Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang - "We're Gonna Dance" (w/ Lady Gaga) (RE-RELEASE)

Episode Date: December 24, 2025

A re-release of the iconic Las Culturistas episode with Lady Gaga.  This episode was selected as one of Apple Podcasts Best Episodes of 2025! We will be back with new episodes on 1/7/2026. Happy holidays! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I've got you. Look, Matt. Where? Oh, I see. Wow. Bowen, look over there. Wow, is that culture? Yes. Oh, goodness.

Wow. Las Culturistas. Ding, dong. Las Culturistas calling. It's tough to be speechless on a day when you have to record a podcast because the art form requires you talk. It feels unfair. I don't want to be at work right now

because I'm very much like transcending existence, like physical space. It's all really kind of led up to this. Honestly, Bo, maybe this has to be the series finale of Laoscoldge. This is the last episode of Laoscoch. Thank you all so much for the nine years. For joining us all these years.

It had to end this way. We'll always remember us this way. We'll always remember us this way. And you started off the show saying speechless, too. Oh, wow. We did. We have to say a third.

You're rattling them off. Third. Let's see. Art pop! There we go. We nailed it. We nailed it. This is, why don't you say how you feel?

I mean, this is one of the most important people to me. One of the most, I said this at the Radio City show for S&L, 50, my favorite artist in the world. I left my body. We'll talk about this. I left my body because if you said hi, and then you turn around and go, wait, chairs on stage. Hearing that, you guys watched Share together, was a huge moment for me, even. Yeah, for everybody. But, I mean, we're just so happy she's here.

The album, Mayhem, might be out already. Oh, it's out, depending on when this comes out. So you have to have Grace, everybody, because we've listened to the album one and a half times when we were brought to a secure location where we were basically told, okay, we're going to listen to this. And if we want to go back, we listen to parts. Yeah. It was in a bunker.

It was like where they keep all the designated survivors in case of like nuclear fallout. We're the mayhem designated survivors, essentially. But it is perfect. We were ecstatic listening to it. And as you all know at this point, it's brilliant. We think it's our guest best work, which is saying something and a half.

Which is saying a lot. She's a 14-time Grammy winner. Academy Award winner. Academy Award winner. So many more accolades on top of that. Everyone, please welcome. I'm into your ears. Lady Gaga!

Thank you so much. I am so, so happy to be here. This is the joy of our lives. I, no, it's the joy of mine. I was so excited to see you both. And I just want to say also congratulations to both of you. Thanks. You are doing such amazing things.

It's amazing to watch. And seriously, you've had an amazing year. And I'm just, like, really excited to be here. You're also wearing a Joanne-era t-shirt. Yes. It's really killing me. I feel like I've only ever, like, dry clothes. cleaned this shirt because I want to

preserve it so... I don't think I dry cleaned anything during Joanne. You still got the bud light on you. Yeah, not even the hats. Not even the hats? No. No. Those are being sold at auction in like 20 years. Yeah, you know what I mean? You have to tell Gaga about your Joanne tour experience. Oh, okay.

So, you played MetLife here? Yes. It was pouring rain. I don't know if you remember. Rang Show. I love a rain show. I love a rain show, too. So Diana Ross. I was Oh, because I remember you said at the show It's free production Yes, exactly. You don't pay for the rain

You don't pay for the rain. No. And the rain kind of follows you because I feel like Mary the night it was the same thing too. The video for that, it was like Oh yes, that was, I can't believe that I got away with that. We were exploding cars. You had a roof of a building. Production value. And it was raining and they were like, you know, we have to stop production because it's raining and the cameras and I said, roll the camera!

Let's go! We're going to miss it! You had a Vivo interview. This is a throwback to Vivo, and you were just in an amazing outfit. You had sunglasses on. You're telling this anecdote about Mary the night. And at one point, you just pull your glasses down and go, we got free rain with the camera.

Well, because, you know, when you're putting a music video together, there's so many things you want to do. I mean, and everything adds to the budget and I'm trying to, like, weigh what thing is more important than the other. And that wasn't actually supposed to be a rain scene at all. But then it happened. And like rain on fire. Come on.

Come on. So much, too much like Universal Studios-esque things happening. Yes, it was exciting. And then naturally I thought it would be a good idea to hang upside down from the sunroof of the car. The transam. The transam.

That was a gorgeous transam. Thank you. I was sick as a dog. He was so sick. That City Field show. Oh, no. I said, what did I say? I meant City Field.

Okay. But I agreed to MetLife. because we've also seen you there. Well, but I, you know, when I play shows, like, I get so tired on the road that, like, sometimes I forget the venue for which tour. Of course. Yeah. I would imagine it's, like, one of those schedules where it's like, you don't want this to happen,

but you could yell out Barcelona and you're in Brussels. No, we can't do that. No, it would be horrible. That is not good. We've seen you, gosh, we've been lucky to see you in multiple venues now because it's City Field, MetLife. We saw one of the shows with Tony at Radio City. The last show.

We were there. What? You know, it's so funny. At the S&L 50 concert the other night, I was nervous to do Dick in a Box. Yeah. Because, like, I feel like, you know, if you're a comedian being asked to do who's on first

is probably like, really like, you know, so and to me, Dick in a Box is a classic. Of course. So I was like, oh, my God, why did I agree to do this? And then I was, you know, walking through the theater. And I remembered that I had been, the last time I'd been there was with Tony. And I was like, you know,

Tony would have just said, don't be nervous. or if you are nervous, it's because you care. And I do care. Absolutely. Okay, but a comedian doing who's on first is like you, it's like, it's like you singing La Vian Rose or something on film. It's like I feel like you've inhabited all of these classics for your entire life.

I feel like you were playing Rachmaninoff at four or whatever the fuck. Like you've been doing this your whole life. I have been. I have been. And it's, it's, but I love so much being a part of entertainment, like in like the truest sense, I don't mean any more than the thrill of the good old-fashioned hard work with other actors, other musicians,

stage designers, costume makers, makeup artists, wig makers, the lighting. And like backstage at SNL-50 was insane. We were all like getting ready to go on and then like, you know, a human squid would walk by. And like then the B-52s would be there.

And then, you know, someone would be getting their, you know, wig thrown on. And it was just, I don't know. I think that that's my favorite part of show business, right? It's the show of it all. The show of it all. Because something about that concert, which we talked to Kevin Mazur, who, by the way, photographer. Yes.

Do you want to hear something? Yes. My mom's boyfriend from high school. Can you believe? Oh, that's some piping hot tea. Yeah. I'm from Long Island. He took my mom to prom.

And every time I see him now, mad, he comes over. Like, he's just, he's the guy. He's the guy. But y'all, readers, Katie's Pop was his finals, Kyle's. Kevin Mazer, the, like, live event photographer. I've known him for so long. Can I ask your mom his name? Katrina.

I'm so, you know, I see him, I'd be like, so I heard about Katrina. Yes. He's going to love it. Katrina Claritas. She had an iconic high school name. That's sweet. I was checking with him on Sunday. I was like, oh my God, Friday.

Like, what was that about? I go, you go to all of these things, Kevin. Where does that rank among your nights? And he was like, that is one of the top three events I've ever done. It was one of the greatest nights in entertainment. Absolutely. I heard it took two years to plan. Yeah.

And I felt really emotional. I couldn't figure out exactly what I wanted to say on stage. I ultimately decided to shout out Mark Ronson and the Roots because Mark and I wrote Shallow together and the roots were playing it with me and I love them so much. And I almost said, like, and thank you to Lauren and S&L because, like, thanks for giving me a shot on the show years ago. Because, like, SNL also helps break artists.

And it's a huge deal. I don't know if people, I mean, I know that people. I mean, I know that people know this, but I don't know that they know how much it means to the artist when we get booked for the show. Yeah. I mean, to this day, when I got called to do double duty to do double duty in a couple weeks, full panic tears.

Oh, yeah. So, so happy, so elated. I couldn't be more proud. It was the thing that I wanted to do the most to promote my record and to just make people happy. Yeah, it's going to happen. We're recording this before SNL. Yes.

We're coming right off of the celebration in the 50th. But, I mean, when they told me that they voted you for double duty, you're going to be incredible. The scream I scrummed. I just, I just, I screamed ice grumped. I was so excited. To me, like, I say to people, I'm in the business of making people smile. And that is 100% how I feel about SNL.

It's just that, it is a night devoted to making people laugh at home. And I'm all about it. But you literally embodied and captured that in the last time you hosted, which was that like jazzy applause cover. I still watch. It's like a pitch perfect. It is everything the monologue should be. Thank you.

And it sets the tone for the show. It introduces, not that you need an introduction, especially at that time or now, but it's like that was the perfect way to build confidence for the audience that the show was going to be great. It was like such a privilege to do that. And I'm a theater kid from New York.

So doing the S&L monologue is a big deal. It is a huge. deal. And I don't know that I ever imagined that I would end up doing that. I think I had a lot more confidence that I would just be a songwriter, singer, producer for as long as possible. But I didn't know that I would get embraced in that way. And that's what's cool about, you know, hosting and doing musical guests, too, is being the host, the monologue, the monologue is separate from being an actor in the skit. And then that's also separate from being the artist on stage as a musical guest. So it's like, I get to kind of do all the things that I love. Yeah. I'm just thinking.

Thinking about how, like, you talk about what an amazing moment that is as an artist to be asked to do that show. And even in Starsborn, it's almost like an emotional, like, moment in the film when Allie is told you're doing SNL. It's like that and getting a Grammy nomination are both moments for that character in that movie. Did anything from that experience influence the decision to do shallow on SNL 50? Because you have so many songs you could have done, but you chose shallow. Well, first of all, one of the reasons that that was included in. a star is born is because a lot of a star is born was inspired by my real life. And I worked really, really close with Bradley and Eric on making sure that, like, the story

of these two musicians felt real. And so that kind of feeling around S&L and around a Grammy is that's just, like, how it actually felt. Truly important to you. And so that's reflected in that. And shallow to me is the song I wish I had done on S&L. And when Andy and I started talking about doing Dick in a Box, he came to me and he said, I had this idea that we started off, and you start with shallow, and I started, and it's like, doesn't sound good, and then you said, you know, and we did the whole thing.

And when I watched the rehearsal, I was like, oh, like, but now maybe they kind of, they might want to hear. Because we started and it doesn't go. So I thought it would be a chance to do that. And also to kind of put some of my best work forward on a show that deserves your best work. You know what I mean? Like, to me, when I see artists, perform on S&L. We all try to put our best foot forward. And so yeah, I just, I wanted it to be

like a heartwarming moment, hopefully for people at home too. I mean, I do like lots of different things. You know, I'm also into the dark arts and the poetry of pop music. And shallow is very different than a lot of the music I've done in my career. But it's an important song to me because it helped me to connect with people that otherwise maybe didn't know if they could connect with someone like me. Like, maybe they, they didn't relate to me as much. Or maybe they didn't know someone like me in high school. So, you know, shallow is an important song to me for that reason.

And it just felt like the right one to do. I remember the chromatica ball, like that which was such a party. But we went with like 15 of our friends. And when you started shallow, we all were like checking in with each other. Like, this is really happening. Like we're hearing shallow. It is like a high point of culture. 60,000 people at MetLife, a hush fell.

You know what I mean? Like, you could hear a pin drop, you know? It was just one of those sublime moments. And I think I remember, like, looking up at the crowd, just being like, I was shooting a movie in Charlotte. I flew back for that show. I was like, I'm not missing Gaga. No, never.

Like, it was just a culmination of, like, that era, which was like, kind of, was a glorious era that got kind of messed up by the pandemic. And, like, it just felt like this victory lap and this, like, culmination of, like, what everybody wanted to celebrate together with you. Thank you. It was a really special tour. to me. I hadn't seen my fans really on tour since I had to stop the Joanne World Tour. And I was like really not well during that time. And it totally broke my heart to have to cancel. And that was

the second tour that that happened on. So I was a little bit nervous about going out for Chromatica. I was like, am I going to be able to do it? And you know, am I going to be in pain when I'm on stage? what's it going to be like? And it was amazing. I had the best time. Also, my amazing partner, Michael, was with me. He came with me the entire tour. We were together during the prep for the tour.

We lived in Leeds while we put the tour. Which is like very funny, having a Brutelist stage in the middle of Leeds with that music. That was incredible. So good. Thank you. But it was, you know, it was special in healing. And I think in a way, it kind of set me up for this next time.

Yeah. I got to say, just hearing you talk about being. in service of the idea of entertainment, I think it means, to me, what I hear is that, like, for a while I always thought about you as, like, someone who is perpetually being a student to the concept of fame.

But I think what it's very quickly become, and, like, even sooner than I realized was, you are a student of entertainment, and it's not the same thing, obviously. You know what I mean? Yeah, thank you. I mean, I think you're right about earlier. Earlier in my career,

I was a student of fame and I was fascinated with it and it was a part of my art and I studied it. I was like really, really fascinated with Andy Warhol and I tried to sort of take the spirit of Warhol into my pop shows. Like even like the choices of, you know, the music with the lighting and a, you know, a piss yellow wig that would have been one of, you know, his screen prints. Like it was all about this idea that anyone could become a star if they studied how. But the thing that I didn't know what would happen was my fans. Like, I didn't know who they would be. I didn't know how it would make me feel. I also did not anticipate, but I'm so glad that I did hear the stories of people all over the world.

I mean, I would stop outside my hotel rooms and I would talk to fans. I would invite fans backstage after the shows. I would play demos for fans years before I released music and, like, what do you think of us? Let's talk about it. What's your home life like? And they would tell me about their lives. And so I've grown up. It's almost been two decades in the public.

It's definitely been two decades for me as a recording artist. But I kind of grew up and I changed. I was a student of fame. But I ultimately decided that the reason I want to do this is to make people happy with art. And then like now, I mean, I don't know if my fans really know this about me now, but I warm up my voice twice a day. and I practice piano every day and I'm like working harder than ever in the dance studio

so I like keep up my chops because to me that hard work is what my fans deserve and also it's to me that's like the privilege of being an artist is that you get to work on your craft and I want to be able to say that I'm getting better at it not that I've done it already and that's that you know what we have to talk though

about your vocals on this new album like we listen to it like we said I turned to Bobby I was like how do you do it it is so Olympic what you do with your voice and I would imagine you said you're warming up twice a day I would imagine your vocal warmups are what like half hour long

so you're really in the pocket on this like the rock vocals that are not easy to do the passion with which you sing when you're recording and you're putting songs like these together Do you go back and back and back vocally or how can you do that? Yes. I actually, poor Andrew and Circuit in the studio and Gasophelstein, when we were doing vocals, I would sometimes do like 50 takes.

Wow. And they were very, you know, supportive and it was fine. But the reason is because when I'm writing music, I'm sometimes imagining someone else is singing it. Of course, yeah. Because it helps me to kind of embody the spirit of a superstar. Because I didn't like always feel very confident as a kid. And that stayed with me my whole life.

So during the writing process, like when I wrote born this way, I was actually thinking about Whitney Houston. Wow. And so I love that you knew that. No, but I, so I was thinking always about different people. But then when I get there to sing it, I'm like, okay, I could sing this in a lot of different ways. How should I sing it? So take one, I do it one way.

Take two, I do it another way. If I take eight, I've sunk into it differently. Take 16, I go, I'm going to try something completely different, scratch it all. And so I think what you are hearing on this album is that I was actually pretty bossy, actually, in the studio about getting the best possible vocal and also pushing myself to do things that I've never done on a record before. I don't think I sound on this album like I sound on 90s. So many vocal discoveries on this. And so many, this is crazy to say because you're always so many different characters in your music, which you're speaking to. But so many more than ever and new characters that we're hearing.

Yes. And which character is going to tell that story? Yeah. And why? Yes. Yeah. I mean, I remember there was this very early, early interview of yours where it was for V Magazine. It was like you were in, like, Mario Testino made you get all, like, tanned and, you know, it was a very very early.

very, like, testino look, and it was incredible. But I think it was someone, I think it was John Norris at Fuse, who was asking you about, like, or you brought up faith no more. And I was like, okay, this is not what I expected Gaga to, like, love and, like, zero in on. This is, like, the real musical taste that she has. And then it would shift to, like, oh, but then this bitch knows the Great American songbook, like the bag of her hand. And then it's like, wait.

And then she also, like, she's like the classically trained people. pianist, and she, like, fucking knows, like, all of these... I'm sorry, I didn't want to not me to call you a bitch. I'm sorry. No, you said this bitch colloquially. You know what I'm saying? No. Okay, I can't go from New York.

I know, I know, I know, I was like, wait, hold on. My soul to stop my body. This bitch knows, this bitch knows the Great American songbook. Yes, I do. Yes, I do. Thank you. Period. And, like, I just think the characters are not so much characters as they are the knowledge

and this, and being, student of music, of entertainment, like you embody all of these things. And so I think with mayhem, I think with this album, it's like, Bobby was saying that this is probably the most authentically you album you've ever put out. That makes me think, well, then there's something to Gaga being an amalgamation of all these different things and these genres and these studied, detailed musical exercises, I guess. But like, that's who you are, because I couldn't boil you down to one thing and I'm sure you couldn't either. No, I mean, I am definitely all of these things. And that's what mayhem is. It's a celebration of all of that. And, you know,

it's so funny, as you're talking about this, too, I'm, like, thinking about this moment where Michael, Michael was in the studio every day. Michael executive produced the record with me. And there was at one point, I was, like, really into this electro grunge sound, like, on perfect celebrity. It's like, whole. It's, it's like, it's like, we were saying, all. We were saying garbage. So I'm like, I'm like, okay, we're going to make the whole album like this. And I'm going to change everything. And he was like, no, you are not. You can't do that.

But he was right because I am all of the different genres, all of the different approaches, all the different processes. That's why it ultimately is mayhem is because if you're stepping really far back, it like doesn't make sense. But when you put it all together, it's me. And I appreciate you seeing that in me. I feel like since the beginning of my career, there was always

some type of criticism coming from somewhere of like, but who are you? Right. You know, and like, what is Lady Gaga? And can you explain it to me? And what's your style? And, you know, what genre really is it? What should I call you?

What should I call you? Like, what are we supposed to feel? What are you really like? Yeah. You know, and I think that, first of all, I was terrified to make a pop record again. And I decided to do it.

and I felt very supported in doing it by Michael, by my family, by, you know, everyone around me. But feeling like people think you're chaotic is there's something, there was a joy in that for a while, but there was also like a pain in that too. Was that what the fear was coming from? Yeah. Well, it's like, especially as a woman, people are like, your chaos. Like, it's kind of like, part of me is like, uh-huh. You know, and then the other part of me is like, but what, like, what do you mean by that?

Right. It's dismissive. It's kind of like you're a mess. And like you're a mess because I can't figure out how to organize you. Right. And I don't know how to think about you. And I think what I want my fans to know is like that's other people's problem. That's not your problem.

You can be the whole you. And that was that was a part of this record. And I felt I felt excited as a female producer too, like just doing. whatever I wanted, when I wanted to in the way that I heard it. And I'm so happy, like, even before we started that she brought up Killa, because it's like my favorite record. Yeah, it's amazing. Thank you.

But you're going to die tonight. Well, no, you don't even know. We heard it twice, and we've been, like, grabbing onto that in our brain. Like, this whole album, let's talk about the album. Like, it's like, face-meltie, brain-scratchy, heart-screamy, pop dance with this theme of mortality throughout.

Decay, chaos. Yes, and I wanted to, I know you've said before, like, you listen to a horror, you watch a horror movie every night before you go to bed. I don't know if you're in that zone now, but the theme of death and, like, dancing in the face of it is obviously all over this. What I've always wanted to ask you, though, is how much are you laughing while you're creating? Like, how much is joy and humor and laughter a part of your creative process when you're making

music? It's all of it. Yeah. It is, there's a lot of humor, on Killa, especially. We're laughing. We're a funny record. Yeah, it's hilarious. Right?

What a funny record. I'm like not that confident. The person that wrote that record is confident. But I would say also, though, that it's like the process is a little bit manic because I also get really serious. And I know I can be difficult to work with because, like, I'm a very warm-hearted person. But when I'm like songwriting, I get like. You want what you want.

I'm like, I'm trying to listen to what I'm hearing and get it out as fast as possible. But then maybe I'll, you know, yeah, the lyric. I'm Akila and boy, you're going to die tonight. And then that's funny. And then that comes out. But then I get serious again because I'm trying to figure out if the guitar lick is right. And I'm like, no, it's not that one. It's this one, do it again.

Like, it's kind of a, yet the process is chaotic. And I'm not also a very linear thinker. I'm very tangential. Love it. And sometimes if I can't get one part of the song, right, I will need to stay on it for three days, like a bass line or a guitar riff. And then other times, I will move on from it and go, I'll go like, no, no, let's go to the pre-chorus now. You know, it's sort of, it's a very nonlinear process.

And I love it. And I love it. And I'm so, like, also appreciative that my partner, like, he, you know, the first few years that we were together, I wasn't in the studio. And when he saw me start to make music, he was like, oh, my God, I've, like, I've never seen you happier than when you're making. music and that and that was I felt very seen by that and I think why it is so important to me is when you grow up in the public eye as you know there's things that people grow to like about you but there's things that they don't know about you like they don't know the you that's like maybe deep in reflection at home working on something they know the outward facing you so it

feels really nice to be seen by someone for the thing that the thing that you do alone that makes you special. That's your gift, right? Like, the thing the world doesn't see. Yeah. I mean, I think you even alluded to this in the Oscar acceptance where you were just like, this is hard work. There are sacrifices that need to be made to get to this point. Like, the reason I'm on this stage is because I worked so hard. And that is the essential thing about you. Lady Gaga is that you're like, I can't believe you're here. I love being here. I love it. I love it. I love it. I I love also community. So like being with you and talking with you and bonding over music is like this is the thing I probably missed the most from my time before I became famous.

I did an interview downtown last week and I picked the location and I was like, we got to go to this bar that I used to write music at. And we did the interview there and I like cried during the interview talking about all my. my friends down there. What bar? Welcome to the Johnsons. Nice. And I went to like, there was a lot of bars down there that we went to,

but that was just one of them. And I used to go there during the day. Like, I'd go at like one o'clock and like order a, you know, Papp's Blue Ribbon and a shot of whiskey and write in a napkin. But living around artists, being around writers, songwriters, comedians, photographers, actors, musicians.

go-go dancers, club promoters. You know, we were all like, we were all like our own little group. Yeah. And we supported each other. And it was actually really hard to go to Hollywood and do what I was doing there because it was just not like New York at all. And I know you guys, you know about New York. And so this is actually hugely like a deep joy for me to be here.

because we get to, I get to, like, do the thing that made, like, it's part of who I am, right? It's like talking about it all. I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltson. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed. We have some breaking news to tell you about. Tennessee's attorney general is suing a Nashville district. In April 2024, a fertility clinic in Nashville shut down overnight and trapped behind locked doors were more than a thousand frozen embryos.

I was terrified. Out of all of our journey, that was the worst moment ever. At that point, it didn't occur to me what fight was going to come to follow. But this story isn't just about a few families' futures. It's about whether the promise of modern fertility care can be trusted at all. It doesn't matter how much I fight, doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this. It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in Nashville on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions than answers?

And what is this? How is that not a story we all know? What's this? Where is that? Why is it wet? Boy, do we have a show for you. From Smartless Media, Campside Media, and Big Money Players, comes Crimeless. Join me, Josh Dean, investigative journalists.

And me, Roy Scoval, comedian, as we celebrate the amazing creativity of the world's dumbest criminals. We'll look into some of the silliest ways folks have broken the laws. Honestly, it feels more like a high-level prank than a crime. Who catfishes a city? And meets some memorable anti-heroes. There are thousands of angry, horny monkeys. Clap if you think she's a witch, and it freaks you out. He has X-rayed vision.

How could I not follow him? Honestly, I got to follow me. He can see right through me. Listen to Crimless on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Stefan Curry, and this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes Gentleman's Cut different is me being a part of developing the profile of this beautiful finished product with every sip you get a little something different.

Visit gentlemen's cut bourbon.com or your nearest total wines or bevmo. This message is intended for audiences 21 and older. Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky. For more on Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, please visit gentlemen's cuthuburn.com. Please enjoy responsibly. Who would you call if the unthinkable happened?

I just fail and started screaming. If you lost someone you loved in the most horrific way. I said through y'all 22 times. The police, right? But what if the person you're supposed to go to for help is the one you're the most afraid of? This dude is the devil.

He's a snake. He'll hurt you. I'm Nikki Richardson, and this is The Girlfriends, Untouchable. Detective Roger Golubski spent decades intimidating and sexually abusing black women across Kansas City. using his police badge to scare them into silence. This is the story of a detective who seemed above the law

until we came together to take him down. I told Roger Goluski, I said, you're going to see my face till the day that you die. Listen to the girlfriends, Untouchable, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Well, talk about your current community, which is like, Quad, Circuit, Gisalfelstein, which, by the way, Killa, when I see Kila featuring Gisophelstein, I'm like,

well, I think I have an expectation what the song is, did not, was totally blown away by it. Didn't he flip the script on everyone? Both of him did. Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Gostal-Stine is very, very talented. He's very specific. I won't give away any of his secrets of how he works.

But I loved working on that record with him. And it's so funny, every time we talk to each other, We always go like, oh, man, I love this song. Oh, man, this song. It's a very special one. It's an industrial funk song. Yeah. The only live instrument on it is the guitar.

I was going to ask because everything else is electronic. That's right. That's right. It's just really, it's so different for me. And I think there's areas of mayhem that are the tip of the iceberg of where I might even go next. You know, like, that was some of the joy of making the album was going like, oh, no, I'm not done with this. Right. You know, now I have to take this further.

Talk about sequencing this one because I feel like that was its own process. Sequencing the album was, I mean, Michael was, like, worried about me. He was like, are you okay? And I said, no, like, I just kept listening to the songs in every conceivable order. Right. Oh, wow. Yeah, lots of permutations. Because there's versions.

It's, you know, do you do it by BPM? That's like the most, to me, the most obvious first version is like for it to feel like one night at a club, right? And then there's the other version where it's like, okay, but do you do it based on the story? And, like, is there a story that I'm telling here, which there is? So I did kind of a mixture of both of those things. And the album kind of starts out with, like, the devil on your shoulder whispering to you, like, would you like to make some bad decisions tonight? Right. Because, like, I'll help you.

Yeah. Like, I can fix this feeling that you're having. And by the end of the album, you know, you've gone through joy. You've gone through partying. You've gone through anger. I mean, perfect celebrities, maybe the most angry song I've ever made. I think so. Then Vanish Into You is a song about wanting to disappear into someone.

It's a happy love song, but it's also dark. We're happy just to be alive. And then Killa keeps the party going, but it's like that, it's that moment at the party when you're like a little numbed out. The end of that. You're an outroes. Yeah, the outros are fucking. Incredible.

Thank you. Thank you. I am a very big fan of the outros too. We actually had a thought to release the outro's. two days before the album. But I don't think I'm going to do it. Yeah. What's the hesitation?

Yeah, just because I feel like when you hear them as an actual outro, then it's an outro. But if I give it, then it's a snippet. But then it's a snippet and then it kind of is decontextualized from the actual work. Yeah. I mean, Killa, you really experienced that outro because of the beginning. Right.

Like, we kind of need the beginning. Cinderella's got to walk up the stairs before the glass slipper, you know? Before she can leave in a hurry. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, yeah. The other song that I feel like was like, we listened to several times and the build on this one is just amazing. But it's so different for you, we feel, is how bad do you want me? We love how bad you want me.

Oh my God, I always didn't put that on the album. No, we're so happy you did because it's like throwbacky for you because it's very pop. It really very much is. It's like a total hyper pop song. But I was like, I hear like a high school girl singing this with her ripped up. Like you're, how bad do you? Yeah. That, like, it just feels, you know what I mean?

Like, we can see and hear the character in this. Like, tell us about that song. Okay, so very funny story is I, Michael and I started that song at home, but I had, I started it at first, and he heard me singing it, and he walks in from the kitchen, and he goes, is that about me? And I was like, no. And then he came on in, and we started to, like, finish it together, and, you know, that song embodies a feeling that I've had probably my whole life,

which is that I always felt archetyped as the bad girl. And it's why the lyric is kind of funny. You like my hair and my ripped up jeans. It's like that's like so stereotypical. Like the girl with ripped jeans is bad, right? It's so it's so kind of silly and humorous. So, but I've always felt this kind of like, I don't know, shame that I've always been at war with this feeling that if I, I am, you know, interested in someone that, like, they're actually longing for a good girl.

Gotcha. But they're stuck with me. And I'm who they really want. But, like, we're in this, like, three-way relationship. And there is no actual other good girl. But the good girl is, like, in their head. And they're kind of comparing me the whole time. That girl that you like ain't real.

How bad do you want to? Yeah, exactly. Oh, my God. You know. We love it. No, what I'm telling you, we've been, like, just texting it to each other. Like, how bad do you want me for real? Yeah.

The good girl in your dreams is mad you're loving me. I know you wish that she was me. How bad do you want me? So, yeah. And it's so funny, too, because it's a fun pop song, but I cried when I wrote it. Like, was like. My favorite kind of song, emotional pop. I have a, I have some voice recordings of it somewhere that I have, like, from the original that, yeah.

Maybe I'll just drop those one at some point. That's the tease, I guess. But I also was also not sure I should put that on the record. And Michael was like, you have to. Like, your fans are going to love that song. What was the hesitation around that about? I just, I don't know. Sometimes when things are really super pop, I get like, I don't know.

I get a weird reaction. Yeah. What do you think that comes from? I don't know. I felt this way about Just Dance. Thank God I didn't listen to myself then. Wow. Yeah. Yeah.

Because I was going to ask, is it about the prior work? But I think there's something about this current team around mayhem between Watton Circuit and Paris. It's like these are all people who understand. stand what came before, but are facing and have a vision for the future for you. Yes, I mean, Andrew, what was great about working with him is he also plays a lot of different instruments. And I know how to write on all those different instruments. So if I, if we were in the studio, I would just be like, okay, like play the guitar this way, do the baseline this one. Then we would do it over and over and we would riff back and forth. Circuit is an amazing

musician also. He's also like the fastest producer programmer that I've ever seen it ever. He's wildly fast. He also does amazing analog synth work. We had like every iconic analog synth possible in the studio. Andrew also had a mechanic there that was working on the synths to kind of like bring out the low end in certain areas and like sort of like tailor the instruments to be unique for the album. And Gustafelstein, I will share nothing. Okay. The man is a mystery and I'm going to, I'm going to keep it that way. He shall remain. Yeah. Yeah. Also, die with a smile at the end of the album it's this beautiful moment

of like first of all the first line being I just woke up from a dream really kind of works after what's happened and then it does feel like a beautiful cinematic like credits roll it's like a waltz too which I love thank you I you know as a personal choice I really wanted

the mayhem to end that's beautiful you know what I mean like because Blade of Grass is a beautiful song but you don't get the feeling that the mayhem is over with Glade of Grass. Blade of Grass is a song about saying, I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you,

but I just want you to know that now that you've asked me to spend the rest of my life with you, all I can think about is how hard it was to get here. Wow. So I did make the decision that I wanted there to be a message of hope on the record because I, I'm like, I don't, I feel nervous about speaking about mental health issues

at this stage of my life. I think only because I talked about them so much for so many years and I'm so passionate about mental health and people getting help, but I'm also like, I like deal with my own sort of nerves about people only talking about me in that way. Right. Like I don't want to be defined by that time in my life, but I will say that like having personal mayhem and like struggling mentally, that is a very particular kind of chaos that I hope that people who do struggle, like, hear this record and then know that there's peace at the end of it and that it can get better because it truly got better for me. And I just really

wanted that to be a part of it. And also in working with Bruno, who, like, 100% collaborated with me, like head-to-head musician to musician. And I'm usually the only woman in the room when I'm making music. And to be treated with that kind of respect really meant a lot to me. And it felt, it felt like, it felt like the, the only way to put a period on the end of the album, if that makes sense. Like, like, that I, and, and also that, I'm sure you've heard the phrase for heating your nachos. Yeah. Of course. I had never heard that. And I was like, what is this? It's running rampic. People are really used it. Yeah, it is. But I have to say, like, there's something beautiful in it because

I think being a female artist there was always pressure on me, what is she going to do next? How is she going to reinvent herself? How is she going to change? Well, you know, she's going to do the same thing forever and then I would reinvent myself and I would change and they'd be like we wish she was like, you know, she used to be

right? And I think what I realized making this album is there is a sound and a style and a way of creating music that I did come up with. And I'm owning it on this album. And it's, to me, I did it in a new way. And I also took myself to musical places that I've never been to before.

And I was a student of music. But I think it's okay for anyone to own their own inventions and be like, this is me. And I'm the creator of me. And a lot of female artists, we know this, that people say, well, that record was successful because of this producer. or that this thing was successful because it's right unfair and it's not fair to women to do that it's women are creators as well we are the creators of our lives and and it's our vision and you know we weren't made we made ourselves i think out of all your albums this one stands as like a true artistic statement for you it is your you're painting with every color on the palette you know

it's like i don't think you should ever well first of all i don't think you will ever be defined by any of the mental health conversation. It's only been helpful to people. You have literally, you've saved my life. I would listen to marry the night in very dark times. I still do. Oh my God, Tuesday night writing it at SNL, sometimes I'll just, I'll hit that track.

I got to marry the fucking night because it's 4 a.m. and I have a sketch to finish. You know what I mean? I do. I completely understand this relationship you have with the people, the way people talk about your life and what you've gone through. it is only enriching what the work is, truly. Thank you.

Thanks for sharing that. I'm so sorry that you go through those times. I think it's, you know, it's like something I have to work through because it really was true that for a while, and I don't know if you can relate to this anyway, but it's sometimes when you get to that place, talking about it is the healthiest thing for you. Yes.

And like you have to get it out. And if you don't get it out, you're just living in, silence about it. And it's like this secret that is making you feel more sick. So yeah, I'm, you know, I'm a work in progress. It's like I'm just, you know, I'm not an authority on anything really. I just am a person and I love making people happy. And I hope that people will put on mayhem start to finish and just have a good time. Because it's ultimately meant to be a celebration of you. But I think I did make it for those that feel like, Maybe they don't always know how to make sense of themselves.

And I'm saying like, that's cool. It's okay. You don't have to make perfect sense of it. That's what the sequence thing is about in the end. That's probably why you landed on this order of songs because that's the statement. That's right. I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltson. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic

collapse and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed. We have some breaking news to tell you about. Tennessee's attorney general is suing a Nashville doctor. In April 2024, a fertility clinic in Nashville shut down overnight and trapped behind locked doors were more than a thousand frozen embryos. I was terrified. Out of all of our journey, that was the worst moment ever. At that point, it didn't occur to me what fight was going to come to follow.

But this story isn't just about a few families' futures. It's about whether the promise of modern fertility care can be trusted at all. It doesn't matter how much I fight. Doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this. It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in Nashville on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions?

questions than answers. And what is this? How is that not a story we all know? What it, what's this you? Where is that? Why is it wet? Boy, do we have a show for you. From smartless media, campside media, and big money players comes crimeless. Join me, Josh Dean, investigative journalists. And me, Roy Scoville, comedian, as we celebrate the amazing creativity of the world's dumbest criminals. We'll look into some of the silliest ways folks have broken the laws. Honestly, it feels more like a high-level prank than a crime. Who catfish is a city? And meets some memorable anti-heroes.

There are thousands of angry, horny monkeys. Clap if you think, she's a witch. And it freaks you out. He has x-ray vision. How could I not follow him? Honestly, I got to follow him. He can see right through me. Listen to Crimless on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

I'm Stefan Curry. And this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes Gentlemen's Cut different is me being a part of, you know, developing the profile of this beautiful finished product. With every sip, you get a little something different. Visit gentlemen's cut bourbon.com or your nearest total wines or Bevmo. This message is intended for audiences 21 and older. Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky.

For more on Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, please visit gentleman's cut bourbon.com. Please enjoy responsibly. Who would you call if the unthinkable happened? I just fell and started screaming. If you lost someone you loved in the most horrific way. I said through you got 22 times. The police, right? But what if the person you're supposed to go to for help

is the one you're the most afraid of? This dude is the devil. He's a snake. He'll hurt you. I got you. I got you. I got you. I got you. I'm Nikki Richardson. And this is The Girl. Untouchable. Detective Roger Goloopsky spent decades intimidating and sexually abusing black women across Kansas

City, using his police badge to scare them into silence. This is the story of a detective who seemed above the law until we came together to take him down. I told Roger Golooski, I said, you're going to see my face till the day that you die. Listen to the girlfriends, Untouchable. on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Well, we have the central question of our podcast that we ask everybody that we're going to ask of you, Lady Gaga, which is what was the culture that made you say culture was for me.

This can be anything from a film you saw that moved you in a certain direction, a song, an artist, something environmental, if you could think, I became something close to Lady Lady Gaga, if not full on Lady Gaga in this moment. I have a few different ones, I feel like. We love that. I think the one that is the most important to me is I had gay friends in high school and I didn't have a lot of friends in high school and I went to an all-girls school, which means that when school was over, I used to walk like eight blocks away to the boys' school

and they weren't out yet. But we were friends and we would do the musicals together and I found my people. And then later in my career, when I started performing. out and I had LGBTQ plus fans, I was like, oh, that was, this is the community that loved me when I was a child, and this is the community that I'm meant to be a part of now. And so I don't think I would be Lady Gaga without the queer community. Wow. You're such an important friend in the life of a gay person when you are that person. You know what I mean? That's like such a silly way to sequence those words, sequencing. But I'll just never forget my safe space.

basis when I wasn't out, when I was in high school, when I felt like I could talk about my influences, talk about the music I wanted to talk about, you know, like telling all the boys in my school that I liked Limbiscuit and all love to them, but I wanted to talk about Christina Aguilera and then finding the girls and being like, don't you love the last track obvious on the self-titled? You know what I mean? Like it's just like being able to share a language and share a humor, and you have grown into such a maximum version of that. And it was, I mean, jumping around, we just have to say, it was so beautiful. And thank you so much for saying what you said on the Grammys.

For speaking to our community and speaking to the trans community and people that need it the most. That was my absolute privilege. And I promised myself that if I won a Grammy that night, I was going to say something that was in support of something that is so, so important, which is to be protective and loving to a community that is experiencing violence. Yep. It's my privilege to be a part of this community. And it's the language that we speak to each other.

And it's also like, thank you for teaching me so much about the world. I couldn't be the person that I am without the stories of all of the people that I've met. and the authenticity and the realness. Like, I have so many gay friends that, like, just share with me their truth. And that's a real gift. Like, how many people do you meet that don't do that? Right. Everybody.

Right. And it's like that can be also not a great way to move through the world. So, you know, to me, this is my privilege to be a part of it. And I know I wouldn't be the same. And, you know, I think, like, born this way. for me was it's like easily my favorite album that I that I ever created. And what's interesting is the second answer to the question that you asked me, if I could think of another culture, it would be that culture of friends on the Lower East Side. And born this way was a mixture

of the inspiration of the queer community, my love of the queer community, as well as like this like techno rock, electro rock, underground New York metal scene that I was a part of. So, you know, all of those things, like that blender is like truly what makes me, me. And it still is. And I think this is an important time for us all to be real with each other and ask for what we need from each other. Well, something about that night where you won the Grammy with Bruno that was so impactful, because I was just watching it home kind of just because a couple of hours gone by in the show already. And I was just like, I guess no one's really addressing what's going on and like a real important.

way. And you were, you broke the seal on that. And then the immediate response from the audience and from people at home was, thank God you said something. So grateful. Because I will always think about the way you handled the rumors and the way you even talked about it with Anderson Cooper, which was like, would that be such a bad thing? Like the fact that you were even talking about this recently where you're like, you had to decide whether or not you would quote unquote fix the rumor. But how would that make someone feel if they were trans and why would you inject more shame into that situation because I think there is some turning point in Lady Gaga as an artist who was studying fame because that's a moment where I don't know we experience this on such a smaller scale

than you obviously but it's like there's nothing more frustrating than someone's saying something about you that isn't true and you don't have the opportunity to address her or you're not and all you want to say is that's not true but for you to flip that on its head and be like if it were true who fucking cares yeah it's huge yeah well I think that was probably the most responsible I ever felt for like the words that were going to come out of my mouth at that point. Like I really kind of did understand that the way that I would react to that would I thought be meaningful. But to be frank, I didn't think about it for very long. Even better.

No, but seriously, it was outrageous to me that it was also kind of a weird thing like, so how do you feel about these rumors? I'm like, like, what are we talking about? These are people's lives. These are people's real lives. And that's what makes me so upset about it today is when I see people peering down at others and making it like socially acceptable to peer down and to say that the trans community should be treated this way is wrong. It is wrong. it is everything I hate.

It is everything I hate. To just go after the most vulnerable people. Yes. That's why community is so important, though, because had you not been exposed to community and had you not, like, had this understanding of people's humanity, someone may have been put in that situation

as, like, a pop star that's being rocketed to fame and, like, you know, aggressively trying to be defined by this thing that the media is like, you know, inherently saying is like some negative thing. But because you had, that exposure to community. And because you knew the reality that these are people's lives, you were able to be in that position and be so gorgeous and responsible. And that's why I'm that's important. The blessing is when I was accepted by the queer community, that was the

gift to me because then I get to learn. And I get to, I get to experience and have real relationships that change my insides. And sometimes, you know, people ask, you know, how can I do this better? Can you explain this to me. Like, people want to learn more. And I, you know, I always have the desire to say, like, be friends with more people in the queer community. Like, that's the best, the best way to learn is to just be a part of the world. And it's quite easy. We're all pretty friendly. That's right. The best. I mean, you were so, you are such an important part of that conception for people because I think I had come out of the closet again when born this way came because went to conversion therapy, obviously didn't work out.

I didn't know that. Yeah, yeah. And so Matt had come out in college. So we've known each other since college. Matt had come out around the same time. We were both doing comedy. He was in the sketch group. I was in the improv group.

Born this way came out the same. The single came out the same week as this college comedy festival. We would drive from NYU up to Skidmore. And we were just blasting that song for 48 straight hours, being wasted, just like in some like tool shed. Grungy, grungy, grungious, just like that is. And he felt emboldened to come out that weekend. That's really special.

That's really, really special. You're so important to a huge swath of people who only want the best things for you and for each other. And if there is community in this world, it is fully embodied in that sector, but also those people need leadership, and you've always been that leader, culturally, artistically, in so many ways.

you have always been that person. I appreciate you saying that. But you know what? More than being a leader, I just want to do my part. And like I really believe that like we can all do our small part. And then when we all do our small part, it like makes a big part.

Yeah. And I believe that we will continue to show, show people that are filled with hatred and ignorance that they should be looking up to the queer community and following and learning and learn. about love, learning about grace, learning about kindness. I really believe that. And I'm not giving up. No. No, no, no. And we know. And neither are we. And it's so interesting that the answer that you gave to the question was almost like the very simple, beautiful answer that felt like was coming out

in the results of the election and everything is people were just saying one word, community, look around you, water the flowers, build those. connections, maybe find new connections, community. That is really what it's all about and exposure to the humanity of everybody. That's right. And I know that it feels important for me to say, too, that yes, I say these things publicly, but like it's actually even more important to me that I live them in my life. Right. Like that, that is the work. Yeah. Yeah. The category is dance or die. The only way forward is to

just is to be joyous and to celebrate each other in that way because like I think Abercadabra is like my interpretation of it is it is this dual between it's death or love. It's the only alternative. There's really only one option

in that video. Like she announces the category but like you kind of know like no we're going to dance. Yeah, it's an easy choice for me. Yeah, we're going to. going to dance. Speaking of dance.

Okay, so we'll be at Coachella. I'm going weekend one. Bowen Astoric. He's going to go weekend two. I think I may go again. Is there, because we're listening to the album and we're like, oh, my God, in the desert, this is going to be insane. Could you?

Drink some water. Of course. We will be safe. Yes. So how long have you been thinking about that performance? All night, every night since I said yes. And also, you know. You know, before then, I mean, I didn't really get a chance to do Coachella the way I wanted to.

Right. Because you were, you came in, that's what we filled in. Yeah. You know, it was great. It was actually great for a star as born, too, because Coachella agreed to let us use the stage. Major. Mm. The movie, as you know, making movies in production, like having, you know, places to film is a positive thing.

It was great for the film. Yeah. I had, like, three days to get ready for it. Oh, my God. Which is absurd. Yeah, it's not fair. But for this, I am just putting everything. everything that I have into it, and I'm really excited. But I don't want to give anything away

because I truly want it to be like a big surprise. I feel like I have heard you say in recent interviews that you have been moving in the direction of something slightly more stripped down because there was a time in your, in your career where, you know, the set pieces would be like unmanageably big. You know what I mean? And now you are thinking in terms of sustainability and in terms of like. I do. Yeah. I do think a lot more now about. like not wasting and not overproducing things because when I was younger I used to get like so nervous that we would like run out of props or run out or costumes would get ruined or something wouldn't work well so we would have a backup but now um you know I have an archive with a lot of like

costumes from all my previous tours and TV shows and so now I try to reuse those and repurpose them and in the abracadabra video we did some of that as well as like the white cape that I'm wearing. Wedding dresses. It was all vintage wedding dresses. Oh, that's so cool. Yeah. So, you know, I'm trying to, yeah, I'm changing.

I don't think you need the overproduction, obviously, this is what you're saying. It's like, people will just be fucking gagged to see you in any kind of stage picture. You know, well, the thing about the radio city show with Tony Bennett, it was like, we were with our friend's studio and we just, the three of us kept saying, she just always knows her stage picture. Thank you. But, you know, I do, I do believe when it comes to. stage performance, and this probably has to do more with me, like, loving theater so much, too,

is that you can do a lot with, like, a black box theater and a spotlight. And, like, it's how it's lit. It's your pose. It's the way that you say the first line. You know, more adornment and more money doesn't necessarily mean better. Certainly not. You know, it's, like, how you think about it and how you bring it. I think simplicity is actually, like, very, very powerful.

But that also is not indicative necessarily of what Coachella will be. Sure. I just brought that up as a maybe a little. You were talking on Hot On Ons, actually, about like performing at the Slipper Room way back when, which is crazy. Because we've done shows there. We've done shows there. And like, I was just thinking to myself when you were talking about that, some of my most formative, memorable, like, theatrical experiences have been in rooms with like seven or eight other people watching someone create fantasy. that's right when you shouldn't be able to

but yet it is the lighting choices the way things sound in rooms like that that's right it's the stage yeah it's like the magic

of the stage that that because when you do things like I mean there are clubs where people perform right like in the room like on the floor

right but to me the context changes on a stage you know it's elevated it's elevated and you know

like I'm going to see a show and there's going to something's going to try to move me And I do find in New York, actually, at some of those downtown clubs that, like, there is immense talent. Yes. Immense talent. And it's so much fun.

And I've always, like, also been so in awe of the drag shows in New York. Oh, the best. It is unreal. And I've been watching some of the recreations on TikTok of the video. And it's just, like, it's, I mean. Yeah, mine blowing. Oh, it's Jan did it with, yeah, the next day. after the video was raised.

How? They just got all of like the... No, but also like the lacing is perfect on the corset and then the hat. And I saw people making like the spiked hat out of plastic and then hands brain painting it cranberry. Cranberry. I mean, when you came to drag race and did that workshop with them, that was just taking it the extra mile. And I think that telegraphed to everyone that it is about the details. It is, I mean, like that that is such a, of course it's about so much more than that.

the details do matter. You were so detailed in the way that you walked through with those queens. I mean, I loved being a part of drag race. That was so much fun and also a privilege. I loved it so much. I mean, I think that I have like just the ultimate respect for drag as an art form. I also think drag very often does it so much better than we do it on red carpets, honestly. I think it's just on another level. Yeah. How much of what you do do do you think of as drag? I mean, that's interesting. I probably wouldn't use that word just because I do feel like it's a very specific art form that I don't like do. But there is to me also a drag element in what I'm doing.

But I don't think that, you know, wigs and makeup and costumes always mean drag. I think like it is a very beloved and specific art form and but not no. Not no. Certainly not no. But certainly not know. It's kind of like sometimes people will, you know, you know, ask me that. And I just like, it's hard to say yes because I would never want to like take away from someone that's devoted their life to it. Sure. You're coming from a place of respect for what they do. Exactly. That's my sort of rationale whenever someone's like, what would you drag me be? I'm like, I don't know because I've not, I've not thought that far because and I honestly think it's because I love the form so much that I'm like, I don't want to. insert myself in that without earning my chops without like developing. Well, if I was going to do it, I would have to like step it up in a big way. Right. So there you go. I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltson. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed.

We have some breaking news to tell you about. Tennessee's Attorney General is suing a Nashville doctor. In April 2024, a fertility clinic in Nashville shut down overnight and trapped behind locked doors were more than a thousand frozen embryos. I was terrified. Out of all of our journey, that was the worst moment ever. At that point, it didn't occur to me what fight was going to come to follow. But this story isn't just about a few families' futures.

It's about whether the promise of modern fertility care can be trusted at all. It doesn't matter how much I fight. It doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this. It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in Nashville on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions than answers? And what is this?

how was that not a story we all know what it what's this you where is that why is it wet boy do we have a show for you from smartless media campside media and big money players comes crimeless join me josh dean investigative journalist and me roy scoville comedian as we celebrate the amazing creativity of the world's dumbest criminals we'll look into some of the silliest ways folks have broken the laws honestly it feels more like a high level prank than a crime. Who catfish is a city? And meet some memorable anti-heroes.

There are thousands of angry, horny monkeys. Clap if you think, she's a witch. And it freaks you out. He has x-ray vision. How could I not follow him? Honestly, I got to follow him. He can see right through me. Listen to Crimless on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your

podcast. I'm Stefan Curry, and this is gentleman's cut. I think what makes Gentleman's Cut different is me being a part of developing the profile of this beautiful finished product. With every sip, you get a little something different. Visit Gentleman'scuturban.com or your nearest Total Wines or Bevmo. This message is intended for audiences 21 and older. Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky. For more on Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, please visit gentlemen's cut bourbon.com.

Please enjoy responsibly. Who would you call if the unthinkable happen? I just fell and started screaming. If you lost someone you loved in the most horrific way. I said through you got 22 times. The police, right? But what if the person you're supposed to go to for help is the one you're the most afraid of?

This dude is the devil. He's a snake. He'll hurt you. I'm Nikki Richardson, and this is The Girlfriends, Untouchable. Detective Roger Gloop. Spent decades intimidating and sexually abusing black women across Kansas City, using his police badge to scare them into silence. This is the story of a detective who seemed above the law until we came together to take him down.

I told Roger Galoopsky, I said, you're going to see my face till the day that you die. Listen to the girlfriends, untouchable, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. To speak on another art form because we went to NYU here, you did a semester at Cap 21. Yes. So we had a bunch of friends in Cap 21. We were there and that was like legendary that you had graced that studio for even a second.

Is there still a part of you that would do musical theater in like a, like a mainstream sense? Like, would you go and do Broadway? And if so, is there a. I think so. Yes. I think I would love to write a musical. Well, of course. I think that... A new one. Yeah, a new one. Yeah. Yeah. I think that... I mean, that would give me the ultimate joy of, like, crafting all the music and working with amazing writers on developing the story and the script, and then, you know, the stage design and the costumes. Yeah. And then maybe I'd be in it, too, but, you know, just like the idea of writing

one, that sounds really... I mean, that's... I mean... Come on. The Cindy Lopper... I mean, because all my albums basically want to be musical. Of course. You're in the pocket already, so why not? Okay, we're going to close things off with I don't think so, honey. This is where we take one minute each to rail against something. I'm trying to think of is anything else I want to ask you.

Oh, I know, I know, I know. I have one more thing. Okay. Okay, so you talk about when you do films. Yeah. Your commitment to that. And, like, you're, I don't know if you, have you described yourself as method? Yes.

No, that sounds like something I would say. Yeah. But embarrassingly remembering, yes. No, but I want to know because your performances are so brilliant. I mean, you would start, I saw stars five times opening weekend. Thank you. I love House of Gucci. I mean, like, I wonder, have you approached acting now in a way that you can feel is sustainable?

Or how do you feel when you are approaching a role now? In terms of what you've learned and what you've done? because you've done such incredible stuff. I think, thank you. I think that I love making films. Yeah. I love being an actor. It's been a privilege working with such amazing actors and actresses

and like every film that I've been a part of. I learned a lot working with Joaquin, actually. Yeah. It was a very, very enriching experience. I would say I don't know that it's acting. You're really feeling it when you're doing it and it's real. So I would say the thing I've, learned the most is like to put yourself fully in the moment and to really be in it you know as

as if it was real life and that it is a performance but that it's not um pretend right you know I was actually working with um it's really surrendered but his moment I was working with my niece on something um related to wicked oh she sings and I was talking to her about uh you know thinking of a moment in her life where it made her her want to, uh, to cry because she felt so changed inside. And what I want to say about acting is is it's not far from singing, you know, that you, you have to go to a place where, um, you're really truly connecting to what you're saying. Yeah. And it's, it's not just about the words on their own. It's about like the human being behind it. Right. But when you, when you play characters that go

through so, like, such harrowing stuff. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Do you think, that going forward, like, I don't know if you have anything on the books or whatever, but would you ever do, because you love comedy so much, like, does the lightness appeal to you in terms of that art form? It actually does. Michael's always like, can you please do it? Instead of absolutely punishing yourself. Yes, I would love to do a more lighthearted film. I would. But I, you know, I love the dark stuff too. Yeah. That's me. I don't, I don't, yeah, that is. Mayhem. It's mayhem. Yeah, it's my ham. I'm like, I'm like a pretty soft person that It adores intensity, so I don't really know where that comes from.

I always thought it was funny when I was making this album because, like, I would, you know, like, I'm at home, like, making breakfast for me and Michael and then go to the studio and I'm, like, kind of soft-spoken and, like, just being myself. And then, like, the music was so hard. And it's like, it doesn't really make a lot of sense. But, you know, I guess that's the way that I deal with myself. It's like the way I deal with my anger. it's the way that I deal with my intense feelings.

Yeah. Got it. God. We just love you at all for. Whatever you do. Just anyway, this is amazing having you here, but we're going to do our silly little segment now I don't think so, honey. And I guess I'll start it out.

I do have something. Last night, I sort of was like, I had nervous energy, so I was like, I want to take myself on a YouTube wormhole that I've never experienced before. I want a new educational experience, and I got one. I'm excited to learn. This is Matt Rogers. I don't think so many's time starts now. I don't think so many people don't respect elephants.

You don't understand how complicated their communication is. This is a fact. Elephants can communicate from miles away with each other without seeing each other. They speak, and it is speaking, at a decibel that is so low. Do you understand? I don't think so, honey, you understand. It can't be heard by the human ear, but they are always speaking. Elephants have processes they go through.

for their grief. They honor their dead. They will walk in succession and grieve. And there is different ways of communicating. They're in a matriarchal society. People don't know that. And get this. It's not just mom.

It's mom and all her friends raising a child. Community. The aunties. 15 seconds. It's the aunties. It's the friends. They will mimic what it is to feed a child, even if they're not feeding it just to give the child comfort.

Elephants are unbelievable. Five seconds. They are not just gorgeous. and think about their trunks, that is amazing. Can you do something like that? I don't think so, honey. That's one minute. You gotta get on my level when it comes to you.

I've never been so connected to the animal world, and you know sometimes I fear animals. Yes, you do. Just the wild ones. But the elephants are important. But these elephants, have you really gotten into elephant culture? I am dead over that rant. That was...

No. Have you been to Africa to see them? Yes. you're very lucky. You're very lucky. Oh, my God. No, I'm telling you. Thank you so much. I just wanted to give them their shine because, and I actually almost came in here today. I, you know, I changed my outfit six times, Gaga, and landed in a white

polo. But I was going to wear a red sweatshirt with a panda on it. Oh. And I just, because they're my next target. I was like, I need to find out what's happening with them. There's a lot. Oh, my God. And by the way, elephants, when they say they never forget, they really don't. And that's why it's so important to keep them safe because when they are attacked or they have a family member attacked, the trauma lives in them forever. Oh, my God.

And they remember it and they won't go places where they've experienced. It is so sad. But the knowledge will, will emboldened us to protect them. Thank you for your service to the elements. That was beautiful. I just care for them so much. And they're so tender and emotional. Absolutely.

Yeah. Okay. So with that, Boen Yang, do you have an I don't think so honey on today? I do. Okay. Wonderful to hear. I love when that. true. This is Bo and Yang's

I don't think so, honey. It's time source now. I don't think so, honey. Hot ones. You made Lady Gaga cry. And you're going to give this woman DeBomb? I've had it. I had the privilege quote unquote of tasting to bomb and it is battery acid

rancid stuff. Just kidding, Sean Evans. We love you. Love Sean Evans. We love you. One of the funnest things I've done personally. You were champ. It was, it did not feel right to make you suffer in that way. While you were trying to talk about the album, while you were trying to talk about your career.

I can't. We need to put respect on Lady Gaga's time in her promotional bag. You can't be making this woman tromp on plant-based wings. I think you need to do it off camera. Just say, Sean, how about this? Say, before we recorded, we had Lady Gaga try these wings. Five seconds. We're not going to put the indignity of her sweating and crime.

and, you know, chugging down milk on film for you. That's not for... Some things are too precious, and that's one of them. And that's one minute. Bone Yang said, fuck your show. No. Change the format so that we can... No, but you were amazing.

You were incredible on it. Oh, my God. What was the process of it like? What? No, you're still absorbing that. I know. I can't. These are, like, this is amazing. No.

Yes. This is amazing. We're speaking from the heart. It's special. You've blown away by, I don't think so, honey. It's so funny. I am. You're going to be great.

You're going to be great. It's not harder than hot ones. Okay. I mean, but hot ones, was it a good experience? Yes. Yeah. I had a great time. I'm just kidding, by the way.

It was spicy. It was spicy. And you do you do spicy. Yeah, I mean, what I thought was funny was that I did like seven and they were sort of fine. And then eight out of nowhere. He had to bomb. Eight out of nowhere kills you. It's like, what a sneak attack, though.

Like, at least let me know at four and six that this is going to get bad. Had you not seen the show? No, of course I had. I just, like, I don't know if I'd seen like, you know, 30 episodes. Right, but watching from home, you're like, oh, like, I guess it's a linear curve. I thought it would be, I kept laughing at myself because I was like, it's like, it's like, no, it's not a contest. It's not a contest. I'm like, am I winning?

But, like, if you get to the end, you win. And you want. You do win. You do win. You won. Yeah. I love that you totally forgot. You were so in the heat of the moment, literally,

that you forgot to promote the album. You were like, oh, yeah. You were like, oh, that was fun. What am I here to do? That was amazing. That was one of my favorite episodes. And I, again, purely unjust. That is one of the favorite,

my favorite things I've never done. He's got to do it. You got to do it. I'm manifesting it. It's going to happen. But he really, we're doing the verses. We're doing versus. Matt and are going to do one where you face,

where that is a game of contest where you face off against each other. He's going to win. Well, I think it's so sweet is that he mirrors you. He'll drink if you drink. he eats the wings the same time that you do? I think that's lovely. I mean, he was really nice. He's so nice. I think he's

adorable too. Yeah, he was so sweet, and I just, I was expecting more spicy. Yeah. Until. Until, until I was praying for it to stop. Until you were praying. Yeah. Absolutely. Well, anyway, I just had to take them to task and it's now time for yours if you'd like to do one. I'm so afraid this is going to

backfire. No, it's not. You just say, I don't think so, honey. Then the thing. And then you just kind of let it go. Let it go. One minute goes by fast. This is Lady Gaga's I don't think so, honey. That sentence. And her time starts now.

Basically, I don't think so, honey, that you guys are putting me on the spot to do this. I don't think so. I don't like to rant. I hate ranting. I hate confronting people. You're really good at it. I feel super uncomfortable. I right now I'm shaking.

Seriously, I would love to just go on stage and sing and change my outfits and pick my wigs and write songs and make albums and go on tours, but I do not want to rant about anything. Oh, no. It is so scary to me. I feel scared. I want to cry. No, please don't cry 30 seconds. But I love you both so much, but I don't think so that you're putting me on this spot.

I'm not just going to do whatever you say, whatever you ask me to do it. When you tell me to do things, it makes me want to cry. It makes me insane. We shouldn't have done this. We shouldn't have done this. I love you so much. And also, I don't think so, don't you ever put me on the spot ever again. But I love doing this podcast.

10 seconds. Thank you so much for having me here. but please, please, please don't make me get angry about anything in public. Oh, and that's one minute, lady God, that we're so sorry. Hot ones, you should have gotten rid of your hot sauce, lost coach. We should have not done. I don't think so, honey. I mean, we have to, the show's done.

This is the last episode ever. This is it. How can we beat this? Cool, is that funny? Yes. Are you kidding me? I said you have to ask. Gaga, you're about, you're, you're, so?

But they, did you break in a sweat? I, yes. You know what? I like to plan. I know you do. I'm such a control freak. I like to plan everything. I like to know. Where is the team?

They were told about Adam. The team was told about this. I know. And I panicked then and now. We're so sorry. That's okay. On a real level, you crushed it. So there you go.

You know, all the best Adam thinks so honeies have been the one that kind of drags us. Tina Faye. Tina Faye dragged us. Yeah. Truly, the people who come after us tend to succeed. So well done. Thank you. Very well done.

I think I got like my voice got. very high and loud. You're warmed up now. You're warmed up? No, you haven't done it before. Not yet. Even on days when you don't perform, you do your warm up?

Yes. Yeah. It's fun, right? Yeah. It's nice. It's grounding. And then like then sometimes, yeah. I can't give too much away.

I can't give too much away. I'm in like the danger zone with Coachella where like it's going to start slipping soon. Totally. Because it's getting closer. It's happening. You're seeing the visuals. We cannot fucking wait.

I'm so excited. You both coming. We're coming. Yay. We will take care of you. Oh. No, no, no, no, no. I'm coming weekend, too. He's coming weekend one. But I will go again because I have to be there with him to watch it.

I'm not missing this for the fucking world. So literally what it was was we had, why I had tickets for the first weekend. And he was like, I'll just come Sunday. And on the odds. Because I'm working on Saturday, famously. On the odds that she's performing on Sunday night, I'll just come. The Friday announcement, we love it. You're going to kick off the weekend.

So incredibly well. But I was like, okay, now I'll go back the second weekend so that I get to go with you. Thank you, my friend. Mayhem is at March 7th. That's right. Two days after my birthday. birthday. By the way, this kicked off Pisces season in the best way. Oh, yeah. It's February 19th, deep in the feels. This is really, really good stuff. Yeah. Thank you so much for coming on.

Thank you so much for having me. I loved this so much. I love you both so much. Thanks for being so kind to me. And it was such a nice hang, too. It was. It really was. Yeah, I hope that we can do it again without microphones. Oh, yeah. We'll get rid of these things. We love that. We do end every episode with a song. Killer. I'm a killer. Hey, boy, you're going to die tonight. Killer, killer, killer. For more of that. Listen to me and.

Bye. Bye. Bye. Las Culturacis is the production by Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and I Heart Radio podcasts. Created and hosted by Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. Executive produced by Anna Hosniy. And produced by Becca Ramos.

Edited and mixed by Doug Babe and Monique LaBorde. And our music is by Henry Kavirski. I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltson. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed. It doesn't matter how much I fight. It doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this. It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant.

Listen to what happened in Nashville on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Stefan Curry, and this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes Gentleman's Cut different is me being a part of, you know, developing the profile of this beautiful finished product. With every sip, you get a little something different. Visit Gentleman's Cut Bourbon.com or your nearest Total Wines or Bevmo. This message is intended for audiences 21 and older.

Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky. For more on Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, please visit Gentleman's Cut Bourbon. Urban.com. Please enjoy responsibly. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions than answers? Who catfishes a city? Is it even safe to snort human remains? Is that the plot of footloos? I'm comedian Rory Scoville, and I'm here to tell you, Josh Dean and I have a new podcast that celebrates the amazing creativity of the world's dumbest criminals. It's called Crimeless, a true crime comedy podcast. Listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Who would you call if the unthinkable happened? My sister was y'all 22 times. A police officer, right? But what do you do when the monster is the man in blue? This dude is the devil. He'll hurt you. This is the story of a detective who thought he was above the law, until we came together to take him down. I said, you're going to see my face till the day that you die.

I got you. I got you. I got you. Listen to the girlfriends, untouchable, on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.