Good Hang with Amy Poehler - Reneé Rapp

Episode Date: May 27, 2025

Reneé Rapp knows that altos are important. Amy hangs with the singer and talks about meeting Beyoncé, coming out as a lesbian on ‘SNL,’ and why men should not be doing backflips. Host: Amy PoehlerGuests: Cara Delevingne and Reneé RappExecutive 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, Chris Wohlers, and Aleya Zenieris; audio producer Kaya McMullen; video editor Drew van Steenbergen; and booker Kat SpillaneOriginal Music: Amy Miles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Good Hang. Boy, we have a superstar, a pop star, an incredibly talented, wonderful woman named Renee Rapp joining us today. We're so excited to have Renee here. We are going to talk about so many things. We're going to talk about falling in love. We're going to talk about standing up to bullies. We're going to listen to her new music, which is incredible. Her record, Bite Me, is coming out at the end of the summer. And her new single, Leave Me Alone is out now. It's so good. And, um, We're going to talk about what it means to make music during these times. It's fun and funny, and I can't wait for you to listen. And we start these podcasts the same way all the time. We try to get our guests' friends or fans or people who want to give me a question to ask our guests on the line. And today we have Kara Delavine, beautiful actress, model, director, galabout town, total delight. And Kara is joining us from Paris, and she's going to tell me what to ask Renee. Hi, Kara. This episode is brought to you by Uber Eats. Summer is almost here, and you could now

get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. What do I mean by almost? Well, you can't get a summer blockbuster delivered, but you can get a block of cheese. A cabana, that's a no. A banana? That's a yes. A day of sunshine? No. A box of fine wines? Yes. can definitely get you that. I'm very excited to use Uber Eats this summer. I'm going to order grapes and then I'm going to put them in the freezer and then I'm going to have frozen grapes and I'm going to feel very classy and very refreshed. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. For alcohol, you must be legal drinking age. Please enjoy responsibly. Product availability varies by region. See app for details.

Hello? Kara? Hi. Hi. How are you? It's nice to meet you. Have we never met? I mean, I feel like perhaps I've walked past you at an event. And I've never stopped you and hugged you? Not yet, but now, but now. Like, how rude? Like, I feel like I adore you and I'm such a huge van and I feel like I know you so well because I think Parks and Rec probably saved my life. during COVID so like I feel like I know you so if I'd seen you I would have run up to you and probably kissed your fee if I'm going to be real with you I just I just got back from because I'm just getting into my hotel room and then I will sit down of course take your time we we have people doing these zooms from restaurant bathrooms from set from cars so oh perfect I'm talking to Amy polar I'm on her podcast my girlfriend's a big fan

She's freaked out. She doesn't understand. I would tell the camera up, but she's naked. Oh, my God. That's how I imagine your life. That's how exactly how I imagine your life. We love the podcast. Yes. I know I just, we do good hang.

We are good at with the best hang. Okay, so we're talking to the great Renee rap today. Who? Exactly. Just be your favorite. Your favorite. And I know, can you tell me how you guys met? I literally don't even think we know each other that long.

But through my old. manager was like, you know, I always want to be behind the camera in as many ways possible. And I think music videos is a great way of doing that. And he was like, would you be interested in directing a video for Renee Rap? And I was like, yeah, obviously, let me, let's talk. So let's get on the phone. And what I realized about Renee, again, for someone who is nearly 10 years younger than me, she is, I mean, a consummate professional. Her voice can just like break me to the floor while also like lift my spirits but also when you've worked with someone who's a musician who's also an actor and who's so brilliant and just can like take direction take notes be

spontaneous um yeah she's so good at that okay and then um my question to you is what do you think i should ask rene today there's a lot i know about her but i want to hear what you think i had so many questions that i wanted to ask and then i realized a lot of people won't understand understand the question. So for everyone, the questions that I wanted to ask her, number one was if she was a drag king, so not a drag queen for the people that don't know that drag king, so dresses in drag as a man, what would her drag name be? Great. Very important. What would yours be? Okay, let me think about this. Well, I'm going to think about the old trick where you sometimes take the street you grew up on and your first pet name. So mine would be

Bradley Algonquin. Hot. I can imagine the dance you're doing too. Yeah. So my guy I think would probably be a professor, like some kind of professor. Hot. With a mustache. With braces, a bowtie? Yeah. And just, and he's just like, he's just kind of externally telling you to get your work done. obsessed disciplinarian Professor Algonquin I can't claim this one but someone, a drag king is called Clit Eastwood which I just think is just

come on incredible I wish I'd made that up it's not mine I don't know what might be but I'm not the one being asked questions and the other question would be oh oh if Renee had to be in a garband like the Spice Girl it doesn't matter how many people

of female singers, rappers, whoever, dead or alive, who would it be? Honestly, that's the hardest question, I think. Oh, that's such a good question. Renee is going to be so happy that we talk today, I think. Because, you know, these are always surprises, so. Fuck, Renee. Any excuse to talk to you, Emmy, go ahead. Thank you.

You're the best. It could have to say anyone. Oh, my gosh. But no, I love Renee. I'm so glad I was so. I'm so tall. Okay, well, just come back next week and we'll just talk about whoever that is. I will. I'm going to find a job to do so I can just come and talk about it.

Yes, please. I would love that. That's how it works. Okay. Thank you so much for your time. Bye. Bye. Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo. Renee, I'm so happy you're here. I've been listening to your, I've been lucky enough to listen to your, can we listen to your, can we listen to your, can we listen to your, song right now.

Please. Of course. I love this song. Is it weird to listen to your music? I mean, I'm forced to listen to it a lot. So, no, it's not weird. Is this your first single? Mm-hmm.

It's fun. It's so good. It's got like a runaway's Joan Jedd. Yeah. Oh, 100%. 100%. I know I like it. And it's very crunchy.

Thanks, dude. Thanks. I'm partial. It's so good to like music. A hundred percent. I really like your music. Of course. Thank you. It's very sweet.

I really like your music. I'm glad that you like it. It would be shit if you hated it. Yeah, I wouldn't tell you. You know what I mean? But it's this record is so good. Congratulations. We're going to talk all about it.

Thanks. How are you today? How are you feeling today? Good. Renee Rapp. Yeah. I first met you without you meeting me. So I guess I should say, I first saw you on Tina Faye's phone.

Love. I mean, that's kind of like a sick thing for me to know that that's where you've first seen me. And like, oh, my God, that's so cute. I saw, Tina said, listen to this woman sing, basically, and played a video of you singing. And we both kind of watched it together in awe, as I imagine, a lot of people do when they first hear you sing. Thanks. And you were, you know, I think you were already hired maybe at that point to do Mean Girls, which was, give us a sense of what time that was. What year was that? Probably 2019.

Right. And you were how old? 19. Dang. And what do you remember around that time about getting that part? I was just like so entitled. I was just so entitled. I was just like, yeah. Okay. Sure thing. You were like, I got it, nailed it? Yeah. Do you remember the audition?

Yeah, totally. What was it like? I auditioned a bunch of times. And when I first auditioned, I remember I was like, I need to dress really girly. And at that time in my life, I was like, I mean, I was dressing horrifically. First of all, I was dressing. Like, an infinity scarf, a legging. Like, I was like my, like.

And you're telling me those are not cool? Um, no, no, no. Like, I love a little, like, small infinity scarf, you know, like tiny in it. Yeah. But that was just like, I don't know. I was just dressing crazy. I was dressing crazy. I also, like, just started making money.

So I discovered, like, athleisure. And I was, like, a musical theater person who was moving to New York. And I was like, fuck, you guys all wear these little fucking loo lemon skirts. Right. Right. Right. Assholes. I got to get one.

So I was dressing crazy. So I was like, all right. I got dressed the part. And I looked fucking insane. I just looked so terrible. And I remember being like, I can't walk in these heels. And this skirt is, like, making my ass sweat so crazy. I have to go home.

And I did a terrible, terrible first audition. It's true. The wrong clothes can ruin. Fuck you up. Yeah, big time. Fuck you up. I hated it, hated it. So then the next audition I went back, changed clothes.

wore some pants, skinny jeans, eh? That was nice. And I looked less bad, did better. What did you sing for your audition? Do you remember? No, but I remember that an ex-boyfriend picked it out for me. Yeah, because I was like, he was a musical theater major in college and just smarter than I was. And he was like, oh, I think I said, I was like, I'm going to sing like a Beyonce song. And he was like, like, what the fuck for? He was like, cool. But at that time, it wasn't like, you know, the girls weren't doing pop like I think they are now.

Yeah. And he gave me something. Fuck, I don't remember. He was like, sing something from HMS Pinafore. Literally. He was like Pirates of Pennants. He was like, Joseph's Technicolor Dream Coach. Exactly.

Exactly. So I remember I did that. And then after that, the auditions I went back, I just had to sing songs from the show. And that was way fucking easier. Yeah. Because I hate having to make decisions. Written by the great Jeff Richmond. Let's give it up for Jeff Richmond.

I love Jeff Richmond. Who's an incredible musician and Tina's husband and my friend for many years. He's so talented. There are no two people cuter. It's kind of outrageous. They are a power couple. It is kind of outrageous. And I am not the biggest fan of musicals.

Sorry. I like them. I don't love them. I'm not either. I love the mean girls musical. I love the music. It's really fun. Yeah.

It's really, really fun. What was it like doing a Broadway show? and how many shows did you end up doing before COVID hit? I mean, it was super fucking hard. I don't know. I did like six and a half months. So I did like half of what would have been my like contract. Just like did a ton of fucking shows.

You just do literally so many. Yeah. And the hardest part of your day is at the end of your day. Absolutely. Actually, do you know what? No, the hardest part of my day was like the mental game of waking up and waiting the entire day and planning your entire life around doing a show at night. And I know you identify primary, you know, like, you identify gay.

Yes, we're going to talk about that. No, no, go ahead. Rude. Yeah. But you identify as a musician and singer in many ways more than an actor, right? Is that true? I think so. Okay.

But I do want to just talk about the Jimmy Awards. Please. Because for people who don't know. what the Jimmy Awards are, what are they for people I've never seen them? The most intense, hormonal, scary. Yeah. Scary. Really intense.

And I don't say that about other people. I mean, not more about, like, myself. Like, I was a fucking terror. I didn't make a friend the entire week. So they're a high school competition. Yeah. Okay, so yes, actually. So when it is, is a high school theater.

I'm like scary. You went way in. Yeah, no, it's a high school theater competition. All across the country. Yes, correct. And everyone kind of competes. And a lot of, like, very famous people have been discovered through the Jimmy Awards, you being one of them. Do you feel like you were discovered because you did the Jimmy Awards?

Like, in many ways, were you... I feel like, I mean, it definitely, like, it definitely gave me, like, leverage because I was, like, just kind of an asshole. And I was like, you guys are going to pay attention to me whether you like it or not. Yeah, you were really feeling... Like, that's the, when I watch your performance on it, that is definitely what I feel is this vibe of, um, I'm, I've arrived and I'm ready. Mm-hmm. You felt that then? Like, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Have you always been this kind of person? Renee, like a, if you had some kind of inner compass that, like, tells you have. Yeah, definitely. Yeah.

Where do you think that comes from? I literally have no idea, like, from inception. to now same way same way like always and don't get me wrong like i think my parents have those qualities absolutely but like even before you know when you're like a little tiny thing and you start to sort of like take on parts of your own personality and as those become you know what they are I was always like just like super driven crazy like little bit angry and like ready to go. That's, and do you think you, like,

this is a little woo-woo, but do you think you've lived before? Do you think you've been here before? Because that's a very, you know, it's like, did you think you arrived with some, like, are you a reincarnated? No, there's no way, because I wouldn't have come back. I'd be like, I'm not doing this shit again.

I'm like, I'm not doing that shit again. No, this is your first time. You're so centered. Gotta be. From a little, from a young age. You know who you were. Definitely. I think I'm just very, like, I just always have been very feisty.

Yeah. But also when I was, like, being born, I guess. Hey, when I was being born. And, like, in mom. When I was there being born. When I was, like, shooting out. Yeah. My mom, like, chose my first and last name to be, okay, arguably,

chose my first and last name to both have, like, ours. Yes. She was, like, alliteration just in case she wants to, be a pop star. Like before I was born, which is so fucking headass and is so conceited. And I'm obsessed with the way she did it. I'm like, thank you God. She gave you a pop star name just in case. Because Renee Rapp is a huge pop star name. It's a really good one. And Rene Rapp is a huge pop star. Do you remember the moment when you sang or when you watched people realize that you had an exceptional voice? You have an exceptional voice, beautiful voice that can do so many things.

And everybody says, like, oh, my kid's a good singer. You know, my daughter loves to sing, whatever. But there is always a moment where somebody sings and everyone looks at each other and says, holy shit, she's really good. Do you remember a moment where you or someone locked in and knew, you know, your ambition and talent were matching? Mm-mm. It didn't match for a very long time.

Really? No. I don't think. Well... Are you hard on yourself? A hundred percent. But also, my parents were never like... Like, my kid's a fucking star.

Yeah. They were like, like, I would, like, come off of, like, a stage or even, like, I played a lot of sports growing up, come off the field, like, court, whatever. And maybe, like, you know where you messed up? And I'd be like, I'm five. This is crazy. This is crazy. But also, my dad has relative pitch, so he's very musically inclined. What does that make relative pitch?

So basically, like, if I was flat, he'd know. Like, he has a really good ear. He was a really, really good ear. So he was always like, you know where you were flat, right? So I was like, fuck. So they were really getting you trained. Like, you're, are you trained or did you ever do any musical training? Like any.

I did like, I was in choir. Yeah. I was in choir. I took piano lessons when I was a kid. But they give me panic attacks. I got very stressed. And I started crying. So I stopped.

Good. Got rid of that, but I did, I feel like choir was, like, how I learned kind of how to, like, blend. So I don't want to say, like, no, I have no training at all. What were you? Were you Alto? What were you in your, I was an Alto in choir. You have the hardest lines. Thank you so much. You have the hardest lines, yeah. Because Altoes sing, like, they're far away from the choir and singing a different song. Yeah, oh, 100%.

They're just like, and I will tell. Yeah. And the sopranos or what were you? Were you a soprano? Congrats. As a soprano. Thank you. Also, sopranos are bitches. Like, if you're a soprano, everyone's like, oh, congratulations. You get to sing the song. Right, exactly. The altos have to sing some weird dirge that is underneath the song. Of course. It's like, you know, the, all I want for Christmas is, what the fuck? Outto line. Okay, what is it? It's just like.

Okay, you sing the. I don't want on that. For Christmas, there is just one thing I need. And I... Like, it's the same shit. The whole song. And that's exactly what being an alto in a choir is. And then occasionally, having to memorize the most difficult line of music.

It is that has nothing to do with what the song is. Couldn't be left. It is so confusing. And you know what happens when those altos go? the song falls apart falls apart you have like a very shrill pitchy soprano and like tenor boys who are like not at all developed yet singing like shit yeah the altos are the bottom of the pyramid the altos are like when you do the cheerleader pyramid if all those bottom gals decided to just leave what do you what do you do when the bottoms are gone we always say that

what are you going to do when the bottoms are gone nothing to top nothing to top no one to top if the altos are removed. Nope, that's what my girlfriend needs me. That's it right. She needs me. It's interesting. What I'm realizing is I'm asking you these, like, technical questions, but I'm realizing how you come to singing is very intuitive.

It's like what you're feeling in the moment. Totally. So do you do vocal warm-ups? No. Incredible. Hate. Can't do it. What?

What? Don't like them. Don't like them. Makes me too anxious. Puts me in my head. Anytime I've ever done a warm-up before. a performance, I have done so shit. That is so interesting.

I can understand that because it then becomes very important. Yeah, and I'm like thinking about it and I'm thinking about the like different technicalities or whatever my voice and I don't, that's not how I learned how to sing. So I don't think whenever I try and do that, it's kind of like going back on the actual thing that I know how to do. How did you learn how to sing? How would you describe it? Listen to Beyonce. Tried to match it. Like, genuinely.

Like, I was like, well, this is it. Yeah. So I got to do that. Yes. You know? You let music come from all around you and you, like, you brought music in. Yeah. And you're less concerned about trying to be.

100%. Yeah. 100%. Have you met and talked to Beyonce? I have met. I have met. Would you like to tell us, would you like to tell us how? I was forced.

Okay. I was forced. Management? No. By one of my best friends who is like just, she will always introduce me to someone. Always. She's like, you must. And for Beyonce, she was like, this is your, like, hero.

Like, this is your everything. Set the scene. Where were you? So we were at a party after I just told everybody at this Oscars party that Nemo was the best film ever made and they're like cool she's gonna work for a long time and and we went to an after party and I was with like two or three of my really good friends and my friend Kara is like the best person to have out with you because she is like your biggest cheerleader ever is that Kara Delavine yes she like she will take she just like literally she'll be like Renee I got to like

hold you for a second. Like, she's, like, one of the greatest friends on planet Earth, but knows how much I love Beyonce and is really fearless about it. And, um, I was like, oh, my fucking God. I was like, Beyonce's literally standing here. That's so crazy. And the whole day she had been saying, she was like, we're just going to introduce you to her. Like, like, they invited you. Like, it's okay. Like, she, like, you guys, like, I'm sure that she loves you. I was like, no, no, no. Like, we really should, like, tone it down. And I was, Did you see you're in the room? Yeah, no, definitely.

Okay, you had some liquid courage. She was in the room. Yeah, she was in the room. And very blonde. And I think, like, probably the most beautiful person I've ever seen in real life ever. And I love my girlfriend, but, like, she knows you don't compete where you can't compare. And I like that saying. Can't, like, what are you going to do?

You put anyone in a category with Beyonce. It's going down. So. Sure. Kara was like you must say hi to her I'm like getting so anxious talking about it makes me I'm like I could vomit She was like you have to

And I was like you walk me up there bitch And I will kill you I'll kill you in front of everybody here But it sounds like you meant the opposite The truth is I didn't You didn't oh she dragged me And I was like having such a like a visceral reaction I was like this is my hero

I can't do this I would never even like want to bother her Or anything And I just, and she was like, oh, my God, hi. I was like, you don't have to do that. It's okay. Love you. Lovely to meet you.

You got really sleepy. And I just was like, I couldn't look at her at all. I also was super, I love to have a good time. And I was gone. So I was like, hey, so nice to meet. Thanks for having us. Like, you know. Basically, you hurried her along.

Oh, she didn't get a word in edgewise. I was like, I got to go. And she was like, oh, it's so lovely. I said, no, no, no, don't even worry about that. You just have a good night, ma'am. I'm going to head on out. You're like, we're going to get you in the car now, and you're going to, we're going to get you home. I literally, I turned around maybe three feet, middle of a party, middle of a party, screamed, top of my long.

Screamed, turned around in a car, and I was like, I started to bring up. And she was still very close. Yeah, she was super close. I could have walked a bit further, but I was so, I was like, I can't do this. It was the greatest night of my life. Do you want to meet her? again and do you think you'll be cooler when you know that's it we can't talk we can't talk we you mean like sometimes you just don't want to meet i can't i can't it's too much also she'll be like

this woman just screamed like two feet away from me and i'll be like i totally did i'm so sorry like how could i ever do that around your your ears she probably is used to people like hearing people totally yeah tweak tweak after they meet her for sure i once met prince at s&L oh um he came off stage after doing a sound check and walked past me. And I said, how is your summer? That was what I said to him. What did he say? He was like, he just went like, hey.

Like, can you imagine that being the question you asked Prince? Terrible. No, it's good. Okay, let me talk about your album, okay? Because this music, your record, what's the name of your record? Bite me. Amazing. Yeah, I kind of forgot.

I was like, mm. Yep, got it. Okay, bite me. So, incredible. And it is very, I was talking to you when we were, hold on, I got to play the song. Go, girl. Stream my shit. Yeah, okay, so that's what music is, is you stream it now.

I guess. Yeah, you just stream it now. It's funny that you say cannonball, sorry. You're so cute. Hold on, Nana needs to listen to it again. No, go girl. Come on, Nan. It's funny, come on, Nana.

Let's go. Nana's get on up. No, but you know what? It's funny that you say cannonball in it Because it did have a breeders vibe Like there's a heavy Like PJ Harvey vibe And what I like about your music is

I feel like I'm in conversation with you You're in conversation with us Totally I mean hopefully yeah And there's not to get to You know like but I did You know I don't always do research on the guests Because like I understand Because I'm like, it's okay.

Of course. But I did listen to all of your songs many, many times. Oh, thank you. And so I just want to, I want everyone to know that. But no, but the two songs, the one, why is she still here, and I can't be, is it, I can't be around you anymore? Oh, yeah, yeah. Those two songs, everyone, listen to those two. They feel like they're from the perspective of two women in the same.

Like, it's very cool coupling those two songs. They're great songs. Thank you. Thank you. They're like some of my favorites. That is true. They're kind of A and B to each other. Right?

One is like, why is she still here? What's going on? And the other is there's something going on. Yeah. We can't really handle. And I can't be around you anymore. That's a killer song. Thank you.

I'm obsessed with that song. I love that song. And that's a good example I feel like of where you're able to show restraint because you have to kind of sing it. You're singing it in a way that really makes us. feel something like really feel it deeply it's so good thanks it's really it's that's gonna be a late night driving song for a lot of people yeah it is for me yeah 100% and it's gonna be the kind of song that people send to each other like hey and they're just gonna send it and be like I can't see you

anymore because we're we have too much chemistry I go XO they're like I mean is there anything hotter than being like we can't see each other so hot it's like we literally can't we have You have to leave me alone. Of course. So then you do, you have to see that person again. Yeah. Must all the time. Well, you can't.

You have to, but you can't. Of course. It's too dangerous. It's forbidden. Yes. It's forbidden. Romeo and Juliet. Danzel.

Fuck. Balcony. Yeah. Yeah. Suicide. Suicide. Balcany. Suicide.

Um, speaking of love. Suicide. Speaking of love. Mm-hmm. How did you meet your girlfriend? Um. Um, similarly locked her in my house. Kind of same thing to Beyonce.

Toa bird for people who don't know. An incredible musician. The best. Um, opened for you. Mm-hmm. And was kind of discovered, um, like online, right? Totally. Performing and doing videos like during the pandemic online.

Yes. Yeah. We always joke around that we're like the two TikTok signings at our, at our label. I had known of her for like the longest time because she's super talented and is really sexy and so obviously I knew of her and because all the sexy you you clock all the sexy yeah yeah I have like a rolodex I got a list and like who's hot got it um but yeah she I was I just always like thought she was just so fucking cool and I had asked one of my best friends to introduce me to her and yeah I was like you have to introduce me to her he's like I don't know if she's like

in a place in her life where she's like wanting to like meet anyone I was like I really couldn't give a fuck less I'm not either but I'm gonna meet her We need to be at least be friends Yeah you were like There's something about her that feels

Yeah I was like I need to know her Like super bad And so then he introduced me to her And she was so fucking mean to me And I was like Wait and what way? You liked that? Loved it

But she's scary She's like Yeah. Well, she's like from the UK. So like her humor is also super different. But she's also just such a bitch. Tell you, what did she say? Well, I was like, I've heard so much about you. And she was like, why are you talking so much about me then? And I was like, she's really nagging you. Yeah. I was like, oh my God. And then speaking of negging, the next time we talked, I was like, we were talking about cars. Because I love cars. And also the movie. Good animated film. Holy shit. Holy shit. I always say. So good. Larry, the cable guy, should have been nominated for an Oscar. I mean, it's incredible. His performance as Tomeader is...

Un-fucking real. It is un-fucking real. And I hear laughter, and that's rude, because... Because it's true. It is true. His performance is incredible in cars. No, it's stunning. Agree.

It's stunning. I just re-watch cars, too, recently. I cried in bed, obsessed with it. But, anyway, how to fuck... Oh, okay. So, we were talking about cars, and she was telling you what kind of car she drove at the time, and I was like, oh, that's so interesting. I wouldn't, like, peg you for someone who would drive a car, and she looked to me...

or who would drive a car, who would drive that kind of car? And she was like, oh, you don't want to peg me? And I was like, I was like, I was like, I was like, I'm so confident and so like. She, she, she, she, she over, she, she topped a top. She literally topped a top. She out flirted me. She tip-topped, she tip-topped a top.

She tiptoed on my top. You like confidence. Love. Okay. Love. And what would be, okay, so she's super confident. And then you're like, okay. now she's a challenge.

Yeah, of course. I was like, now I'm like, you just, you, you, you want me so bad. Just say it. You want me. That is true. Yeah, it was awesome. Yeah. And so then you started dating.

Yeah, then we started dating. And then who said I love you first? She, she told me, I'm so sorry, but she told me we were sat on the beach and incredible. High out of our minds. Okay. Sorry. And I was so.

so beyond in love with her. Like, I've never been so scared to, like, fall in love with somebody in my life. I was like, oh, Jesus. I was like, we're either going to get married or I can never speak to her again. Like, it's, like, that kind of, like, I just am so...

I, like, worship her. I think she's perfect. And... Yeah. She was, like, I think I'm falling in love with you, and I literally didn't answer. Didn't say a word. I'm on trumes.

The sun is setting. I'm like... It's a bit cold. There's, like, a TikToker behind us that I'm obsessed with. Who? Which one? Her name is Flossy Baby. Oh, I know Flossy Baby. She couldn't be more hilarious. She was behind you during it?

She's behind us on the beach, but I can't say anything to her because I'm like Flossy. She doesn't know me at this point. Yeah, a lot going on. Yeah, we know each other now because I broke everything down to her on Toa's birthday because I invited her. I said, you don't understand what a big part of our lives you are. Fossy Baby. I'm obsessed with her. And so Toe was telling you this, and I was like, but I was, hi, distracted by Flossy Baby. So I was like, I was like, there's no way she just said this to me.

And what if I'm receiving it wrong because of things that are impairing. Yeah, sure. My thought process. And natural plants. So I didn't say anything. And I said, repeat one more time. And she was like, are you fucking kidding me right now? I was like, sorry, sorry, let me lock back in.

I love you too. Like, I was like, of course. And it was the craziest. I love you too, of course. I love you too, girl. Babe, I love you too, of course, girl. Honey, you're so cute. And, yeah, I was just like, I'm obsessed with you.

And Flossy Baby's here, too. It was awesome. It was awesome. It was so fun. It was so fun. Wow, so it really feels like real, true, beautiful love. I love. Yeah, me too.

That's so great. Yeah. And what is it like working together? You guys have been on, like, do you tour together now still? We did. I mean, we'll, like, we'll go out for shows for the other person. Will she be playing with you for any of these shows that you? you're going to do?

100%. Wow. What's that like? How do you stay in love and work together? It's not always easy. No. I mean, she like, I think I just respect her so much as a musician that I am kind of always looking to her, like, seeking her approval kind of sounds like she's doing something

really terrible to me. But like I'm always, yeah, like I want to know. I really respect her opinion. I really respect her opinion and I think she has amazing taste and I think that there are so many things in ways that she's so much smarter than me and I love having that in a partner because I want to learn from her all the time. But there have also been times where we've worked in sessions together and we're writing for each other's projects and she's super fun to write with so easy to collaborate with and I don't think I'm as much like that for her. Because we were writing and God bless her, we, like, left. And I was like, you seem a bit upset with me. And she was like, no, I just like, I don't think I, I don't think you needed to like nitpick my vocals all that much.

And I was like, got it, got it, got it. So what had happened was I was like trying to vocal produce her on like a demo for like the better part of an hour and a half. And I was like, mm, again, again. You were like, I can tell when you're a little fly. Yeah, is it, sorry, do you know where you were wrong? She was like, cool, cool, cool. So I don't know if she wants to work with me again. But I love working with her.

Yes. Love working with her. I don't think I'm maybe the person for her, which I totally get. I'm a bit neurotic. It's funny. You are a bit neurotic? You don't seem neurotic. In like a studio setting.

Okay, okay, okay. I'm pretty insufferable to be around. You want to get it right. Yeah, it's got to be, it's got to be it. The two of you are very, very sweet together and very, very, like, you know, I know that the, you know, the people that are fans of yours, like, already know this, but you're very, um, you're very sweet example, I think of, like, a beautiful young lesbian couple that are very open and very loving in real time. And it goes back to, I think, Renee, something that's very serious. special about you, which is you very generously, like, shared in many ways with the world, your own journey about how you wanted to identify. And I'm thinking about this story that I heard when you did S&L. And you were working with the writer Celeste. And do you want to tell

that story? I mean, it's the best. It's an incredible story. It's so, it's, it's the best. So they, Celeste and a couple of other people had written into the skit that I was doing. They were like, okay, we're going to call you a little bisexual intern. And at that time, I was like publicly bisexual. I had been for a very long time. And like in private, I was like talking with my girlfriend and a lot of my friends for the last maybe like eight months before that. Of being like, I actually like don't really feel very like by at the moment. I feel like very much like a lesbian and like it feels so nice.

And like that word feels amazing and it feels very like euphoric for me. So I was like, do you think that we could just change it to like gay? Because I was honestly a little, I don't know, like labeling yourself publicly is really, really, really empowering. And also I think can be kind of intimidating because you're like, Jesus, fucking Christ. This feels so good for me right now. And I don't want to go by something that doesn't feel correct. But I'm also going to, like, give myself the willingness to be, like, what if in 10 years I don't like that identity either? And I just want to, I don't know.

Like, what if in 10 years I'm completely different in terms of my identity and sexuality or, like, my gender expression, anything like that? Or if I decide to be a really nice person, then I want to be like, wait, I'm fucking nice now. I'm nice now. Right? I want to have the grace to be able to change from being a bitch to be. a sweetheart so whatever but yeah i was just like i maybe like gay i don't know and celeste was like fuck yeah like literally whatever you want and i was like okay eh and i fucking love celeste and then i was talking to bowen about it and i was like i kind of just want to be like like slur no i kind of

just want to be like like lesbian i was like i'm just gonna kind of do it and i called toa and then i was like babe i think i'm just gonna like rip like i think it like feels good also to like come out as a lesbian on, like, S&L is, like, pretty cunty. I was like, I'm going to do it for sure. And I was also like, okay, I'm probably going to disappoint a lot of people who felt like they connected with, like, the very openly bisexual part of me, and I'm also probably going to piss a lot of other people off. And I was like, okay, what else do I live to do other than, like, a controversy?

Sue me. Like, fine. Okay, what a big fucking problem. So then I just, I wanted to do it, and Bowen and Celeste and everybody were like, hell yeah. What's been the feedback? how did it feel to do it and what did anything change after you did it i mean i definitely i kind of just like didn't even like look online afterward because i was like i don't how did it care in your life in your real life amazing yeah so fucking good like so fucking good i think also

just like being from somewhere incredibly rural um you know you i don't know like you don't like it's just like it's like fucking like magatown where I grew up at and like it always has been and it's probably better now than it was when I was a kid or it's 10 times worse in so many ways so I think for me I was like it was really interesting because I think a lot of the people who I grew up around who are incredibly homophobic are very supportive of me now that I am like a public person because I think the idea of fame and wealth can sometimes Trump hate if it's close in proximity, which is really fucking frustrating because I'm like, I know you don't like anybody else who's gay, and you don't like me either.

You just like the idea of the closeness to like something that is very shallow, so much so that you're willing to like put your bigotry to the side for a second to be like, oh, I babysat her. I'm like, no, you're a fucking homophobe, and I don't like you to the day. And I will never like you. My neighbors are boycotting Target for having, like, a pride line. I'm like, I could give a fuck about y'all. I could give a fuck about y'all.

So that, in that way, really frustrated me. Yeah. Because I was like, you don't get to be, like, supportive of this thing now that it's easy for you and fun for you and something for you to fucking brag about. Yeah, you must feel very used. So used. So used. Yeah. And then on the other side of that, I, like, love being a lesbian and I love the lesbian.

and I love the lesbian community so much and I love, like, the community surrounding lesbians that, like, really fuck with us? I don't know. So there's, like, there's really bad and there's really, really good. Yeah, yeah. I also, like, I love to watch people

come out publicly who feel like they can and then, like, change their identity or not. It's just kind of, I don't know, it's not for everyone, but, like, for me, it was definitely an integral part of my life. Well, I think what you're talking about, about is that by doing it, you're just kind of, like, leading by example, this idea that everything doesn't have to be so serious. Like, you can decide. As long as it's you deciding,

then you can decide however and whenever and wherever you want. It can be in your parents' house. It can be on S&L. It can be in a relationship. Totally. Like, that is, I think, what, if I may speak for myself, like what Gen Z has done for me, right? What young people do for me is I came up at a time when labels meant so much. Absolutely. They were, not only were they lifelong, they were like tattoos, right? So people were very, very afraid. Like, what if I get something wrong, basically?

Absolutely. What if I get it wrong? Or like, to your point, what if I want to change? Or what if I'm kind of 10% this and 90% that? Or what if I'm in the middle, there was no, there was, it was really binary. Yeah. And Gen Z, because life has been so serious, Gen Z is kind of balanced it by saying, like, it's not that serious. Yeah.

It's not that, it's okay. It's make a mistake or not. Totally. Decide however you want. Totally. Relax. Yeah. And there's some way that you did that and the way that you do that, the way you live authentically, that's very relaxing.

Mm-hmm. And I think it's very cool. Yeah. Thanks. It's nice. It's nice. I like, I don't know. I enjoy it.

I also just have, like, a big, like, group of, like, gay friends around me. Like, I, like, have, like, my, like, gaggle of lesbians. So, speaking of, please, we do a thing here where we ask your friends or people that know you to talk well behind your back. They talk shit about me? No. Okay. I believe it. It's totally fine.

No, it's like, it's like, on the, it's like mean girls, but not mean girls. It's the other side of it, which is. Basically, we got Kara Delavine. We talked to her today. Bitch. Such a fucking bitch. Hore. Common whore.

Incredible. By the way, when we called her, she was in Paris and her partner was naked in the bed. So, oh, God, I love her. She was wearing headphones and, like, she's so, I mean, supermodels are so hot. Models are so hot. Models are so hot. We got to start talking about it more. Models are so fucking hot.

Let's just be clear. Models are so fucking hot. I know a lot of... Yeah, this is a hot take. Yeah. Models are hot. Yeah, and they're pretty... On camera, they're pretty during the day.

They're pretty during the night. All the time. Yeah. Literally all the time. Good job, models. Kara wanted me to ask you a couple questions. Please. I'm sure they're...

She had incredible questions. I was going to say, I'm sure they're very PG and very normal. Okay. And super... Yeah. Totally. First of all... What would your drag king name be?

Oh, my God. I know. I got, I'll get, I'll let you think it's so good. I got a little put on the spot and I, yeah, what did you say? Well, I picked what, um, I got nervous. That's okay. So, um, I said, you know, like when you're trying, when you're trying to figure out like your dancer name, your exotic dancer name. Of course. You do the, um, street that you grew up on and the, your first pet. Oh, no, I didn't know that. Okay. This is, because I, what is there? It's probably because I, this is, I, this was, this was. said in like 1970s. It's good. It's good. So my, the street, so I said Bradley Algonquin was my drag king name because that was the street I grew up on and I had a guinea pig named Bradley. Oh, I thought your guinea pig's name was Algonquin. No. I was like, wait. Yeah. Cool. Yeah. I know. But so, so, but anyway, we'll cut this part out. No, I like it. I like it. I actually think it's pretty strong. There's nothing worse than

giving a drag name and people going, wait, what? Explain it. And then you have to explain it. And then they go, no, I like it. Well, Algonquin is where I was like, I was more just like, where's the guinea pig? Yeah. Algonquin. Actually, yeah. But that was your street name?

So I just gave that to myself, but again, no one's ever going to hear this. We're going to cut all this out. And my social security is as follows. Okay. So what is your drag king name? And do you like, I mean, I actually have to say, like, what I really love about you is like your experimentation with mask and femme. You do it a lot in your work and in the way you dress. And I really relate to that because I'm always very confused about how to dress.

100, 100%. Very confused. And you present both often. Like you go back and forth. And again, you're showing us by example that you don't have to choose. Thanks. Yeah. I've like watched so many people do it so well. Who does it well? I mean, not to be like so annoying, but like my girlfriend does it really well. I wasn't going to say, but she really does do it well. Like, she's fine as hell. What are you going to do? Yeah. Take me out.

Like, it's fine. She really does. Fuck. I don't know. I didn't know how to answer it. It's a really good question. I mean, we could think of some fun pun. Like, you know, instead of, you know, instead of Timothy Shalame, you could be called Timothy Shaligay.

Is that good? That's it. That's actually it. Right? I can't even explain to you how much exactly that is it, but it is. Oh, my God, we did it. That's perfect. And then the other question she had, which was amazing.

Who would be in your girl band? If you could put together a girl band, dead or alive. If you could put together a girl band. Good question, right? Okay, I have a real one and I have a face. Okay, great. Okay, the real one would be me, Karen Carpenter, um, uh, Beyonce, and, oh, maybe like Queen Latifah or something amazing. Something so sick. Dana Owens. I'm like, I love Queen Latifah. I'm like, please, that would be so hard. Have you ever met her? Again, I was forced. Yeah. By Kara. How funny. She takes me up to everybody that I'm scared of

She is so great. Like, no surprise. No, she's fucking amazing. She's amazing. She's fucking amazing. She's so fucking cool. And it's also just like so. She's like timeless.

She's so timeless to me. So that's your real band. Then what about you said you had a fake life? Yes. Fake band is me, Nini Leaks, Ellen DeGeneres, and Wendy Williams. That's the one I want. That's the one I want. Yeah, that makes sense.

I want that bad. I keep talking about it. Who would be your manager of that band? Probably Kara. She'd manage it. Yeah. Yeah. She'd manage it. I don't know how much managing would be, like, done, but I know that she'd manage it.

And who would be your opening act? If you guys went on the road, maybe, like, you as your character from inside out. Oh, my God. I would dress up as joy and be your opening act. Yeah. That'd be super cute. That would be wild. But no, like head, like face.

paint. Okay. Like you're true. Yeah. That would be like an acid trip. I would love to do acid while doing that. Totally for that. I'd be like this is fucking awesome. And then we also get Ellen to like do Dory as well. That would on. Hold on. Now I see it. Now thank you for that. That's great. So I'll come out as joy from inside out and then Ellen will join me as Dory. Oh my fucking God. And then you assume that's all we're going to see of Ellen. I start crying. Nope. She comes back she washes her face paint and she comes back in the band as a girl group yeah

I mean fuck yeah fuck is right that sold out now as you would say that fucks no that fox yeah that fucks yeah now um what are you listening to these days watching doing like how do you check out when you're like when you need to rest your brain

or get away from the hard stuff what's making you laugh what are you where do you go I'll watch. Oh, sorry, go. No, what do you watch? No, no, I'll cut myself up. I love to hear what people are watching.

I watch us for you. Okay. I watch us for you. Which one? Law and Order with Mariska. With Maritca Hargitay, that's right. So talk to me about why that that's a good checkout for you. I love them.

Yeah. I love them. Like, what the fuck are you doing? Yeah. It's also the writing on that show is so crazy. It's so crazy. It's like. Got a burp dead?

Yep. What a shame. Raped, absolutely. Whoa. No trigger warning. Right? They go right there. It's so intense and there's so much going on.

You're like, holy shit. This is either, I can't tell if this is awesome or if it's so bad. And I think everyone would agree with that. It's quick. And I need something that's quick because I don't want time to think about something else because then I'll start tweaking. And I also think Christopher. Maloney's kind of fucking jacked and it's it's hot he's not kind of fucking jacked he's super jacked have you

ever seen the picture of him in like a middle split when he did like men's health this one love I'm gonna say something I love Christopher Maloney I did a movie with him I don't like men doing splits can I be honest I don't like I don't find that attractive I yeah no it's straight woman totally I don't enjoy flexible men I couldn't agree more I don't like oh This is, and some of my friends do this, and that's okay. I do just want to flag. Some of y'all do this, and that's all right. I'm not big into boys flipping.

Doing backflips? We got to cut that out. Oh, I don't like, okay, and this is just my person. Right, you don't even like boys. No. But this is just my personal preference, but I totally agree. Any kind of, like, goofy gymnastics? Totally.

I've just been, like, verbally and physically assaulted by too many, like, theater boys, theater, like, twinks, the straight theater twinks, who ruined my life as kids, who are like, wait, I do a flip. And so the director was like, front and center. Front and center. They're like, do that flip. Yeah. They're like, come on, come on, Joey.

And, like, Joey's only getting front and center because the director has a massive crush on him and he can do a flip. This is before your time, but there was a great movie called The Outsiders. Do you know that movie? Heard of it. Okay, so it was like based off of a book and it was all young Roblo and young Patrick Swayze and All these boys

And Tom Cruise is famously in it And he's one of the And it's one of his first films And he's like one of the bad guys And I remember being like he's cool And then he does a backflip in it And I was like Tapped out

Immediately out Immediately out I lost it for me There's something about it That's a bit vulnerable I'm like wait Cut that out, you're a boy What are you doing?

Yeah And look I've seen you lift your leg You are very flexible Now girls can be flexible. Boys shouldn't be flexible. Cut that shit out. Cut that shit out now. But I've seen you sing and lift your leg like this when your leg is like up and that that too is similar to the flipping something that people shouldn't do when they're singing. That's not true. If you can do it,

you should do it all the time. Oh, if you're like dancing or doing something fucking incredible, absolutely, but like people shouldn't do what I did. That was weird. I'm going to take back my thing, though, about boys and gymnastics for one thing, one reason. Two times I found. I found. men doing gymnastics exciting. One was in footloose when Kevin Bacon's stunt double during his dance break he swung on a high bar

in a barn and I was like... But that's cool. That's not a bar. That was cool. That's like, what are you doing on that pole, you little slut? That's cute. That's cute. That's okay. And I liked it. And it didn't bother me. Yeah. And the other one was that great gymnast that was on the pommel horse that one. With the glasses?

Obsessed with him. Okay, cute. He can do that. But that's like their... That's his job. That's his job. You know what? That's his job. If backflips are your... And splits are your job. Do it. Do it. Tenfold. Go for it. Love it. You're good at your job. Commit. If you're just doing it in the middle of the street, keep walking. And I'm not saying that like if I could flip, which I can't. So I'm not like, I'm not

hating because I can't do it. Are you, wait a minute, hold on you just brought something up. Do you think we're hating on it because we can't do it? Literally no, I think it's weird. I'm sorry. And that's, and by the way, that doesn't mean that other people should say it's weird about anybody else, okay? Because I really like, I love my friends. And if they want to flip, fucking flip, it's just not my thing. It's not my thing. You know, if the back flippers come for us, they're going to fucking whatever. I'm ready. If the backflippers come from us, we can just run away because they're back flipping all the time. But they'll kick us. They will kick us with your feet. Think about the strength in that, in that thigh. I mean, have you ever done this where I love Law & Order? The original Law & Order, the first, like, 12 seasons, like, with Benji Brat.

I've never watched it. I'll lock in. It's so good with Jerry Orbach and Escapathamerkison as the lieutenant. It's just like, it's the early Law & Order that ever, it's the, you know, sweet generous. It's the mother ship that all of them were based off of. And they have. that little exchange always before the bump bump. And you can sometimes guess the last line. Absolutely. I love doing that. Oh my God. There was one last night I wish I could remember because it's

just so crazy. It's so crazy. I'm like, I can't imagine delivering that line. Right. Like there's a, you know, a body found in Central Park and someone's like, yeah, it was during the marathon, you know, and the suspect was found. here under the tree and then Jerry Orbach comes over and just goes like, well, I guess you're not making it to the finish line today. Exactly. And you're just like, huh. Exactly. I cannot imagine having to deliver that line. I would walk out. I'd walk right on out of a set. I'd be like, you know what? I disagree. I think you'd nail it. Oh my God. I could my like, what's it? Suspension of disbelief or something. I'm not, ooh, I'm not good at that. If I get like, if

There's a line that I'm like, I can't do this. I, like, totally shut down as a person. I'm going to say that you're underestimating yourself because what I have learned about you, Renee, if I may, is that you're pretty good at overriding nerves to get to level up. You've done it over and over again. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. How do you get through the scary parts? What do you do?

I really just don't take it seriously. I just do not take it seriously because when I take myself too seriously, I panic. Yeah. I panic because it's like oftentimes it's truly not about, as much as I hate to say this, it's truly not about me. So. And no one fucking used that against me. Okay.

But you know what? I'm going to just finish by saying this. I've seen examples of you being, like a very loving and supportive person in real time. And I know that about you. And I heard that about you. Thank you. Can you advocate for yourself the same way? Oh, absolutely fucking that.

Okay. Great. with a quickness. With a quickness. Yeah. Because, like, you know, kids are assholes. People are assholes. I was an asshole.

Like, I'm sure there were so many times I can recall that, like, people were assholes to me when I was growing up in school. And I guarantee that there were 10,000 times that I was so mean to somebody else for no reason because I was pissed at myself or pissed off at somebody else. So, like, I don't know. That's not to say that sometimes I'm not an asshole. I totally am. Yeah, but just like how you said earlier, you may want to. identify as a nice person soon. I know. I might need to like tap into that like sort of like little like pigtail kind of infinity scarf girl again. Oh my God, we're back to the

infinity scarf. That was perfect full circle just like the infinity scarf. Totally. I'm straight again. You're straight again. I'm straight again. That's what I do to people. Sorry ladies. I made Renee straight again. Fuck. I know. Don't worry. Don't worry. We'll get her back. We'll get her out of the room. We'll get her back. Yeah. Come out with the lesbians. You'll be, you'll be gay yourself. I mean, I wish. Oh my God, literally come out. We go out every weekend, come out. Where are you going this weekend? Literally, wherever. Okay, that's not a place.

Literally wherever. The problem is, you go out late. No, well, yeah, but like you'll be so fine at promise. What time do you get leave the house? Like, what time do you want to leave the house? I'm asking you, what time does your night stay? start. A nine.

A nine. Oh, that's not bad. Yeah, because we'll get like dinner before because you need to eat if you're going to go out. I can't. I can't do two things. It's either one. It's out or dinner. I get it.

You know what? I'm so sorry. I can't go. That's okay. That's totally okay. I'm so stressed. I'm so tired about it. Don't worry.

Don't worry. And I know nine means 930 and then it's going to take some water to get our food. Lesbians. Yeah. And then my stomach is full. And you know. An anti acid. Yeah.

And I'm going to have to take a papsid or something. That's okay. But have a good time and tell me how it goes. 100%. I'll send you photos. Renee, thank you so much for doing this. This is so fun. Thanks for having me.

This was a blast. Thank you, Renee Rapp. You were awesome. And, you know, this is the part of the show where I just give a little shout-outs. It's the polar plunge, if you will, where we go deeper. So first of all, check out Flossie Baby on TikTok and probably other platforms. She's hilarious and she was at the beach when Renee fell in love. So she's technically, she's technically.

she's technically good luck. And also, because we're talking about music, I just want to point out that our theme song, the Good Hang theme song, is written by the great Amy Miles. Amy Miles is a singer-songwriter from New York City, my dear friend for over 25 years. She's incredibly talented.

She wrote this for us. And so many of you want to hear the whole song. And so we want you to go to Spotify. Go to Spotify and check out Amy Miles and check out the Good Hang theme song. You can get it there and show her some love because she's so talented and she's my friend and I love her.

Thank you, Amy. Okay, thanks everybody. Never know how to end these. Bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss-Berman, and me, Amy Poehler.

The show is produced by The Ringer and Paper Kite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Katz-Belaine, and Alea Zanaris. For Paper Kite, Production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Miles.