friends for life. Yeah. It's true. Yeah. We've kind of had some really extraordinary circumstances. is with slime and bald caps and things. Yeah. Did you have any things on SNL where, you know, it's always fun like the bloopers of that show, like where things go wrong or you don't make your change or anything? Like, what a stress dream come true? Did anything ever happen there when you were there? First of all, I am dying for your stories. Can I return the question after I answer?
Starting point is 00:17:03 Absolutely. Please. I have so many for you. Can we do another episode where I'm just asking all the questions, please? Let's switch seats. but um no i thankfully other than like breaking a couple of times yeah um there was this sketch that didn't air that we did with taran kill him and he was he had this like big 70s hair and he played this like weird musician person and he wrote this song that was so long and so strange and and i don't think i don't think like Lauren loved it at the
Starting point is 00:17:40 the end of the day. Sure, and the audience was like, I loved it so much. You were fighting for it. I liked the audience was on our side as well, but it was cut for time, and that was kind of heartbreaking because it was just so ticklish. I bet he still thinks about it that and appreciates it because there's nothing better than when the host fights for something of yours, even if it doesn't make it, it means
Starting point is 00:17:59 something that they do. I cherish it. My dad watches it every day. It's on YouTube and he watches it every single day without, I'm not getting, he starts his days with smile. I don't remember what it's called, but I think it's, the song was called smile. And he was like a 70. So it made the show. We were held out of the water. And she smiled too big for her face. And everyone was like. But we were love. We loved it. We loved it.
Starting point is 00:18:25 Oh my God. I mean, yeah. One of the people that became a friend to you is Bowen. Yang. Yes. Such a talented, nice person. The most brilliant, the kindest, most caring. so so ridiculously otherworldly smart and just so funny. I love him so much. Well, we do this thing on this pod where we kind of ask people, we have guests who know our guests to come on and we speak well behind their back and they give me a question to ask. And so we talked to Bowen today. Oh, my God.
Starting point is 00:19:01 Yes. Bowen was your person. No. Yes. And Bowen had such amazing things to say about you. And just you, that sketch when you two were together as the, that was your idea, right? When you were basically playing some version of your mom? I was, I was.
Starting point is 00:19:21 A version of my mom. So for people that don't remember, it was kind of like a game, a version. Yeah, sure, yeah. Yeah, sure. She's very proud of that, too. Yeah, it was a game night that went wrong, basically. It sure was. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:19:32 And you came to Bowen with the idea, which he said was like being handed a gift. Yes, because sometimes life has. to inform art. And this was one of those moments. I was like, Bowen, there's no reason that this happened if we're not supposed to use it. So what is your mom like? Tell us what your mom is like that sketch? I mean, just sometimes. Just sometimes. That's a side of her. She's a beautiful, gorgeous soul. I love her so much. But she was very proud of that too. I warned her 15 minutes before it started. The show, no, the show started that night. She was in my dressing room. She was like, break a leg, honey.
Starting point is 00:20:08 I was like, by the way, sorry. I have to tell you. because the wig arrived and it's your hair. I thought it was going to be like a blonde bob. I didn't know it was going to be your hair. But since it is your hair, you do have to know. I'm you in a sketch. And she was like, oh, I can't wait. And she loved it.
Starting point is 00:20:22 She loved it. And I heard her as I was running to my quick change being like, that's about me. That's about me. She's being me. She loved it. She loved it. That's great.
Starting point is 00:20:31 But we were having a family game night. And my brother's husband's brother was. a guest. We were playing games. And, you know, my, my, I don't have, I didn't get this thing that my brother and my mom have where playing games is really, is really, really competitive. Okay. You don't, you just want to have fun. I love to have fun. I want to be with everyone. I love them. I'm like really thankful for the time that we get to be together. I'm like, yay, let's play a game. That's not how they are. Yeah. They're going for us. Yeah, and they're really grateful, too, and it's good vibes until, you know, someone's losing.
Starting point is 00:21:13 And then, yeah, my mom just said, like, under her breath, like, Tiny Dick Syndrome or something. And I was like, whoa, mommy? Excuse me. Mommy, wait, wait, wait, mommy, your inside thought went outside. Yeah, ma'am. Yeah. I was like, Mom, you didn't just say that. And they were all, like, giggling, but like, nervously.
Starting point is 00:21:34 And I was like, this is, she's joking. She's doing a bit. And she was like, no, that's what that is. And I was like, coming down the barrel is so hard. And I was like, excuse me, guys, Bowen, hi. So something has just happened. At some point in our lives, we have to use this. You were so funny in it.
Starting point is 00:21:52 Thank you. You're so funny and so much stuff that you did. I mean, you're singing off key in Domingo, which is hard to do I met. Was it hard to do to sing off key? It was fun. It was really fun. And I liked that it got worse every time I came back to the mic. It was like as I started really subtly.
Starting point is 00:22:08 Yeah. But no, but with Game Night, I had to fight for that one. Like you said, like sometimes it's the most gratifying when you fight for it. And then finally, people believe in it. I was so happy. I feel like I get a sense from you that, you know, and you've been working long enough now to know that one of the things I think that's nice about getting older is you know what you're good at. Like you're like, I think I can do this well. Like that isn't always the case when we're figuring ourselves out, like what we can actually deliver on.
Starting point is 00:22:35 But I feel like that's what I mean about the confidence. I feel like you know what you can do well comedically. That is such a generous and nice thing to say. Oh, my God, I hope this is okay. Sorry that I'm here. No, I'm good. But I feel that about you. I know what tickles me.
Starting point is 00:22:50 And I know that I know how it feels like with the players like to experience. And if it has that like carbonation, that ticklish thing, it's then there's a chance. You know. And I am not one to, you know, I. I would never, but we were in Lauren's office and we were going over the run of the show and he kept moving game night over. And I was like, Lauren, I'm so sorry.
Starting point is 00:23:12 Please, can we at least try it a dress? Can we please try it a dress? Please, I'm so, like I promise, I owe you forever. Can we just try it a dress? Okay. And he moved it back. Okay. Yeah, I mean, people don't know that what's so cool
Starting point is 00:23:25 and terrifying about the SNL system is it still uses just index cards. I love the index cards. And you have these index cards with your scenes and then it's just very like high school play, you walk in and everyone looks up to see if their card made it into the show. It's so special. It is. It's really old school.
Starting point is 00:23:45 And it is, I have a little bit of PTSD when I see index cards. When you just said moving the index card, that I just had a moment of like, because I remember many times. The index card was in a safe zone. And then you come in, you're like, where did it go? Oh, no. Wait. Do you have ones that? what you want to share about?
Starting point is 00:24:08 Well, you know what's also fun about those index cards is there's always kind of a collection at the bottom because the show often runs long. And, you know, sometimes things have to get cut on the fly, as people know, there'll be like two index cards fighting for the bottom. Right. There'll be two scenes that are in the bottom
Starting point is 00:24:23 and you're like, see on the mat, like, let's see which one makes it. And you don't know until... And you don't know. It's just... Yeah. It really does kind of build your, I think, your tolerance for rejection. Right.
Starting point is 00:24:33 Yeah. Just kind of like you get used to thinking, okay, this isn't my last good idea. I have to try again next week. I think that's good. Yeah. Yeah. But you feel, but I feel like, well, Bowen was so great talking about you because, you know, he's such a friend and also loves talking about how easy it is to talk to you. And then his two questions were really funny.
Starting point is 00:24:59 One, I don't really understand. One was kind of like, I'm scared. It's two questions. No, they were, but one was like, what would Ariana say is the trajectory of her career? What is the unifying theme? Oh, wow. I know. It's kind of, it might be hard to answer this early in the interview.
Starting point is 00:25:17 No, I feel, it feels clear, actually. She's ready to answer. It just, it feels as clear as. Incredible. Yeah, I don't know. I think I just am feeling a lot more connected to myself and my art since I started doing different things. I think, you know, I spent so much time only doing pop music, but I grew up as a girl who loved musical theater and comedy. So I think the thing that will be like best for my soul and
Starting point is 00:25:47 also for my art and for what I'm giving myself to is if I'm chasing things that sort of feel just very right in the moment, even if it's spontaneous, if it's something different. Like I am doing a movie right now, because it's a role that I read the script and I love it and it's funny and I love the cast and I'm so excited. And then I'm going to do a small stint of shows next year because that is like something that authentically sounded good to me. Yeah. And then, you know, from there, there are other things that are different. And I think following those authentic impulses feel it feels like a really good idea like a good thing I think I think it's a sense of like getting older and getting understanding like listening to your own body like figuring out yeah figuring out
Starting point is 00:26:44 asking yourself what do you want first which isn't always the case and when we're when we're doing a lot of work we're sometimes doing things because we have to do them or we should do them and then when you take even a second to say, what do I want to do? What feels right? Yeah. Yeah, that's something that is learned over time. For me, I, when I, you know, sort of came into all of this and my pop career sort of took over my life in a way. I didn't have that at all, you know? And I think that is, I feel very, like, privileged and grateful to have learned that that there can be room for, for different creative endeavors. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:27:27 So that's been a really beautiful thing. I think it will change a lot. I think the first, the last, you know, 10 or 15 years will look very different to the ones that are coming up. And I don't want to say any definitive things. Like I do know that I'm very excited to do this small tour, but I think it might not happen again for a long, long, long, long time. Sure.
Starting point is 00:27:49 You know, so I'm going to give it my all and it's going to be beautiful and I'm so grateful that I think that's why I'm doing it because I'm like, one last hurrah. Perfect. For now. For now. Never say never.
Starting point is 00:28:01 No, no, no. I'm not. And also, I think, to your point, like when you're able to step away from acting or music or writing, then you really appreciate it when you get to go back to it. So much more. And like you are able to do better by that art form
Starting point is 00:28:20 because you're appreciative and really able to feel present in it. Well, this leads me to Bowen's next question, which was, what is your favorite note to sing? Oh, my God. My favorite note to sing. I know. Okay, I'm going to play you a note. You'll tell me if you like it. Okay.
Starting point is 00:28:40 Because we got to get – I mean, I just got nervous when I just named the note G because I was like, that's a note, right? Yeah. I know that G is a note that I – that was – the highest note of my ad lib that I sang in 13. I think G is pretty high. It was something that I sang in 13. I know that. That's a nice one.
Starting point is 00:29:06 Can't tell you, but I love it. Okay, let's do another one. Is this what I'm supposed to do? Here we go. Here we go. Here's a C. Oh, beautiful. And we have never sounded better. La.
Starting point is 00:29:21 Gorgeous. That's a gorgeous. And we don't know. We don't know. We don't know. But I did learn a lot about music theory today. Thank you so much, Amy Poehler, for my, for my lesson. One of those notes reminds me of Annie, which I know you were in, which is one of my favorite musicals. Tomorrow. Yes. What is that note? I don't know. No, I still don't know. We'll never know. We'll never know. I'll never know. But I do know. That's a hard one to hit. I hear the relation. I hear the, I know why you thought of that. One of my favorite songs in any musical is Maybe and Annie. I love Maybe. That is such a good song. Sad one.
Starting point is 00:30:00 That's a sad one. No, that'll do it. Yeah, that'll get you going. That'll get you going. And was that fun to be a little kid and Annie? It was supposed to be a little kid and Annie. What a part! What a big part.
Starting point is 00:30:12 It was really a huge undertaking at that age. It's true. I was talking to Rachel Dratch. We were talking about musicals that like shaped us. And for women my age, you know, I'm in my 50s. like, Annie was just, it was kind of like, it was about, it was just like, it was about us. Like, it was, it was like a musical for us. It really was, it felt like the first, it was not about us.
Starting point is 00:30:34 We were not orphans. I was thinking, wait, wait. But it was for us. Annie was for you? It was a young, it was a, she was the same age as us, right? Like that part was, you know, to just to have a young girl be the lead of a, of a Broadway show. And it's named after her. It's not called Daddy Warbucks and the little girl.
Starting point is 00:30:57 It's called Annie. It shouldn't be called that. It shouldn't be called that. I don't like that title. Wait, so what are your, what are your... Well, it's funny with, oh, my S&L or my musical. Your S&L like... Bloopers?
Starting point is 00:31:09 Blooper. What's one of your favorite blooper moments? One thing that comes to mind is one time I was doing a sketch where I think Jason Bateman was the host and there was a monkey in the sketch. like a, I would say maybe a chimpanzee, like a formidable. Yes, an animal actor. How do you feel about animal actors? I don't like them.
Starting point is 00:31:29 Yeah, not good. I don't like them. And it's too stressful for me. And it was like a young chimpanzee. And I'm going like this because I just want to show how strong it was. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I walked past the chimpanzee and it reached out and grabbed me by the wrist. Oh, no.
Starting point is 00:31:51 and wouldn't let go in the middle of a quick change. I think it was like the blonde hair or my vibe. And I started screaming. Oh, that's really traumatic. And chimpanzees are very strong. Yeah, I like, famously. Yeah. So that was one where I was like, and I couldn't get it to let go of me.
Starting point is 00:32:14 Were you okay? Yeah, it was all fine. It was all fine. But that was, would that be considered a blooper? I don't, I don't know. I think that's like PTSD. Yeah, that's PTSD. That's like a different colder.
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Starting point is 00:33:13 Transform your living space today with Cozy. Visit Cozy.ca, spelled C-O-Z-E. EY. The Home of Possibilities Made Easy. I do want to talk to you about musicals because I know you love musicals, of course. I do. I like them very much. I do. I like them very much. I feel. I can also admit they're ridiculous. Well, what I love about them is when I feel transported to me that is the best feeling ever when I watch anything. But it's, harder for me to get transported in musicals than in other things. And I get, like, you know, it's kind of like improv. Like, there's a vulnerability in that moment. And if it's good, your sight and
Starting point is 00:33:59 if it's not good. It's tough. It's tough. It's ticklish. Yes. How do you, when you're, you've done many musicals, you're, you're currently making a film about probably the most famous musical, Wicked. Like, when you're, when you have that moment right before the actor sings. Right. It's just like jumping off a cliff kind of. You have to stay. in the acting moment and then switch into song. Do you know what I mean? What do you do in the preciousness of that moment? Well, for Wicked, thankfully, I do feel like it's really well written for the characters
Starting point is 00:34:35 and for the moment. So it feels like they have to sing the next thought, you know? But I think so that it can be as honest as possible and feel like it's just acting and like the singing, whatever, it's vocal training before. way long before you get there so that it doesn't even feel like a thought. Like, I trained my voice for months before my first audition because Glinda's voice is so different than mine. How did you train it?
Starting point is 00:35:00 I trained with my vocal coach, Eric Vitro, and it just takes muscle memory. So for weeks and weeks and weeks, I'd go every day. I was a coach on the voice at the time, and I was going in the mornings to Eric and then my acting coach Nancy Banks and we would work on random things, not even Glinda related things, just to sort of get the muscles moving and I hadn't acted in a long time and it was important to me to get ready for the audition. And, you know, I just spent every day going to retrain that falsetto operatic area of my voice because I wasn't using it for a long time. And you can hear the quality change if you look through like the voice notes from way back then like the first week I went there
Starting point is 00:35:51 was so much air seeping out and then slowly but surely like week after week there was more purity and more clarity when you get higher does there have to be less air like everything has to be tighter in the vocal cords no I think it just sounded I guess what what I mean by that was that you could hear like more rasp in my voice right so the same amount of air but just the quality became clearer and more pure as time went on and Glinda doesn't have a rasp she's so Does she? No, I mean, unless there's like an emotional break or something like that, that can be imperfect. But she has a pure tone.
Starting point is 00:36:24 Yeah. And it's more classical. And I trained really hard so that that could not be a thought on set. So that by the time we were in it and had to move seamlessly into the songs, hopefully, you know, that wasn't a stress. That wasn't a thing. No one was worried about, are the notes going to come out right? And if they didn't, it probably made sense emotionally. You know, there are moments where, especially in the second one, where we have breaks and we have like choked up and you can hear it.
Starting point is 00:36:55 And that's kind of like the beauty of being able to do it live on set because you get to honor what's happening in the scene. Yeah. But it's wicked. And I know what you're saying where like maybe if it was something else, it might be, I don't know. It's like that back and forth is so hard to do. But, you know, thankfully these songs felt so intense. intentional. Every single song in Wicked feels so purposeful for the arcs of the characters and for what's going on. Did you speak in a different voice, says Glenda? I did, yeah. A higher voice so you could
Starting point is 00:37:28 stay there when you sang? I did. It was kind of, so on days when I'm singing, I'll, and also most of the time, this is kind of where my voice sits is like here. Yeah. But sometimes it'll move lower and then sometimes it'll move higher. For Glinda, when she's younger, it was a little bit pingier. And when she's older, it's a little more grounded, a little more lived in. She's like a public figure now. She's supposed to, you know, she has this like responsibility. So it's a little more, and she's been through more.
Starting point is 00:38:01 So it has a slightly different tone. But then when she's with Elfie again and having fun, there's more pep. Yeah. And, yeah, I feel like people's. That's incredible that you try. tracked all that. It was important. Yeah. Thank you. But, you know, it felt really important and helpful because we were shooting both films at the same time. Yeah. So just making sure I also, I kept track of all of that with color-coded sticky tabs so that I could like take a peek at which color
Starting point is 00:38:32 so that I could bounce back and forth. And then, you know, there were a lot of little tools that helped with the mindset shift between both films. But that was one of them. And singing voice and speaking voice, feeling a little different. That was a really fun thing to sort of figure out some of her songs in the second movie. You get to hear her open up a little more, whereas like everything in the first movie is so controlled and prim and proper and bubbly. Yeah, you get to kind of like peel back so many different layers.
Starting point is 00:39:13 She grows a lot in the first movie. Her arc is, she has a big arc in the first movie. And in the second one, there's a lot more to go. Yeah. Because you're so good, you're such a mimic. You do men's voices very well. I am working on it. Because I'd like to do more male drag and more male voices.
Starting point is 00:39:30 Your Eugene Levy was amazing. How did you see that? How have you seen that? From my laptop. Everything is here No one knows about that Can you do a little Eugene Levy? Do you remember?
Starting point is 00:39:43 Yeah, you know, the thing about that day is I had I went to a place that I've never gone before And I don't know if I am able to access Sure, sure, sure. But I can try. I also had put my gum in my envisaline. Ooh, that's helpful.
Starting point is 00:40:00 Because we had teeth, but they weren't like working. They weren't sticking. So I put gum in my envisaline, which really helped. And you were playing the character he played in Best and Show. Yes, it wasn't Eugene. It was... Eugene is very sophisticated, not this character. Jerry Fleck.
Starting point is 00:40:14 I was playing Jerry Fleck. And he was sort of like, hold on, I have to like relax my body. I don't know. I dropped into this. Yeah, Eugene. I'd like to think that Cookie and I... It's not as low as I'd like today. I don't have my basement today.
Starting point is 00:40:30 It's so good. Work is a team, though I do nothing. She does all the work with Winky. Back to, I don't know, back in the day when I was at Ponce Dillian Jr. High. Well, I wish you could, I wish people listening could look at Ariana's face. It's really bad. What is it doing? It's not. I never have any idea.
Starting point is 00:40:52 It's transforming. It's really good. I never have any idea. But you have a way to get pretty, you can get pretty low. I sometimes can. Yeah. And you do have that, I mean, I love, I love, I love, I want. I want, like, I feel like there's a lot of men's voices you could do well. Oh, my God. Because you're very, you're very, you're very, you're very, you're very high femme, as people like to say.
Starting point is 00:41:15 I don't know. And, um, high femme. I think. And, um, but I think we both are. I, I, I didn't think I was, but Bowen told me I was. I think you are, but you also have such comfortability doing great male voices and characters. Same. And I, and I, you know, and I think what I love about you is the way in which you're very, like,
Starting point is 00:41:35 open and supportive of the way that gender is its own fluid experience and expression in the way you live your life and also the way you support people who are expressing that fluidity. But I think you have a very interesting masculine, feminine energy that you're always playing around with it. And it's cool to see it. It's so nice. It's cool to see it.
Starting point is 00:41:59 That's so amazing. You have a wide range of how you can play around. That is so nice. Yeah. I'd like to play more men. Yeah. Okay. America? Oh, we should have worn mustaches. Oh, I love a mustache. I love a mustache. I love a mustache as well. For Jerry, for my performance as Jerry, I had these big eyebrows and no other makeup and big, yeah, the invisible end up my teeth. It was really fun. And then you can do that really breathy, you know, and also Judy Garland is up in that world. I know you love Judy. and she and you have you can do I just I mean I'm just pointing out your range coming from you I feel like I am dreaming I don't know if anyone told you you're very talented that is very kind you're very very talented well I mean and and you know you it is pretty it's so fantastic to hear your name up with it's like Celine Whitney Mariah what are you talking about you're in that sentence no Yes, ma'am.
Starting point is 00:43:07 No, no, no. Yes, you are in that sentence. That's crazy. It must be, I guess, because I'm talking about people that you love, study, and completely, like, are, you know, a huge fan. And you're also their peer and you're singing with them. Who is someone that you sang with that you had to just kind of, like, keep looking over and being like, oh, my, oh, my God, like, I can't believe I'm singing with them. Mariah. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:43:34 Every time I cross paths with her, which has been like a handful now, and that feels just like such a dream, I have to pinch myself. And the best part is how kind she has been to me and how she's embraced me. And just she's a wonderful kind person. I really love her. It's very surreal. What was it about Mariah's music growing up that spoke to you? What was that special sauce about her voice? The vocals and the sense of humor.
Starting point is 00:44:10 I think her pen and her producing ear, I mean, yes, she's the greatest vocalist, of course. But the other pieces are just so, are just what make her, you know? Talk about, you know, she's the greatest singer. So many people sing beautifully. but her point of view and her sense of humor and her wit in her songwriting and yeah and she talk about male drag why did she do that yes what did she do in the obsessed video look it let's look it up you have to see it she dressed she and and lady gaga also does that as well so well yes oh my god and i and i mean love these divas she's another as well who is just so I love her so much the sweetest in the world
Starting point is 00:45:00 That rain on me is so good. Well, thank you. And I love seeing you two together because it just felt like two professional super talents. Like I could just – we're theater nerds as well. Yeah. Okay, obsessed Mariah Carey. Oh, she's dressed as a – she's at the limousy. She's a limousine driver.
Starting point is 00:45:21 She's obsessed with herself. She's playing a – There's more. Wow. I never saw this. I know. she's one of us that is so cool
Starting point is 00:45:34 who are you seeing in music and film and who are you saying like whoa they're doing something really exciting I'm inspired by them I have to say I'm sort of I'm on set right now I'm filming this movie I'm filming Can you talk about what you're filming or is it too? Okay I'm filming Fawker-in-law
Starting point is 00:45:49 Oh nice I'm having so much I know it's crazy That's great the fourth Fokker's movie but it's like it's such a treat and it's such a privilege I'm learning so much and working with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro and everyone that is in this cast I'm really enjoying my time with. And it's such a- Who's directing it? John Hamburg.
Starting point is 00:46:09 Oh, he's awesome. Yeah, he's wonderful. Yeah, he's great. And it's just so great to sort of experience a new journey and learn from those around me. And I'm very inspired by my cast. And Beanie Feldstein is in it. And she's incredible. I love her so much.
Starting point is 00:46:29 So funny. So funny. so wonderful and yeah I'm learning a lot from my castmates and yeah and it's probably like a lot less physical um it's probably a lot less physically exhausting than wicked which must be not I'm not kidding I'm not kidding I don't know if I'm allowed to say this but I have to say it because you're going to laugh your ass off my character is a triathly oh no so you're always running. I spent yesterday burpee is in high knees
Starting point is 00:47:01 with Robert De Niro. And he's like good job, Olivia, good job. And it's like the craziest of most real thing. I'm like, what is this movie? What are we doing? But I'm having a blast. It's like, it's really special. But no, it's far. It's not. It's not. Yeah, she's a lot of things.
Starting point is 00:47:18 But a triathlete is one of them. There's also a lot of biking in this movie. Oh, no. A lot. A lot, a lot. Oh, no. Ben Stiller is so He's so fit. He's an Olympian. He runs like, he's a lot of them. A couple miles a day before, yeah, it's too much. It's crazy.
Starting point is 00:47:34 No, it's too much. I feel like I'm on the set of the Avengers. Between him and Bob, Mr. De Niro, I'm like, are you guys? But Bob, Bob's not running in the morning. Yes. Oh, my God. At like 3.30. I love them.
Starting point is 00:47:47 They got to stop. That's not okay. I am obsessed with them. But I do love a good morning Pilates moment. I do like. Here's how I feel about running. Yes. Yes.
Starting point is 00:47:56 You prefer, I prefer walking. I prefer walking. There we are. And when people are running, I'm like, too much running. Yeah. What are you running from? I hear. It's too much running.
Starting point is 00:48:08 But I just assumed that Wicked is just so much physical. Because also the outfits. It is. It is. The outfits are a lot of, like, wearing an outfit is heavy. Like, that's just a, and the. Well, every day it was corseted. Oh, dear.
Starting point is 00:48:25 The only looks that I had that weren't corseted were, my pajamas. But it was, but it was helpful. Yeah, it kept you feeling. Yeah, I was so eager to get into my corset and her shoes because I wanted to like find her posture immediately in like her weird stiffness. I wanted to jump into that. Yeah. Yeah. So I had a rehearsal course and in rehearsal shoes and then it was like fine by the time we, you know, it was great. And John Chu's awesome. He's the best person in the whole entire world. You can just kind of tell right away. I mean, I have to say in general, the press that you and said, did for the tour was so exciting to watch because there isn't like, you know, there is this thing
Starting point is 00:49:08 that one always has to push against when you're a woman in the business, which is people are kind of constantly comparing and asking each other. Like, there's just like a little bit of an electricity in the air that people are looking for conflict. Yeah. And what you and Cynthia did over and over and over again was so radical, which is you kept getting ahead of it, speaking to it, and then in the moment really reminding everybody about how you made a commitment to each other to support each other through the project. It was really cool. And in doing so, you commented on the bigger idea of like the pressure women feel constantly to be compared to each other and have conflict with each other. Did you two make that pact together? It
Starting point is 00:49:56 feels like you did. Did you say it to each other or was it just unspoken? Well, we did. You know, it was, it was really, first of all, thank you. It was, it was really hard work, you know. Yeah. Not to commit to that, but to kind of take care of each other. Firstly, through this incredibly huge thing that was making wicked, you know, I really wanted to be safe. Yeah. in each other, you know? I wanted to make sure that she knew immediately. Like, I am a cancer. I jumped in way too fast.
Starting point is 00:50:34 I was like, hi. Time. You were like ready to cry? Yeah, I was like, hello. Shall we cry together? Yeah, I start with the, like the darkest. No, I decided. But, you know, I really did want to establish that right away.
Starting point is 00:50:48 And I kind of said, hey, we're getting to know each other. I, you know, we're going to learn a lot about each other very quickly. Yeah. You need to know. I want you to know there's nothing that we can't talk about. You don't have to face something alone. If you need help with something, I am on your side already. I don't even know what it is yet, but we'll get there together. This is a huge undertaking. And I want us to stay connected as much as possible every step of the way. And, you know, there were so many challenges in the making of. And that. We checked in and we always stayed honest. You did, and we got to see it. It was really cool because you have to deal with a lot of people's energy when they're talking to you about the stuff that you made. And the way, and also you guys just physically checked in.
Starting point is 00:51:42 Like, it's really sweet how you touch each other. You like to touch, like, in a non-sexual way. Oh, God. In a loving way of, like, supporting each other. Yes. You like to hold each other. others like hands in and be there for it's very sweet yes you like to do that with people am I I do I do I do I am very I I'm I channel a lot of energy through my hands yeah and so yeah I'm always
Starting point is 00:52:08 holding a hand I'm always like squeezing a something as you've learned I'm always reaching for something sometimes we have so many things here that you can squeeze fake food if you want that's one no but it's often it's often like who I'm with and you want yeah it's like I I like to channel support an energy, like, whatever. I didn't even notice that it was a thing about me until that thing happened. You're talking about when you grab Cynthia's little finger. It was so cute.
Starting point is 00:52:33 Yeah, because I didn't know what the fuck was going on. Sure. And you were like, and you just reached over a little teeny tiny grab. And I knew it was gender and since you were beautiful and I just wanted to be supportive. I was like, oh my God. And it was so sweet. And now I felt sweet. It felt beautiful.
Starting point is 00:52:49 And it was beautiful. And it was beautiful. Of in an awkward or confusing moment, you guys kept turning towards each other. Yes. And I think that's something that we've worked hard to maintain. And, you know, there's a lot of time that passes between the wrapping of the film and then the press store happening. Yeah. And then, you know, it's a check-in here and there when you can. You know, we're both so busy, but we do our very best to stay connected in that way and to take care of each other.
Starting point is 00:53:12 Let's all take care of each other so that we can honor the project as much as humanly possible and do great work. Yeah. Is like the best lens ever. And I'm so lucky that John Chu is the king of that exact thing that we're talking about. I mean, the fact that he was at his baby's birth and not at Wicked Premiere. Well, I mean, thank God. I know, but there's a few people that would have made a different choice. I know, but he had three over the course of the whole film, you know, I think.
Starting point is 00:53:40 He had three babies? Yeah. Well, let's be clear. His wife had three babies. Yes, yes. But that's how long we've been. Wow. That's a lot of babies. Isn't that crazy? Yeah. Yeah. Wow. No twins? No twins. Shit. Okay. All right. Okay. Okay. I have a lightning round for you. Okay. Okay. So I have to
Starting point is 00:54:03 disclaim. I'm really bad at lightning. Take. Lightning doesn't have to be fast. Oh, I'm like in the middle always because PTSD. I build a case for both answers. Yeah. So I'm like very indecisive due to things. Okay. Got it. So I want you to know that this It's not a mess. You don't have to worry about being fast because I also don't ask the questions fast. Oh, okay. Thank God. So it's a slow. Okay. We're on a slow round. A really slow landing. Like we're, you kind of see it in the sky. And it comes down really slowly and it hits the ground really slowly. Okay. So the first thing I'm going to ask you is kind of a gotcha question. Okay. Give me. Give me it. And this gotcha question is you say you're five three. I don't say that. That's what the internet says. I say I'm 5-2. Well, the internet says a lot of things. True.
Starting point is 00:54:54 I'm 5-2. That was the question. I'm 5-2. Are you 5-2? I'm 5-2. Is it 5-2 on your license? Do you have a license? I haven't used it in a long time.
Starting point is 00:55:06 I'm in New York now. Do you have a current driver's license? I think so. She thinks so. I'm kidding. I do, I do. I'm not driving, though. Do you like being 5-2?
Starting point is 00:55:15 What's the pros and cons of being 5-2? I ask, because I am also 5-2. but my license says 5-3. Oh, does it? Yeah. Was that a choice? No, they measured me or somehow someone put it down. You were having a tall day.
Starting point is 00:55:28 I was having a tall day. I get it. And I got like excited. I was like, 5-3. I was like, okay. And then. Yeah. So 5-2.
Starting point is 00:55:37 So what do you think about being a tiny person? I think it's fine. I think I'm enjoying my time. I wish I could reach more. Yeah. I wish I could reach like the water. I wish I could reach it. Is there anything that you think you wish you had height for?
Starting point is 00:55:54 Like, just, I guess, reaching. No, I mean, just reaching. Yeah. You know, the highest book, the highest water, the highest, whatever it is. But I'm okay with it. Are you, do you have qualms with it? I mean, I know, I know no other way. I know no other way.
Starting point is 00:56:07 I know no other way. I mean, I have heard that shorter people live longer. But not to brag. I don't know why. Do you believe? I hope so. I hope so. Well, I hope we all live long.
Starting point is 00:56:22 I don't know what I'm saying. I mean, we can't all live long. Let's give it to the short people. I hope everyone lives a beautiful long life. Of course, but let's have short people live longer. Let's have something. Let's have something. Okay, moving on, lightning round. Do you think you had a past life?
Starting point is 00:56:36 Have you ever felt like you've lived before? Oh, God, you're going here? That's so not lightning. I do feel like I've lived before. And what is it? Who? What? Who was she?
Starting point is 00:56:46 He? What was? Where did you live? Do you have a set? I have no sense. I have no sense. But I do feel old. So that's what people say. Like an old soul.
Starting point is 00:56:55 I'm not calling myself an old soul. I think I'm just tired, actually. Whoever you were was tired. Yeah. I think it was tired. And I think they might have drowned. Ooh. Sorry.
Starting point is 00:57:08 I'm sorry. I just have a thing with like when people hold their breath underwater. I don't like that. Okay. Very good to know. I don't like that at all. Great. But back to the thing when you said, is there anything you wish you could do?
Starting point is 00:57:18 I just have one more. And if I don't get it out, I wish I were a person who, like, had entomology, endless entomology knowledge. And I could look at a bug and be like, ah, Lepidopter, a pierre a day. You know, that kind of person? Yes. I do wish I had that. Who could classify insects. Different insects.
Starting point is 00:57:33 I know what you mean. Like, you know the people who do that with birds. I have the bird app, the Merlin app. Do you have that? No. It's fabulous. You play, you record the sound of the bird and it quickly pops up what it is. They can tell by their tone of voice.
Starting point is 00:57:46 I love that. I feel like you would also. probably be able to impersonate a lot of birds. I think you have a lot of faith in me. They're being really kind to me. Best Halloween costume you've ever worn. Oh. Well, well. Or one that you've worn.
Starting point is 00:58:00 I think my favorites are the best in show stuff that I did with Liz that we did together. That's forever my favorite. And I was also the pig face from Twilight Zone. That was like a fun. Yes. That's an old classic.
Starting point is 00:58:16 Yes, I love Halloween. For people that don't remember. there was a twilight zone where a woman woke up from... Beauty with the beholder. Yes. And it was, she woke up from what was like plastic surgery and everyone started screaming
Starting point is 00:58:27 and her face looked beautiful. Gorgeous. But they were all... Pig faces. Mm-hmm. Fabulous. Chew on that. Fabulous episode.
Starting point is 00:58:36 What about best bath product? You love taking baths. I love lush. I'm a lush person. You're like a bath bomb? I'm a bath bomb. So you love a fizz. I love a fizz.
Starting point is 00:58:46 I love the smell. I love like, of salts and a bath bomb and a trickle of oil, like essential oils. And do you take, do you have one of those things on your bathtub, like where it goes across where you can put your phone? Do you take your phone to your bath? I do. I take my, I also take my laptop. I get a lot of work done. I'm not kidding. Okay, so I have to talk about this because I'm a big bath person. It's something tell you tip you off. Yes, we heard you're a big bath person. Oh my God, I'm a big bath person. I like, like, it's like a,
Starting point is 00:59:13 it's like an office ritual. It's a, yeah, it's a ceremony. Yeah. And I have, talk us, talk us. Talk us. through the ceremony. I have my, like, I have my, I'm in the bath and I have my coffee. Okay. I have my coffee here. Got it. Do you have a tray? My laptop here. No, it's just on the edge of the thing. Oh, no. That's scary. I know, but it's okay. It's always fine. And, you know, I push the bubbles back. So they're not in the way because this is when I have time to do, like, my approvals of stuff before I go to work. Ah, that's good. I'm able to, like, look at the links of stuff in the water. Yeah, I look at it. It's so interesting. And yet, afraid of drowning. I know, but that's the thing. So I'm in control in the bath. There's a big control
Starting point is 00:59:53 that we're working on. And I'm in control in the bath. Yeah. And I'm a cancer. So I'm very aquatic. I love the water. I love to be submerged, but the drowning thing. Yeah. Favorite Italian food. Ooh, I have to say pasta. What kind? So many kinds. Marinar. Just simple maranara. Yeah, what my nona would make. Yes, I'm sorry about the passing of your Nona. She seemed amazing. She was amazing. She was so funny.
Starting point is 01:00:23 Tell me about her. My favorite Nona story is Frankie coming out to her. So Frankie, your... My brother is Frankie. He is gay. And he is very gay. I don't know if you know. And he came out to us and, you know, my first question was like, do you have a boyfriend?
Starting point is 01:00:42 Who is he? I want to meet him. And, you know, Nona was just trying to figure it out. you know, very accepting, very loving, very celebratory. But she was just trying to figure it out because she couldn't believe it. And, you know, in her mind, she had plenty of, like, boyfriend. He had plenty of girlfriends and whatever. And so she goes, Frankie, have you seen a pair of breasts?
Starting point is 01:01:05 And he was like, yeah, yeah, no, and I've seen breasts, yeah. And she goes, didn't do anything for you. he was like no no no and she was like well you're gay
Starting point is 01:01:23 and that was like yeah I know he was like I wasn't asking for you she was like one more time right before you leave can I just tempt you one more time have you seen all them she was like I just want to know if you know what you're what you mean it was just so funny before you go
Starting point is 01:01:39 I'd like to remind you what you're missing and Frankie was like I'm okay yeah I'm good I know. I've already asked this question, I promise. She seems amazing. She is amazing. Your family seems like they're like a really funny, like tight group. Like you seem really connected to your family.
Starting point is 01:01:56 I mean, we are. We are. I mean, are you a typical Italian family? I think so. I think so. I think like I, that's how we kind of grew up in the loud Italian household, Sunday dinners and cards. And, you know, I learned poker, like I was saying, way before. I should have probably and yeah it was it was beautiful I do feel like I am so right smack in the
Starting point is 01:02:20 middle between my mom and my dad like I think Frankie and my mom are like very similar than I like kind of in the middle of it all but yeah they were amazing and my grandpa was the best ever what was he like he was the best and what did you call him my grandpa grandpa I called my nona nona and my grandpa because he thought no no sounded too negative no no no no no he didn't like He was like, no, no, no, no. Yeah. Right. He was incredible.
Starting point is 01:02:49 Yeah. And he didn't, and when Frankie came out to him, he was just like, what the hell? Who cares? What are we going to love him any less? We got dinner reservations at Positano. Let's go. Perfect. It's like that's what you wish for every kid.
Starting point is 01:03:01 Yeah. You wish for every kid that they have that kind of like loving, teasing, instant acceptance, instant love. Yes. And just like being seen right away. We need it now more than ever. Amen. Yes. I wish that for all the kids.
Starting point is 01:03:15 Same. And you provide that for a lot of people. Ariana, you're just so great. You are. I love you so much. I love you so much. I was so nervous and excited to come here because I adore you so much. Thank you.
Starting point is 01:03:26 Was there anything we didn't talk about? I don't think there is. Okay, great. Thanks so much for doing this. It means a lot. And congrats on Wicked 2, which is going to be out this week. And I'm sure this little indie film is going to get a lot of people talking. No, but congrats on the huge success of it
Starting point is 01:03:45 And I can't wait to see all the stuff that's coming up for you And I'm just such a fan So thanks for doing this. Me too, I love you and thank you for having you. Thank you so much Thank you, Arianna. It was so great to have you And so great to hear you talk about all of the good things
Starting point is 01:04:01 And it is time now for the polar plunge. Today's polar plunge is presented by visible When your phone plans as good as visible You've got to tell your people Unlimited data, just $25 a month, join today at visible.com. So to plunge into the interview today, I just want to say that Ariana talked a lot about game night and how much fun she has playing games and how some members of her family get competitive. And I wanted to just kind of do a public service announcement to remind people that a competitive person at game night can ruin a game night. but as kind of a competitive person myself, don't come if you're not ready to win.
Starting point is 01:04:43 So walk the line, be care and try, but don't be, you know, so awful that you make everybody quiet. It's a fine line, but I know you can reach it. So today's polar plunge was presented by Visible. It's one-line wireless on Verizon's 5G network for $25 a month. That's a top-tier network at a budget-friendly cost. tell your people and make the switch terms apply see visible.com for plan features and network management details thank you so much for listening see you again bye you've been listening to good hang the executive producers for this show are bill simmons jena weiss burman and me amy polar the show is produced by the ringer and paper kite production by jack wilson cat spalane kaya mcmullen and a laia zanaris for paper kite production by sam green joel lovel and jena white Original music by Amy Miles
Starting point is 01:05:37 All I ever wanted was a really good hey

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