Not Skinny But Not Fat - HANNAH EINBINDER: THE HEART OF HACKS

Episode Date: May 28, 2024

Hannah Einbinder’s first ever acting role was playing Ava on Hacks. Read that again! After doing standup for years, Hannah landed the role of Ava, the socially awkward, politically correct, zesty writer that managed to break through to Deborah Vance (played by the brilliant Jean Smart). Their chemistry is unmatched, and you’d never guess that Hannah is a rookie at this acting game. We talk about her standup beginnings, her close relationship with Jean Smart, her obsession with Zendaya and more!Produced by Dear MediaThis episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The following podcast is a Dear Media production. I don't know if you know that May is the best month of the year, not only because it's my birthday, but also because May is gold month. Gold month means 45% off gold jewelry at Macy's. That means 45% off. That's almost 50% off. That's almost half of jewelry earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, men's jewelry.

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If you guys haven't watched Hacks, you've got to watch it. You've got to catch up because it is literally one of the only shows that I can recall right now that keeps on getting better every season. The writing is insane. The acting is amazing. And, like, when does that happen that, like, a show keeps getting better? You're not like, ugh, the third season isn't great. Third season is great. Let me tell you.

So hacks, you guys, it's on max if you need to binge it. And today, I finally have Hannah Einbinder on. I'm so into her. I've been since season one. And finally, she came on the pod to talk all about how she got started. It's wild. She literally haxes her first freaking acting gig. Like, okay, that's incredible.

She's a proud member of the tribe. And she's just so cute and I'm obsessed. So enjoy this episode with Hannah Einbinder from Hacks on a Max. And I think the finale is this week. So it's time to catch up on season one, two, and three and catch that finale this week and listen to this episode. Okay, I love you. Bye. Love the Chacham Macha.

How do you drink your matcha? I do a double scoop. Really got to start the car with me. I'm operating from a deficit. Okay. I got to get to normal. And even then I'm really low energy. Really? Yeah. Okay. It takes a lot for me to. Double matcha though probably tastes so grassy. So I'm not afraid of the little sugar. You know what do you add in there? I'm doing vanilla. I'm doing honey. Both? Whichever. Whichever the house recommends. Like if they don't have vanilla honey? You know that maple syrup is really the way to go with matcha? Can I just say one more thing? Yeah. Add something else to the conversation? date syrup at home or in stores i'm not seeing it in stores but i would like to at home at home it's going down at home really yeah what macho do you buy for home alfred brand really yeah it's good it's great do you do the like whisk oh you do the like macho the wooden one i used to be is it necessary yes i do the see something energetically happens to me with this but What happened?

You're imbueing the metal. The macha is of the earth. You know, you want to combine that with the bamboo. There's an energy to that. I mean, but then you have to use a bowl. Of course. Well, look, you know, I've got the time. I have no dependence, Amanda.

Yeah, okay, okay, okay. You got a full house. Right. I don't, I don't shade you for the, for them. You know, by the way, how I made mine today, I'm getting really, like, hot in this pregnancy, like, like overheating. So I've noticed that when I drink, like, my matcha hot, I'll like start sweating. So I started making it iced, but even hot, you can do

this. You can put it in the espresso foam maker, milk foamer. You could literally put your matcha in there, add your little date syrup. Yep. I mean, it's still metal. Doink. Look, I'll never do it. If you ever get busier, if you ever get busier, you know, if you're ever busier and you need a quicker way to go. Okay. But I do love a matto girl, but I just really can't, I can't with getting it. I like my own. Yeah. Like I feel like outdoors, it doesn't work for me. Same. Sometimes they don't even fucking, it's still grainy. I know. I know. And then you have just throw it out. You can't drink that. I know. I know. It's really tough. I have nailed down like in every city. Kind of like, where's the place. Yeah. Usually you can tell. I can tell by the

color. You know what I'm saying? Some people are using this baking quality. What milk do you have? I go coconut. Yeah. At home, I do lactate. I know that's not like chic, but. But you can't, surprising, a Jew can't have dairy. Yeah. Really? Yeah. Speaking of Jewish, you're representing today. I have my little thrifted shirt from, I've lived in Texas, actually, in Austin.

It's a Jewish summer camp shirt, and the girl whose shirt it was her mom, the name tag her her mom ironed in is still in the shirt. That's so cute, but she got rid of it, though. She did. But maybe her mom made a lot. Maybe the mom made for some friends. Yeah. First of all, I wanted to look at your hands, first of all.

They're not that big. I mean They're really not That was Mine is small That was Oh you're okay Okay

A little A little But you're little How tall are you Five Okay Two Do you think you're tall

I'm 58 queen You are Yeah You don't give it Well No offense No offense No offense

Well Gene is also tall Gene's 11 511 So we So you're thinking She's like Short or two And then I'm sure

Like Wait, you're 5-8, like a supermodel in hiding. They start at 5-8, I think. Is that so? I think so. Like, you know, like Haley B. Burr, I feel like she's 5-8. Uh-huh. Wow, 5-8, okay.

So, but the big hands for, I'm talking about hacks, you guys. If you haven't watched Hacks, by the time this interview comes out, season three will be out. Season 1 and 2, just fucking amazing. Season 3 did not disappoint. I told Hannah before we started, hate you for having to watch the screeners. but love it so much and it's so wild because with TV like literally I don't want to name names the gentleman I started this show and it's like first episode amazing second episode good third episode not is and then it falls off and then they're like shows that can keep bringing it like

season after season and you're not like oh season one was good but then you know it keeps on being so good thank you that is so nice I I feel the same way I feel like our writers and the creators of the show have just, like, gotten more and more into a groove, you know? Yeah. Like, it's super, it's super evident in, in the work that they're just, like, getting better and better and better, and it's just getting, like, so much more vivid. Is this, like, your first gig, like, in acting? Yes.

That's wild. It is wild. It is unprecedented. It is a privilege beyond my understanding. So how did it happen? Can you tell me? Yeah. I just, my, my, like, origins are as a stand-up comedian, and I was just, like, got representation through, like, people seeing me and, like, agents seeing me at shows. And then they, once I got reps for stand-up and, like, for touring, they made a bigger team for me, and they suggested that I tried to do other things. So you were auditioning. Yeah. So you auditioned for other things before hacks. Yes. But then you were auditioned for this. You knew it was, like, a leading role. Which I was like, oh, this is so awesome.

I won't get it, but it's so cool. Yeah. I was just, like, excited to be able to, like, just engage with a good piece of comedy. Yeah. Because it was, like, my initial audition was actually three days before the, like, stay-at-home orders. Of COVID. Yeah. Wait, was it, uh, so was it Zoom or in person?

It was in person, which I actually think was a big part of why I, like, got, why I moved along in the process. You're like, if it was three days later, you don't even know what would have happened. I just, like, there's something. be said for like performing when you're like looking at someone what i always say is like lots of things can be done over zoom but it's still a zoom yeah it's still a zoom meeting yeah it's a meeting yeah you know not auditions not a podcast not a like it's a zoom meeting yeah you're on a zoo meeting yeah so you do it not on a zoom meeting they get to see you yeah and you think they were like that's eva i i guess so you are thank you i love her i love to be able you're kind of her no

Kind of her? I'm kind of her. I'm her. I'm her like for like four months out of the year. I'm her. Wait, we're Paul Downs and Jen Statsky, right? Yeah. They're the creators.

Yeah. Were they in the room? And yellow. They were not. It was just our casting director and casting assistant. And then they were in the Zoom. The second callback was on Zoom. Because the COVID had started.

Yeah. Wow. Yeah. So how many callbacks did you have? Three. And they were like, you got. it we shook i was shook i was like oh my god oh my god i'm so excited and then immediately i was like oh my god what what have i done like what mess am i getting myself why why why why we why because i had

no experience whatsoever i was like this this is this is i'm going to get fired surely like they're going to realize that i'm a con artist and i like somehow fucking got myself into this how did you know though like marks and cameras and those things i mean i kind of just started watching Gene. I just like, literally from day one. I was just like, what is she doing? What is she doing? And they would also, they knew. Like, they knew that I had no experience. And so they, they were very incredible supportive teachers for me from Jump. So did you meet Paul and Jen on this job? I did know them. You did. And Lucia, yeah. We, sorry for leaving out Lucia. No, it's all good. Actually. Actually, it's fucked up.

Lucia's part of this. Lucia is the ball. us. She directs most of the episodes. Oh, she does. So, so yeah, I didn't know them. I just kind of, like, met we, like, went to Paul and Lucia's house and just, like, kind of Kiki. Paul and Lucia? Married. Oh. Yeah. Oh. I love that. Yes. It's a big family at Haxed. It's a big family. Yeah. You guys, I can't say it enough. I don't know if you knew that when it came out, like, I was so obsessed, because I was probably tagging you every second. And they were like, why am I getting a gazillion notifications like I love this job and I'm seriously so good I can't stop and I think even then I was like come in my pod like you weren't doing as much press I'm like making

excuses for you not coming on then it's because you weren't you were kind of underground I remember you sort of said you know I won't be seen you wouldn't you didn't want to come out of your house just in general you ordered in all the meals yeah you didn't come out no but you are now like can we say a glow up not in like pretty much or like hotness. Like you were always pretty and hot. Thank you. And like Louis Vuitton, sweet baby Jamie styling you.

I'll like Jennifer Lawrence. Like you've elevated. Well, thank you for noticing. How's that life? You know, it's, it is cool. It is nice to like really, to watch these people work. Like Jamie, my stylist is so talented. And she has such like a clear vision for me and for like everyone, I think.

And, yeah, I love working with Vuitton. They're so cool. Are you an ambassador? No, I just am a friend. You're a friend of the brand? Yes, a friend. I love them. They're so cool.

Stop. They've been so gorge to hang with. What is your life? I mean, it's like, it's crazy and then it's immediately not. Like, I very much am a chiller. I'm very low-key. Like, I will be whisked to do these things. and then I do return to a very normal chill vibe.

Do you live alone? I do. Really? How's that? It's great. I love it. Yeah? Yeah.

And you smoke a lot of pot, no? Are you just based off my vibe? No, because I've read that you said that you smoke before your shows. What? No. You didn't say that? Never. Only once and it was the worst catastrophe I've ever experienced.

Stop. What happened? You maybe read that I used to be like a big stone. I mean, yeah, I do smoke pot. I think that's pretty evident based on. kind of the vibrations emanating off of me. What would you say about my vibrations? Do I smoke pot?

I would say that your vibrations are edible girl and maybe a tequila espresso martini. Okay, you're so offhand. I'm actually offended. Okay, is it wine? Yeah, it's like lame-ass. It's like white wine. Used to smoke pot, got one panic attack, got scared, you know? Yes.

Yes. It's like she didn't come back after that panic attack. I'm sorry. When was that? It was after college. in college, I could be dying. I'd be like, that's so funny. Like, I don't know, it was pre-anxiety.

And then, I guess, smoking when you were ready or, like, have the anxiety, like, the things that once you accepted, like, not feeling your legs or, you know, that didn't used to scare me. And then once the, you know, so it just happened. And then it's just like, you might do this to me again. I'm not into it. But I've never even had an espresso martini. Okay.

So you really read wrong. I'm so sorry. I know. Well, I was just, I was just reading. like fun girl. Okay, that's cute. Is that inaccurate? I mean, like obviously you're in a place right now where you're right. I'm pregnant. I can't do anything. In many ways pregnant. But yeah, I'm like not yeah, I'm not that fun. You're low key. Yeah. I'm like two glass of white wine and I'll tell you all my secrets, you know? That's my vibe. I love that girl. Well, I, yeah, but I should have an espresso

martini. Maybe that's what we're going to do when you. We're going to get an espresso martini. On the other side. Do you like this? I could. I could, like them with you. It's really cute. She's so romantic. Also, you're a Gemini. Yes. I'm the Cuspi. Although I'm day one of Gemini. There's a lot of debate over what my sign is. I'm Gemini Torres Cus. Because it's 21, May 21st. May 21st. What about you? 31st. So you're a Gemini. I'm like full. You're full blown. Do you identify with the stereotype? Yeah. You do. Like should get a tattooed on me props. Yeah, I'm totally the seriousness. you flip on a dime on a dime wow oh my god even have so on instagram i have this thing that like

for flipping because i flip so often even on my opinions so i put a steak emoji because in hebrew i speak heber fluently so there's actually a saying people don't know that i actually copy this from hebrew so they'll get this for the first time they think i just made it up in english you say like you flip like a steak if you're like a flip flopper and something so i'll just put like a steak emoji like sorry i like just and timberlake again now you know totally even though i don't you guys so make it clear. Totally. I'm not on the Justin Timberlake train.

Here's my thing on the Gem and I, like, stereotype. Yeah. I can understand how there is a sinister aspect to it, but I choose to think of it as someone who is adaptable and adjusts to the energy in front of them. Like, the way that it manifests in me is, like, just in energy level. Like, if I'm with someone and they are the star, I will pull back. You know what I mean? Or if I'm with someone and they're kind of being, they're needing me to fill that role,

It's not about changing who you are. It's about just, like, featuring a different energy within yourself based on what the vibrations are calling for. Like being a chameleon. Yeah. Yeah. No, so, okay, I don't think it actually means that we're, like, two-faced, like, the way that the...

I think that's probably not... I feel like astrological people won't say, like, they're fucking fake and two-faced. They'll say what you're saying. Yeah. You know? That's how I see it. But just like the vibes of Gemini.

But you are technically a Gemini. You're just day one. I mean, it's so like, I think so. I think so, but a lot of the like, because I was born at 5 a.m., they say I'm Torres. But I don't identify. The time makes me tourists, but I really don't identify with tourists. The what's your birth chart vibes. I know.

That's where it gets tricky because May 21st is the first day of Gemini. So yes, technically that is, you know, I follow in that kind of. And it's after midnight. So technically again. Yeah. And I identify so much more with Gemini. But that is my rising. So finding a good granola is hard.

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we have to talk about that I thought about today. Uh-huh. Original bobs are over here. Is it what's happening? Is it in now? Bob's? Yeah.

It's in. Hannah. My fingers off the pulse, baby. I need you. Okay. help me out what's happening bobs are so in right now had one since college girls and do you ever see yourself going back um i can't picture it now i'm locked in contractually to the bob for the rest of your

life yeah they're they're keeping me locked in they're giving you locked in i would i would you know what i don't know that it would suit me but i have always had a romantic idea of being like the laurel canyon girl with the long hair and the banks almost like a dakota johnson but a little less like together but it's like it's so I could never you know what I mean you're like how could you even imagine I have to see it now I would love to do that but I think I'm just I think it's just the Bob for me forever I read that you were a cheerleader that's right did but no Bob you probably had long hair then well I had long hair when I was straight and then that was like that was like your straight identifier was the long hair it just there I just kept kept cutting it shorter and shorter and as I was going like maybe I was having a crush on Ruby Rosen and orange is the new black and then by I know. A Ruby Rose. I was very into her on orange and blue black. Ruby Rose. I was just actually, she started like tweeting all this stuff. Oh. She's writing a tell-all. Oh.

You know, she had that very complicated relationship with the Veronica's. Oh, I didn't know that. Oh, my God. Honey, I'm. See, you don't know. I even know the lesi culture. I'm into it. Yeah. Oh, my God. She has the Veronica's, you know those. They're like, the band. It's like two sisters. So Ruby Rose. was with one of the sisters, and I guess there was, like, massive drama. Oh. Actually, Ruby Rose is in one of their music videos, and it's, like, very emotional. I don't know why this song is, like, saved in my library as, like, on my shuffle, but you

should check it out. Anyway, Ruby Rose is hot in origin as the new black. Deeply. Yeah, I was trying to think, like, if anyone else did it for me on that show. Hmm. Natasha Leon. No. Oh, I'm into her.

What, sexually? Well. Sorry, I didn't mean to say like that, but, like, yeah? Yeah. Well, well, I think she's stunning. I mean, like, but I'm a cheerleader. That was like another one, like an early like movie that I saw where I was like, hmm, especially because I was very much a cheer. I told her this when I first met her. I was like, yeah, that was really crazy for me because I was like figuring out like that I was queer through this like movie that was about a girl who was a cheerleader who was queer. And then I like it was so hitting close to home in a major way. Meta. Yeah. Wait, so you were cheerleader. I was, yeah. Like legit spinning in the air. Uh-huh.

Really? Mm-hmm. And did you fit in in that? Oh, yes. You were that girl? I was that girl in many ways. Like Beverly Hills High School, right? Yep.

But this was before that. I was on a competitive team. Yeah. It was all girl. It was like a very, it's a wild world cheerleading. It's like such an interesting subculture. It was, it's a very like Christian sport because it's very southern Midwest. Right.

They cheer in football and sport. are big in places where, like, you know, that's, like, kind of like what there is to do. Right, you're right. Yeah, that's the vibe. So, but to try, because I'm from L.A., so, but to try to do it, like, anywhere near L.A., like, you just kind of have to go, like, you have to go somewhere that's, like, I did it in Pasadena, and a lot of those girls were, like, very Christian. I was, like, the only Jew in my whole gym, like. So it wasn't part of your school. You went, like, this was your extracurricular. Competitive. Wow. Yeah. It's crazy. Do you still relate to that? Like, are You know, I would love to take an adult gymnastics class if I didn't know how the little girls

would look at me because I remember being the little girl at the gym and looking at adults being like, what are they doing here? Yeah. Like it's so, I don't know that I could. I also think my body is so broken to a point because of the years of cheerleading. Like I am so fucked truly that I think it would be very difficult for me to. Are you flexible so? I have my right splits. My left. splits are okay, but I was like contortionist level with the back flexibility. What? Like back flips? Yeah. But also like, you know, the stunts where like they put the girls up in the air. Yeah. I was a flyer and I had like my bow and arrow, which is this trick where you bring your head behind your leg behind your head straight. Oh my God. It says you're doing the splits standing up, but you're holding your leg behind you.

And I was very, I was very bendy in a way that, like, I would, I would truly, my spinal cord would disintegrate. You're saying, so that's when you started figuring out that you might like girls are not really. It was later, but like, I think. But you like to tell that story to yourself because it's cooler. Which, which story? That you started when you were a cheerleader, like Natasha Leone and no, no, no, I watched, but I'm a cheerleader. I think, like, towards the end, beginning of college, end of high school. And I was a cheerleader in high school

But I wasn't still totally active in cheerleading When I saw the movie But it was such a part of my identity Yeah It was like, oh, this is like hitting in two ways Yeah So when did you start figuring out your sexuality? Early college

Dale's oldest time It's classic Isn't it? It's classic stuff Isn't it? I guess Go to college and they're like I experimented or whatever

Well you play Ava in Hacks She's by She's, like, very much on bye, I'm by, I'm by. Totally. Because, because. Which we tend to kind of do. You do? As a group.

So I was going to ask, like, do you do that, too? I mean, hard to not. Such a big part of who we are as queer, you know. But you, like, you're more into saying queer than, like, bye. I'm down with both. Yeah? Yeah. If I doesn't really say queer, does she?

Maybe only a couple times. She mostly says bye, I think. Yeah. Are you as PC as Eva? I would say so. Yeah. Yeah. Like as like with the plastic, like everything. She just like. I think Ava's coming from a good place with that stuff. Yeah. I think that her, maybe her delivery method to Debra is a little blunt. I like to kind of massage those ideas in a way that feel like, I don't know that Ava's is like delicate as a of a communicator. Well, she's getting through. I think she's growing a lot. I know. She's getting through to her. Yeah. You know what else I was wondering about your character. her. Did you have any input in like any writing or styling? I, so no, she was fully formed

when I came on board in terms of the writing. Like, she's very much all, all there. I will say this season, there are two little, like, details that they plucked from me, which is, like, the macha thing. Like, Ava's very into macha like me and, and mushroom, like, mycology. Like, Eva, like, just like amateur, amateur. I saw that. Yeah. Very amateur, yeah. Indeed. Indeed. So that's from you? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wait, you're into mushrooms as in like the, not the drug? No.

Like, just finding them in the wild. Yeah, like just, you know, I'm like many people I saw a documentary and I was like, this is my life now. Wait. There's this documentary on Netflix called Fantastic Fungi. Yeah. It's great. You should watch it.

Yeah? Yeah, it's cool. Is it? Yeah, it's cool. It's also cool for kids, I will say, like, you know, just like, I mean, I know you got city kids and there's not a lot of foraging here, but do you guys ever go upstate? Yeah. And we're scared of like ticks though, you know. Totally. Totally. I feel you. Anyway, if you were to go like into the woods and stuff, it's like a cool thing for kids, it's kind of like scavenger hunt. Oh, like to know what mushroom is what mushroom. Yeah. To like. Do you hike? Sometimes. Yeah. Yeah. I'm, I'm an L.A. girl, so I love a hike. What's that one called? The cat girl? L. Laurel, running. Right. Run in. You do that? This is how L.A. I am. And this is a deep cut. My dog died at running can. No.

My childhood dog died at running canada. What? Trying to... Chasing the squirrel, baby. Jumped right off the ledge. No. Died doing what he loved. Your producer is a mouth agape.

Wait, do you... Were you there? No. It was my dad's birthday. I guess that's pretty sad, huh? For your dad? Yeah. Yeah, it was my dad's birthday.

They were like, we'll take the dogs on a hike, and he just got off leash. Oh, my God. Lept to his death. Speaking of your parents. Yeah. Thank you for making the transition. Because I'm on page one, you guys. This is what I'm on.

So awesome. When, you know. You got a little chatty Kathy in the seat. No, I love that. Your mom was original SNL? Yeah. And what about your dad? My dad did a lot of things.

Yeah. My dad did a lot of things right now. Like, the latest of his things is like he directed commercials. They're attractive. They're an attractive couple. Thank you. Right? Yeah.

My mom is 12 years. My dad's senior. Sure. I mean, I guess if they're not your parents. Lorraine Neum. Women. Yes. The queen. She's such a queen. She's the best. So she was original SNL before you were born. Oh, yes. So that was still in New York and you were born in 75. That would have been. Yeah. She was 42 when she had me. So was she done with kind of like comedy and stuff at that point?

Not really. She works a lot in animation now. She does like a ton of stuff in animation. She does like a lot of voice acting. And then she'll she'll like do parts here and there. But she's mostly in animation these days. You know, whenever there's, like, a TV representation of, like, parents that are in comedy or acting, it's, like, more of a loosey-goosey house. Yeah. Of, like, can be inappropriate. Kids are exposed to things maybe younger around adults, maybe younger. Definitely. I mean, because my mom was so much, like, sort of an older mom, I was more so around older people, like, just five or two of that.

Wait, when did she have you? Forty-two. Oh, wow. Yeah. But you have a sibling. Yeah. Yeah, my older sibling is 31. Oh, and you're 29.

28. Turning 29. I'll turn 29 in just, well, when this comes out, you'll be 20, 29. Oh, my God. You're such a baby. Well, I've lived. Do you feel like, oh, my God, I'm turning 29? It does feel incredibly insignificant to me.

Oh, really? Yeah, what is 29? Yeah. You know that famous age? They always talk about it. It's like your last year. year before you're 30. Oh, my God. I've been, everyone's been your 33 for the last like five years. Why? I don't know. I guess I have a deep voice. You give 33? Oh. Yeah. Just what do we got?

Yes. Important. Yeah. If we need to. No, it's okay. Yeah. I've just been giving 33 for the really. I guess. Yeah. I don't know why I get that all the time. I don't get why either. I'm a female comedian. I think me being like having like being like taught like loud and or like, like, loud in this and not too... First of all, you're very not loud right now. Not in volume, but like just being like a... Not in volume. I am a little jealous of your not in volume.

I wish I wasn't in volume. You're with volume. I'm too volume. No, it's good. We need it. That's why you got the mic, baby. You know? That's why we want you in the mic.

Okay, so mom's comedy. Dad is like acting. Did that influence you being... I think certainly. Intrigued by this world. Yeah, they really showed me a lot of great work, great, like, art and great comedy and movies and shows and albums and things like that very early on. So I feel like I was kind of indoctrinated. But you went to college?

I did. For what? I studied. First, I went in as a television broadcast journalism major, and then I switched to television writing and production at Chapman University. I went to the film school there. And when did the, like, the stand-up dream start? I was on the improv team at my college, and I wasn't, like, great at it. But then Nicole Beyer, who's a great comedian, she came to our school and just asked if any of the kids from the improv team wanted to open for her. And I just volunteered. We're the only one that volunteered? It was another student and I. So both of you did? And me. Yes. Me. Another student and me. So you did that? Was it super scary? At first, and then I feel like when I walked, when I walked out, it was just like all my fears

melted away. And I just, yeah, I was like, I never looked back. I really, it was like the first, first day or the rest of my life. You felt like this is what I'm going to do. Yeah. And then what do you start doing, writing material, performing at like clubs. Yeah. Open mic. Open mic vibes. Yeah, traveling all across Orange County at the time. And then, yeah, when I moved home back to L.A., just all around L.A., hitting them. Hit them hard. By yourself? Mm-hmm. Really? Yeah. Yeah. I can't believe I wasn't, like, more scared. It's definitely, it was, most nights, it was, like, me and, like, 13 guys in their 30s and 40s. And I was, like, 21 at the time.

What, staying at motels vibes? Just, no, like, just, like, at a dark bar in K-town or, like, at a place in the valley, like. What were you writing about them? God, I mean, I've always written kind of about, like, it's always been kind of autobiographical and then, like, obscured. at times. It's, I think my material has always been, like, even in like this special that I just shot, there's like a joke from that original set. Really? In the Nicole Beyer, uh, opening set. This ad is sponsored by Byheart. Byheart is an infant nutrition company built from the ground up to deliver real innovation on behalf of babies and parents. The mission is simple. Make the best formula in the

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slash podcast, and my code is not skinny 20 for a limited time. Additional terms and conditions may apply. My code is not skinny 20. Well, let's give a moment. You are having a special coming out on Max. Your new home. That's right. Max. I'm the princess of Max. You are. So wait, did you film the stand-up special already? I did. Yeah. Okay. But it doesn't have a release date I didn't see. It, well, you know what's so funny. And this is okay. and it's not a problem, but Gene did accidentally announce it on Good Morning America yesterday. She just like went on and started talking about my special, which is so sweet, and she's so sweet for this. Did she see it?

She did. She came to both shows. She's so sweet. So she announced it, were your publicist freaking out? They were like, we love this. Jean did announce the date and we were dead obsessed. We love that. She did that.

Can do no wrong. Jean? Yes. Which is so true. It's totally fine. But yeah, it's June 13th. That's so exciting. Yeah. That's huge. Yeah. I'm excited. How was it filming it? It was cool. It was cool. We got the crew. My cinematographer shot Hacks as well. So we just, it was just like all the crew that works on hacks worked on this. Oh, cool. So it was like really family affair vibes. But you have to write it all. I had been working on it for years. For years like by yourself, one day I'll have a special. I mean, that, that, yeah, I started touring after, like, I really got, you know, Hacks made it possible for me to sell clubs out, you know, like, that was something that without acting, I don't know that I would have been able to, I know that I wouldn't have been able to do that as quickly, at least.

Like, I was still opening for other comedians when I got cast on Hacks. So, like. But you had, like, followers, right? Like, Instagram a little bit. I get, maybe like 5,000. What, before Hacks? Yeah. Really? Yeah. Damn.

Yeah, it's really... So how old were you when you started filming hacks? 2020, you were 20... 24, turning 25, I think. So let's think about the age, you guys. Graduated college 22. Yeah. By 24, 25, you got this fucking role.

Insane. With Gene Smart. Insane. Insane. I know. It's so cool. Yeah. Yeah.

I just wanted you to take a moment, basking it. Thank you. And you are so good. It's so wild to think that you've had. had no experience prior to that, because, like, you're so good. Thank you. There's not, like, a moment where I would think, like, she's not, like, a legit, trained

actress. Like, so that means you just, like, some people just have it. That's so nice. And some people have to, like, go to school and, you know, think classes. I did read a book on acting, acting for film by Michael Kane. And it was a very incredible instructional. Like, I did watch Gene, but it was truly, like, it's, I think it's like, I mean, I mean, I guess I can't say this because I don't know, but it felt like a little

like acting school in a book. Really? Yeah. It was very helpful for me. Did you have to cry on the show? I forget. Yeah. I'm just, I got a, it's, I'm fucking MacGyver.

Like, I'm just pulling shit together. So when you found out you had to cry. I was so terrible. I was like, what the fuck? Did they say, don't worry. If you can't figure it out, we'll like bring some drops or you had to figure it out. I just, they, yeah, they just expected me to do it. And I was like, okay.

I will do that. And I did. So how close are you with Gene that she like knows the dates, comes to both shows, like loves you so, like how close are you? I mean, I know that the term like family when this, I'm going Ava mode. Are you ready? I'm going Ava. Are you ready? Yeah, yeah. I'm ready. I know that the term family in a corporate environment like work can sometimes like when a when a corporation or like a work environment says like we're a family. It's usually so that they can like get you a. fucking taco truck and not give you health care. They're like, we're a family. It's like this way that work organizations like massage like, you know, massage you like psychologically into not realizing that you're being mistreated. And sometimes that word family is like, yeah, we're a family and families are actually fucked up and they don't like take care of each other all the time. Like I do understand that that's like one way to view the like we're a family thing. But like I feel like the cast of hacks and like everything we have going is like chosen family. where, like, we really do support each other and we really do have a lot of love.

And we've been through so much together, like, just with everything that's gone on with Jean and everything that's gone on in the world, you know, like with the strike and coming back from that and Jean's heart procedure and, like, all of that. We've just, like, bonded so quickly. And so, yeah, we are close. like we really we really look out for each other and you know she's she's very precious to me she's very special to me yeah and we you know she's so supportive yeah yeah and your chemistry is so good it's yeah i don't know it's like it just has always been really instant with us and i i do think

that's a credit to her she makes people feel really really yeah you know i was thinking like i was like i was thinking about the show and like how okay so at the beginning when you guys start talking again in season three you're like excited and giddy over the text and it's such a thing that I feel like isn't talked about enough how like usually excitement over like DMs or getting a message or whatever is only portrayed when it's like sexual romantic you know and there's a lot to be said over getting excited over like non-romantic DM like that kind of thing like I've got I'm so excited over, like, you know, a new friend who texted me or, like, somebody famous, like, you know what I mean?

Like, it doesn't have to be, like, a sexual romantic. And I love, and I realize, like, that's such a big part of why I like the show and why it's a unique show, because, like, there are some, like, romances here and there. But the main story is, like, this non-romantic relationship that's, like, between this young girl and old or broad and it's so and you're like so invested in it yeah it's so meta making this show because you know we are on set making a show about this love language between collaborators and between comedians like the type of love like what we're showing is yes all of those things you've named but also it is the type of love that comedians share when they make each other laugh and you know

it's like we all connect through laughter but the people who do it for a living Like, you just need more, you know? And these two girls have it. And it's like, we who make the show have that as well. Right. So it is this really meta thing. And, you know, they portray it so well because it's like this thing that we are doing

in order to make the show in the first place, you know? Like, you're still making each other laugh and, like, saying funny shit to each other, like, all upset. That's so fun. I get, like, upset that my friends aren't fun here when I watch it like that. Or like, you know, or listen to like smart lists and the dudes just like make each other laugh. I'm like, my friends are.

Step it up, people. Like, definitely not funny enough, you know? No, truly step it up. But speaking of that, have you had any exciting like since you've also stepped into this life? Like exciting messages or like meeting famous people that excite you? Do you know what? Louis Anderson who played Christine. Did you know, did you ever watch that Zach Alphenac?

his show Baskets. No. Louie Anderson is an incredible comedian and he played Zach Aliphonakis's mother in that show. And I love that show and I love Zach and I love Louie who has since passed. But he emailed me that he watched the show and he lived in Vegas, I believe, the time. And like, it just was so, yeah, it was so meaningful and he was so sweet. And then he died. Yeah, really sad. But also like nice to have connected with him. him. Yeah. That's a random one. I know. I know. Well, yeah. I'm like a Beyonce. I'm sorry. I'm just kidding. So, but that was the most exciting, like, email, DMS that you've gotten from the show. I guess. I'm sure there have been more. Yeah. I mean, mostly it's just, like, folks that I meet at, like, all these, like, swanky, holly weird parties, you know?

Are they weird? Are they fun? Can you give us the scoop? It depends. I mean, it depends. Like, I go, I am. very lucky to go with Paul Jen and Lucia to most of these things. Yeah. So we just go corner mode. Yeah. We're in the corner. Yeah. You're in a circle.

It's like as if we, it's like we guys, we could have done this at home. But like. Yeah. But it's cool that you have people. And also Megan. Yeah. Meg's hilarious. She's the best.

I was sad. Well, I only watched till episode six at this point. But you, I feel like you filmed less with with Paul and Megan this season, right? And I was like sad for you. I know. I rarely ever get to be, like, we rarely ever get to be in the same, like, world. There were maybe like phone, like more phone calls and stuff, maybe season one and two. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, this one not as much. They have a lot of time together, which is fun. It's so good. They are so funny. The pickle all stuff. Oh, my God. It is beyond.

Also, by the way, I can say this because this will come out. I made sure after this episode comes out. But you've had amazing, a. guest stars this season, too. Christina Hendricks is on an episode, and you get to, like, play a little sexual scene with her. It's true. And you even see your little boobies.

That's right. How'd that feel? You have good ones. Thank you. Thank you so much. You're welcome. Yeah. It felt like, it felt correct for the scene and for the characters.

And I also was like, it just, I don't know. I'm like, I feel like, like, Sapphic love. representation is important, and it's also important when it's being shot by, like, a female director who's not going to, like, do it in a pervy way. Yeah. So I just was like, yeah, we should do, this is the time, time in right circumstances to take my shirt off on camera. Did you feel comfortable, though? I did. Yeah. I was like, oh, it's all good. We're just at work with the boys. Nothing new, you know? And also we had, like, intimacy. Some, yeah, and like some female camera operators and like yeah it was cool and also like how do you like because objectively I'm

telling you that you have good boobs uh-huh but but maybe like you know that you have good boobs too and you feel certainly yeah yeah and you feel confident in them yeah yeah certainly yeah certainly and okay I want to go back to the styling for a second because I do feel even you said the character was so written before and everything it feels very you like the jeans the high jeans. Like, it feels like tailored to your body. Definitely. I do, I will say some of the clothes are Pauls. Some of the clothes are Jens, Lucia's, and mine. Some. Yeah. Like, we have incorporated a lot of our own stuff into Ava just because she is a comedy writer and so are all of us. So it's like we, that sort of, you know, that influence. But also, like, for me, jeans are always tough.

So I do need to get jeans tailored. Because I have, you know, my proportions are not like super. Like small waist. Yeah. It's like harder to. So sometimes we use my actual, your actual jeans to feel more comfortable. And socks play a huge role in the show because you're always in socks at her house, at Deborah's house. No shoes. I know.

I think about that shit when I watch. Isn't it? So hard being me. Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm like watching you and I'm like, she's wearing socks. She's in the house. They must have like thought about this.

Look at these black socks. Like this is what goes through my head. But I did read that you. influence her to wear Doc Martins. That's true. Because you felt like it was like a bisexual. Yeah. I think, yeah, I would say, I would say that the Dr. Martin's shoe is a very huge part of, you know, bisexual representation. Really? I would, yeah. Like which one, the OG boot? I would say the OG boot and more, more recently the platform. Which one? The platform doc. the OG boot with a little bit of a...

Really? Do you have it? Do you wear it? Oh, yeah. All the time. I got three. I got three pairs. Three pairs in the same color?

Well, slightly different colors, of course. I have the classic. I have, they did like a collab with Ghani, which I thought was really... Oh, that is cool. And then I have another one that's just like a random... Do you have like the one that isn't high? Because I do. I don't have the one that isn't high because I do need...

I do try to get a little bit of a, some sort of a... But show me those? Are those the sambay? The samba? Oh, they're not the sambas. Are you, are you, are you, are you, am I doing... Are you speaking weird? I'm like, you're having a stroke.

Wait, where is your Judaism from? Where, what, like, where's your family from? Like, Romania or something. Okay. Why? I just was, like, you know, because you never, I just am interested in the flavor of Jew that you are. Oh, well, like Ashkenaz. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

And you're from New York? Yeah. Okay. Because you're like, what's that annoying accent? I'm like, what, there's some flavor happening. There's some seasoning that's coming through. Okay, I'm going to show you after this. I did just order a pair of sunbeys.

I know there's sambas. These are sambas. There's different? Oh, are your feet big, too? Okay. You know what, Amanda? I didn't come here for abuse, sister, okay? No, but when they wrote that line about your big hands that keeps on appearing on the show.

Uh-huh. Like, what if you had? I mean, I think they would have maybe taken that out, but that was already in. It was already in. Also, I'm pretty sure Jean's hands are hanging out of mine. You've got to do it one time. Like, fuck up the scene. Fuck up the sand. So, are you dating right now? I mean, kind of. Like, dating around or one person? I'm, no, I'm, yeah, I'm kind of riding solo. Yeah? Yeah. Which I'm loving. Yeah? Loving that. Would you be, like, public about a relationship?

Maybe. I don't know. It just would depend. I don't, what do you mean public? Like, like Instagram official vibes. Maybe that just seems so far off for me. Like not your vibe? Like just far down the, like, I can't imagine that happening anytime soon. Like dating someone seriously where you would be Instagram official? Yeah. Really? Yeah. I'm like enjoying being on, on my own in a real way. Yeah. So, okay, since hacks, have you been offered a million things? Are you working on new stuff? I am. I am working on new stuff.

There's like a couple things in the various stages of being things. Yeah? Yeah, which, like, I guess I'm not, like, totally supposed to, like, elaborate, but things I'm very excited. You know, when, like, when you are given such an insanely elevated show, like, hacks to be a part of, like you just, for me, It has set like a artistic standard that I like kind of refused to compromise on because I have the privilege of having established it in the first place. So what? You're saying like you've said no to shitty things?

I guess what I'm saying is I want to maintain that level of like, yeah, of like good work. Yeah. And so, yeah, I do care about that. Like it being a good project with like good writing and good people. Yeah. And it's, look, like, I have to say, like, it is, it is an incredible luxury to be able to, like, say that. Yeah. So many people have to, like, work and do whatever that means.

But do you think that maybe it's also because your first kind of love and passion was comedy? And you're like, okay, I rather do that than, like, a bad TV or, like, a TV show I don't think is good. Yeah, I think, I think that's, that is the great luxury of being a stand-up comedian that, like, I can all. always go out on the road. And do that. Yeah. Well, let's remind people, hacks is out. It's on Max.

Your special is coming out in June, which is so exciting. Like, amazing. And let's also not forget that you are, I saw on like the Emmy predictions list. This is really good journalism here, okay? Why are you looking at me? I don't know. Okay. What are you saying?

Well, I don't know. I saw that you were on an Emmy's prediction list, but you also received. Emmy nominations, Golden Globe Award nomination. That's, like, insane. It's insane. I, like, cannot fathom that. Were you upset? You didn't win, or no?

No, I think, I think I didn't, like, I mean, my whole thing is, like, I don't, I really, like, didn't expect to even get this job. Like, I don't, I didn't even expect to be nominated. So I feel like, yeah, I don't, I'm not, like, maybe I should want more for myself or something but I like I don't yeah I don't know I'm like happy to be how would it be here at work man yeah but it's hard people don't know it's hard acting it can be it can be it's days challenging all days set life is you know 12 hour days for everyone especially like the crew like that shit is hard yeah and you filmed in Vegas only a little bit we shot mostly in l a like only like six days total in

Vegas altogether, honestly. Oh. Yeah. So I'm just thinking, this is a me problem, but like I've had taken issue with the fact that the bear is in the comedy section of the noms. Uh-huh. I don't know if you know that. Yeah.

You know the show of the bear. Okay. So they like swept the awards under comedy. And if they're in the comedy and you guys are in the comedy and that fucks up you like getting a thing and he's getting a thing, I'll be upset. I think that, yeah, I don't know. What? I think they're going to be, I think they will be in comedy, but I don't know. Yeah, it's all good. Love those people. It's all good. Another thing I want to talk to you about is you're following 5,000 people on Instagram. I feel like we need to dilute. Because maybe that's why I'm not popping up for you and you don't know like enough about pop culture. But like 5,000 people. It's everyone I've ever met. Like literally. It's every person I've ever met. I don't get people that can follow that many people. You know, I don't. I just, you are so far. I need to really, you're right. I. I don't know what, I've just, what am I going to, now it's like,

people will be mad at me if I unfollow them. 5,000. She's a, she's changed. She's a bitch. Because I'm assuming this is your, or do you have a Finsta? No, I don't. Because this was your, like, Instagram before you blew up, like, you don't have another one. Yeah, I feel like, wow, is it really 5,000?

And, like, 12. That's crazy. I know, I saw it and I was like, we need to talk about it. Although, it's so, it is so me following, like, cool lava. accounts. You know what I mean? It is so me like planet news. Like I just follow everything. That's what I wonder like how your Instagram is like deciding for you, like what to see, you know? Yeah. Out of 5,000 people. It's mostly lava. It's mostly and maybe mushroom accounts now. Totally. It's foragers. It's like, and then it's like friends, foragers, Zendaya. I was going to say I heard you're really into Zendaya.

I'm a big fan. I love her. Who isn't? Did you, yeah, it's not like that niche. You know, I'm not alone in that. You're like, I like this really, like, unaccredited artist. For underground. Did you see Challenders? I haven't yet. Well, it's, I've just been traveling when it came out.

Yeah, it did just come out, so you do have an excuse. But you're excited for it? Yes, I have a day. I have time on tomorrow. So you'll go by yourself to the movies? I have, I have friends here. Oh, okay. Just thought it was cool if you would go by yourself.

I'd show a little independent. You know what I did go by myself to uncutely? at Gems and I went at 10 a.m. and I drank a coffee and I was like, let's do it. I was like, this is the anxiety Jewish movie? Let's do it then. It's such a good movie. I drank a cold brew alone in the theater at 10 a.m. Was it weird? It was so rocking. I turned it up to 11 sister. I was like, yeah, Diamond District, baby. Wait, it was in New York. No. Oh, you watched in LA. That would get it even more. But I was alone in the theater. So it was like there was nowhere to, no community inside. Oh my God. That's funny. Yeah.

Hannah, thank you so much for coming on. Thank you for having me. Thank you. I'm such a huge fan. Thank you. So happy for your success on the show. Thank you guys so much for listening to this episode of Not Skinny but Not Fat. Follow me on Instagram at Not Skinny but Not Fat.

Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any episodes. Rate the podcast that you love so much on Apple Podcast and write a little review. If you tell me you did, I'll give you a big virtual smoocharoo. Thank you guys so much for listening. see you next Tuesday. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.