So True with Caleb Hearon - Krysta Rodriguez Was a Child Star

Episode Date: June 12, 2025

Welcome! This week’s guest is the supremely talented Krysta Rodriguez! Krysta and Caleb talk about the beast that is a weekly Broadway schedule, her time in iconic musicals like Spring Awakening, a TV show they were both in that never made it to air, Francis Ford Coppola, and much more! Join our Patreon for an exclusive post-episode chat with Krysta and other bonus content! https://patreon.com/SoTruePodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink  Follow Krysta! @krysta_rod Follow the show! @sooootruepod Follow Caleb! @calebsaysthings Produced by Chance Nichols @chanceisloudGo to https://www.Zocdoc.com/SOTRUE to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. #sponsoredBook now at Booking.com ! There’s no replacement for human connection. Better with people. Better with Alma. Visit https://www.helloalma.com/SOTRUE to get started and schedule a free consultation today. Go to https://www.hims.com/SOTRUE for your personalized ED treatment options. Head to https://www.squarespace.com/SOTRUE to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code SOTRUE. Start listening and discover what’s beyond the edge of your seat when you sign up for a free 30-day trial at https://www.Audible.com/SOTRUE.About Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com. » SUBSCRIBE to Headgum: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeadGum?sub_confirmation=1  » FOLLOW us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/headgum  » FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/headgum/ » FOLLOW us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headgum So True is a Headgum podcast, created and hosted by Caleb Hearon. The show is produced by Chance Nichols with Associate Producer Allie Kahan and Executive Producer Emma Foley. So True is engineered by Casey Donahue and engineered and edited by Nicole Lyons. Kaiti Moos is our VP of Content at Headgum. Thanks to Luke Rogers for our show art and Virginia Muller our social media manager.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is a HeadGum Podcast. What's up y'all? It's time for my favorite part of the episode, the ads. This episode of So True is brought to you by Booking.com. Booking dot yeah. Y'all, summer is just around the corner and you guys deserve to really treat yourselves this year with a great place to stay when you take that big trip. From vacation rentals to hotels across the US booking.com has the ideal summer stay

for absolutely anyone even those who might seem impossible to please whether you're booking for yourself your partner your early to bed early to rise brother-in-law or your high maintenance group chat you can find exactly what you're booking for on booking.com booking.com makes it easy to find places to stay that can accommodate your specific needs. Like imagine you're a band with a very particular soundproofing need, or you're looking for maximum relaxation with a hot tub and sauna to turn your vacation rental

into your own private spa. When I'm looking for a place to stay, I simply must have a beautiful full kitchen so I can whip up some of my world-famous spicy baked beans with bacon bits I simply must have a beautiful full kitchen so I can whip up some of my world-famous Spicy baked beans with bacon bits if I can find my perfect stay on booking.com anyone can Find exactly what you're booking for booking.com. Anyone can. Find exactly what you're booking for.

Booking.com, booking.yeah. Book today on the site or in the app. It's a great musical that actually I think you would like. I would do one. You would be great. If anyone put me in one, I would do it. You would love Broadway. I wanna do a musical just so I can do that thing

where the actors are like. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. But I want to do a musical just so I can do that thing where the actors are like... Hi! Hi! I can't believe I'm here. I love you so much. I'm so glad you're here. What the heck is going on? You've been avoiding me.

That's crazy. I don't know why you keep saying that. This is my new thing. I'm always gone until when I see someone I haven't seen in a while. I say you've been avoiding me like the play. You literally moved to the next level. I'm like, I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this.

I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to? I don't know why you keep saying that. This is my new thing. I'm always gone.

And so when I see someone I haven't seen in a while, I say, you've been avoiding me like the player. You literally moved to New York and I thought, here we go. And then you're like, and I'm leaving for six months. Yeah. Tomorrow. And then you're like back for a day and then I never see you again.

And you probably, I've got a couple of friends in New York, but I would say you're probably the one who was most like, let's go. Big time. When I said I was moving to New York, but I would say you're probably the one who was most like let's go Big time. When I was moving to New York, you were like it's fucking on. Balls out. I was so excited But mind you you're off doing fucking tours in Malaysia or whatever. That's true You piece the hell out for a while. I did piece the hell out for a while, but that's the joy of New York You know, it's like you come back together and you pick up your friends. Like I feel like LA that's harder to do Yeah, you can't like they're they're they're they pick up your friends. Like I feel like LA that's harder to do. You can't like they're gathered everywhere else.

Like I feel like here it's so small and you can just like pick your friends back up. Well, I feel like I'm in this, I've been calling it my apology tour. Yeah. Because I feel. And you're doing that by going, where the fuck have you been?

Where have you been? These apologies suck. That's my way of apologizing. And why have you been avoiding me? Yeah, I'm fully out of town. I'm fully out of town. When you're on tour, I don't know if you feel this way, but I just feel like persona non grata.

Like I'm like, I don't exist. I'm not a part of anyone's life. I'm bad at phone. And the few people I'm good at phone with, it's only painful because I'm like, oh yeah, cool that you're doing all that stuff tonight. I'm in Tulsa, you know? But I'm coming back and I'm trying to text everybody.

I literally, I was just in Kansas City for a week and I made a list of who I thought I could see while I was there. And of the people watching this that love me, some of you got left off and it's because I fucking couldn't do it all. But I was like, okay, here's the people I haven't seen in the longest, I think.

And then I was like running through, like it's like items. But this is like, this is who you are. Like you're actually a very good friend. And like, and because I know, sorry. This is that gotcha moment we were waiting for. Is it like, Caleb's a really good friend. And you want to be like a good friend to so many people.

But that, the dividends are paying out. Like you've already laid the groundwork. No one feels, I'm speaking for every one of your friends who I've met none of, but like no one feels abandoned by you. Like they know you're coming back, because you're a good friend. You have, so you also have a lot of, like you have a lot of people in your life

to try and keep up with. And you're gone a lot and you work a lot. I mean you're in fucking Smash on Broadway right now. You're doing eight shows a week. How do you manage all of it? Well, that's actually, like part of the draw of doing Smash is that I got to stay put for a little while because I can't go anywhere else, you know,

because we're doing eight shows a week and because the show might run for a while. And so it's like, I was kind of looking forward to not having to get on a plane every five seconds and just seeing what happens to my life when I'm settled a little bit and what more I can kind of invest in and get deeper in and stuff because you don't get that opportunity. Like steady jobs are so rare so I'm enjoying it. I'm taking it. It's funny we get a lot of comments on this show that are like, how does Caleb keep up with all that? And I'm like, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I try.

But you just meet so many people, you and I met doing a freaking pilot for a show that didn't go. Didn't go. We were in Portland. Which is like, yeah, it's like, I thought about this the other day too, because I was like, they should have just like held us all

and written a new pilot for the next year. Like they had like a murderer's row of comedians on that. And they had like Jake Lacey, we had Rachel P. Graham, we had Ali Maki. It was like bam, bam, bam. They should have just been like, okay, we're writing something else and keeping these kids on.

And you know what? But they didn't. It didn't happen. And I thought, I really, I did the classic thing you shouldn't do and of course I don't do it anymore. But I was so new. I remember like most of our first conversations

were me being like, I'm new to all this. Yes. And I started spending money that I don't do it anymore, but I was so new. I remember like most of our first conversations were me being like, I'm new to all this. And I started spending money that I didn't have. In my head, you know? Baby, I know. Thankfully I didn't actually spend it, but you look at that, you go, oh, if this goes to series, this is how much I'm making per episode. My number was not high.

But it was more money than I've ever made. And I was like, oh baby, I'm looking at it. I'm every night on Google being like, maybe I do care made. Yes. And I was like, Oh baby, we're talking. I'm looking at, I'm, I'm every night on Google being like, I, maybe I do care about luxury vehicles. Yeah. I never have before, maybe like I do like buying tigers. I want a tiger sanctuary at the house. Yeah. No, I know. I'm like, I've gone through so many of those failed pilots or shows that I've never had a TV series. It's gone past one season like and so I'm of like

On the third season. I'll start spending money like this is all Gathering for the you know for the feast and the family. This is the coffers exactly Exactly well people might not know about you. You're a big-time Broadway legend now. Sorry. Don't care if you don't like it You're a legend in my eyes great Someone who's never don't like it. You're a Broadway legend in my eyes. Great. Someone who's never seen me on Broadway. Doesn't matter. You're a Broadway legend in my eyes. Chance has seen me on Broadway. Chance has seen you on Broadway. But you, but I haven't been invited. You don't want me to come out. You tell me don't come around. The way he's winking. For those millennials who listen to podcasts, Caleb just winked at me. Guess what? It's a long way from Colby's Clubhouse. Oh my god

Okay, truly so much of like me coming here today is like what's Caleb gonna dig up on me? Tell me about Colby's Clubhouse 1995 to 2000. Oh, that's I think that's a little too long That might be incorrect. I think it's like 95 to 97 for you for the show ran that long I think the show ran I was young Yeah Listen who doesn't love Jesus? First of all first of all let's say that you're always saying that I am always saying that every time I see you're like Who doesn't love Jesus who doesn't love Jesus and you know they wanted it was a children's television show

Like a Barney esque thing with a singing computer. Which back then they were like the size of a room. It was a human-sized computer and there was a person in it. And we sang songs and taught kids about the good word. For Christ. Singing songs for Christ. And you're still doing that in some ways. Yeah, absolutely. I'm spreading the good word for Christ for Christ singing songs for Christ and you're still doing that yeah absolutely I'm spreading the good word that's gonna be the name of your biopic Chris Rodriguez singing songs for Christ

oh my god oh my god put him on screen Colby that's me where's Krista you're somewhere I've got very long hair and thick thick bangs are you in the pink down, that's me up there in the top right. No, the other, no, the keep going, right? That one with the bow in the corner. Oh my god! Top right. I love her!

We'll put that on the screen for the viewers. I really was, it really was a platform for me to shine as a performer. I was really there, you really there for the work. How did you prepare? Yeah, lots. Lots. I dropped in.

This is Actors on Actors. Yeah. No, really. The world was my stage at that point. Wherever the work was, I was going to give it my hundo-pee. You were living in the, was it the OC? Yeah, Orange County. The Orange County. And where you grew up. Yeah. And then how, you started

Broadway Young, right? Yeah, I was 19 when I got my first Broadway job. And chance play a lot of piece of music for me for no reason. 19? 19. And was that Adam's Family or no? No, no, God. I was old made by Adam's Family. No, it was a Beach Boys musical called Good Vibrations, which was a huge flop, like a notorious flop. And I was a swing, so I wasn't even on stage the whole time. And except for there was one day we take photos, like they had this photo call,

and one of the girls happened to be out on the day they were taking photos so I was on. So I'm in every photo with the bad reviews on top of it. And like in, I think it's like, I don't know which, it's like the daily news or something. It's me like on a surfboard like, yeah! And it says, here comes bummer on top of it. Yeah, so that was my Broadway debut.

And I was like, here comes bummer. It's you fucking cowabunga. You're like, hang loose. And I'm just like giving it, because I'm like, this is my chance. And yeah, it was no good. That was my debut. I went on with a half an hour's notice

for a role I'd never rehearsed because a girl was puking and they were peeling the costume off of her and putting it on me and shoved me on stage. And no one was there to see it. It was such a strange experience. And I was like, I really had literally come from Colby's Clubhouse,

Children's Theater, Broadway. I didn't do anything else. So I was like, Oh, this is high school, but with more money, but like no one really knows what they're doing more than they did before. Like the quality doesn't necessarily meet the level of like where you're at, where you think Broadway is going to be. So I really like, you know, Titus Burgess made his Broadway debut in that musical as well. In the Good Vibrations. I didn't know that. Shout out Titus. Shout out Titus. So like Amanda Klutz, who's now a big star too.

She was made her debut in that. So I kind of was like, this is kind of for the birds and I wasn't going to do it anymore. And then I got Spring Awakening and that was like the that changed it was in the same theater it was like two years later and that changed everything so I know our dear friend Gallagher and John Gallagher and yeah just sort of decided okay no this is this is now it that changed my life now Spring Awakening that's of course a musical it is a musical and you of course in it played, well you were spring. Yeah I was. You were spring.

Actually you know what's cool, so I was a swing again because they needed like covers because the show was already happening. But they let us be on stage so we were part of the show. And because we didn't have character names, they used our real names. So in the script and in the score, it's Krista. So people play Krista now for like decades. Oh my God, that's so fucking cool.

I play Krista in Spring Awakening. And then, yeah, it's a great musical, that actually I think you would like. Sorry, I know. I have a parasocial relationship with Caleb because I listen to the podcast and so you know That musicals are not top of my top of your list of things. I have a lot of respect for it I would do one you would be great if anyone put me in one I would do it

You would do you would love Broadway. I would I want to do a musical just so I can do that thing where it's like where it's like Where it's where the where the actors are like, ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. You know what I'm talking about? I wanna go over there. Ha ha ha.

Something like that maybe. Yeah, you could do that. I think I'd be good at that. Oh my God, honey. About breathing like that. Yeah, you have to. You gotta work from the diaphragm. But yeah, musicals, I just never got into them when everyone else was getting into them

And then I feel like I met all these cool theater people and now I have no frame of reference Yeah, when theater people talk to me it sometimes in this it sometimes you when you guys talk to me You say things it sounds like another language. Oh, of course. You're like, oh uncle David's wonderful coat. You've seen it Yeah, I'm like what? Of course uncle David. Yeah. I mean, yeah. I don't know what's going on half the time. It's okay. I know I had, um, my, my dear ex, um, was a muggle as we, as we call them. And, um, there was like one time I'm like with all my friends and like musical theater kids, we get really loud and we're just, you know, we're kind of annoying. Um, and we were talking about Patti LuPone.

And he was like, hey, why do I care about Patti LuPone? And I was like, I was like, shit, you know what? You don't care about Patti LuPone. And you don't have to. Forget it. It's fine. Is it gay guy? No, my ex.

Oh, your ex. So yeah. So hey, hey, we never know. Hey, we, hey, we've grown out of that, okay? As a musical theater girl, there's just no way, there's no getting around it. You're gonna need some game in I think you were with me than I well Yeah, I think you were with me the night that I almost got jumped in that gay bar because I didn't know who was it Oh God

Judy Garland yeah, I didn't know there was a picture of Judy Garland on the wall. I go I go I go woman on the wall. I go, I go, I go, I go, I go look at that beautiful woman. You mean Judy Garland? Yeah, but you were at Julius, honey. Don't come into Julius without knowing who Judy Garland is. No, I mean I know who she, you say Judy Garland, I go, I know who Judy Garland is, but you put an old picture of her on the wall. I don't know what she looks like. Old picture, hon. That is- From back in the day. Back in the day is her hey day. She didn't live that long. She was young. What's the what's you know what I know about Patti LuPone? Yeah. What's the one where she's like, um, that anything got that one where she sings really crazy? Just say that again. Anything

anything. Yeah, that's the name. Yes, called that? Yes, that's the title. What's that show where she says anything goes? What's the line right before that where she sings it so loud? Oh, God knows. God knows probably. Yeah, maybe. God, she can sing. She can sing. That lady can sing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. She's got the, she's got it resonating right up here. She's still here? Is that what it's supposed to be? Yeah, you want it? Well if you want to sing like Patti. Yeah, it's in the mask They call it. This is your mask. Oh, and you hit you hit the resonance Can you teach me? Oh, baby, if you want to sing like Patti LuPone, you have to feel it in here in your mask Yeah, okay. What if you want to sing like? Cynthia Erivo. Oh my god. Face still? No, that's good. You're going down You're like, honey, idiot, idiot. That bitch can sing from the depths. Who were your Broadway people that you were like, damn? Who were your Broadway heroes?

God, well, Sutton Foster was everybody's Broadway hero. Do you know anything about Sutton? Of course. Yeah, Sutton Foster. Oh, yeah. Yeah, big time. Was the Lion and Lion King and all that kind of stuff. Played taxi driver and taxi driver. Yeah. That's exactly right. Yeah.

Lots of title roles. Lions and Lion King. Taxi drivers and taxi driver. Let's see. Yeah. She was Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie, that was her big breakout thing. But I also came to New York when I was 13 and I saw eight shows in eight days. And so like everybody, I have pictures of me like sweaty at the stage door, just like red faced and thrilled with people that I ended up working with,

you know, and are my friends now. And like I went back through the photos, I was like, oh my God, that's Terrence Mann, who played my father-in-law in a musical. You know, so everyone was sort of my idol. And I remember what I loved about theater, when I saw that first show, I got tickets to this show called The Scarlet Pimpernel,

which is not a popular musical, but changed my life. And that's where I feel like, even if I'm in a show that's not like, you know, the hot show of the season, like it's someone's first Broadway show. It's somebody's like entrance into feeling sort of accepted and known somewhere. So I try to think about that all the time.

Like I've been in shows that have been called flops and people go, oh my God, it was my favorite show. It was my first show. But anyway, Scarlett Pimpernel was kind of like that. And there was this woman, Christine Andreas, who was playing the lead. And she came out and she was signing autographs and I was like so enamored by her.

And then she put like this, it was the 90s, a velvet like cap on, like a slouchy hat. And she went out into Times Square and she disappeared. And I was like, that's what I want. I never wanted to be like famous. I wanted to be really important to people for two hours and then no one cares after that. Like that, like the culture of Broadway was really why I wanted to be involved in it. The like the work of it sounded really fun and interesting. To me, it's objectively way cooler. Yeah, it's cool.

It's the coolest. As far as the entertainment industry goes, Broadway is the coolest thing. Yeah, of the least cool people. I mean, we're the outcasts. We're like the most outcasts, like in a fun way. Like we found each other, and that's cool. Yeah, I think it's so, and I love theater people.

I think, because theater people do care about process. Yeah, I think it's especially like right now when things like AI are putting out, you know, they can technically make something that has an outcome that maybe feels similar to good work. You know, the song or the script or whatever it put out might feel similar to something that someone actually worked on, but theater people have always been, in my life, the people that I'm like, oh, they're obsessed with actually doing this the right way because they care about doing it.

Like not just how it turns out, not just how the review is, not the way it looks at the end, but like the whole actual process of doing it. And I've always thought that was very cool. Well, you have to do it every day, and every day it's a new thing. So it's like, you're not just filming it and then someone's creating a performance thing so it's like you're not just filming it and then someone's creating a performance afterwards and edit like

you're doing it and every night it's gonna be different and the like you kind of like make an agreement with the audience like this is only happening today for this one time and it will never happen again and that's really I think cool yeah you were in high school directed you were in a show that's directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Yes. What was that, why, how, what occurred, what happened? I'm not really sure your confusion.

It's pretty straightforward. Yeah, it's exactly that, next question. Yeah, it kind of, so Francis Ford Coppola had like made all these incredibly deep and dark movies. He'd had like a very famous mental breakdown and wanted to just create stuff that he loved for his family. And Gia Coppola, his granddaughter, loved Gidget, the movie.

And so he decided to write a musical of Gidget, which is about this girl surfer in the 60s. And in order to keep it family forward and, you know, family forward and out of kind of the scrutiny of the public eye, he came to my high school, which was an arts high school in Orange County, to audition actual young people to workshop this musical. So I auditioned and I got the lead role of Gidget. And so I was like the star of this show and Dermot Mulroney came and did he played the big Kahuna.

So he and I were together, co-stars. And yeah, like, so he was around and he was best friends with Jan Aniston and Brad Pitt at the time. And he was at their wedding that summer. And we were just like, ah! Ah!

Ah! Like blowing our minds. Like we all thought it was so cool that friends from Coppola was there, but like we hadn't seen Apocalypse Now when we were 14, you know what I mean? So, but he was so fun and he, we didn't know him as anything other than like Uncle Francis

and he would like, he rode a scooter around campus, he took us to the beach, we like hung out, he threw us parties, like, you know, in like a cast party way, not like he wasn't like, partying with the kids. He was like, drink it up, kids. Yeah, he hosted lovely events for us. And Sofia Coppola was there helping direct,

and it was just like this family affair. Dermot and Catherine Keener were married at the time. Fun. She was there around. It was like this weird liminal space of the world where we all did a musical together and that was so insane. California is nuts.

California is so nuts. That's some California shit. Well it's there and like everyone in LA was like what's happening in Orange County? Because we were all in it. So like I was on the cover of the LA Times like it was a very crazy like everyone was trying to figure out what was going on with Francis Farr Coppola down there. And it just sort of, it never went anywhere, but it was really fun. Yeah.

You live with a couple of gay guys. I do. Which is so you. Yeah. I live with three gay guys, which is so me. There is some weird, like, cosmic mathematics where I am always the fourth in a female in a three gay situation. And I don't know why.

Not intimately, just pals. The other night I looked around and I was like, three gay men. I am always surrounded by three gay men. And they're not the same three gay men. I don't know what that is. It's you and any three gay men. I'm in a room with three men right now.

It's like, it doesn't have to be gay men. They're just three men are around me. I'm flanked. You're always flanked with people who might be men. Yeah. We never really know if they're gay or what their situation is. Might be a they in there.

Who knows? Absolutely. But there's going to be some people around like that. There's going to be some people around like that. Yeah. And yeah, I live with three gay men who I love dearly. It was sort of like a situation where, again, I spoke with my ex. I ended a relationship during the pandemic

and I was living by myself sort of very far away from my like, my support system. And one day, like an apartment came up and Michael sent me a text that was like, we should go look at this apartment, lol, like, ah, we should we move in together lol. It was a lot of like, there's no way this is ever gonna happen. And then we got the apartment and we were like, oh, fuck, are we gonna move in together? And so we were, it was still COVID, you know, we were Zoom, we had Zoom meetings to be like, what are our non-negotiables?

What are our like, and it was such a time of like, had to be like radical honesty and openness with each other. And you know, we started the Zoom being like, hey, end game is us for the rest of our lives. So like, if this doesn't work out, we spend any amount of money to get out of it. We like, we just, you know, I had not lived with roommates since I was in college.

Like, but it's very different. It's very, first of all, they have another house. So it's kind of like, it's their kind of city house. It's my primary residence, but we're not all there at the same time. Like tonight, I think we're all going to be there together at the same time. And it's so exciting. So it's not like, you know, we're not quabbling over who's buying toilet paper. Like we're adults who live in this house, but it's been so fun. It's just really changed my life. Also roommates with like, that's a little bit different where I'm living alone for the first time ever right now.

And I'm like really considering getting a roommate again in the fall just for like, there's like two friends I would consider doing it with who are travel as much as I do. I think that's a huge part of it. You need to be gone as much as I'm gone. You cannot be there all the time if I'm only there sometimes and vice versa. And who are kind of doing the same stuff where it's like, yeah, I need to be gone as much as I'm gone. You cannot be there all the time if I'm only there sometimes and vice versa. And who are kind of doing the same stuff where it's like, yeah, I want to be in a space where like, I don't want to be the only one thinking about toilet paper. I don't want to be the only one who's capable of showing up and making a meal for the house. I don't want to be the only one traveling in and out. Like as long

as we're on the same page, I think it could be cool. We're supposed to live in community. Like, you know, we're meant to. And like, I need help sometimes. And like, to have my friends there is really helpful. And like, to come home and Andy's got a martini ready and the dog is there and the record's on the record player, it's like, it's the best relationship I've ever had. You know what I mean?

Yeah. What is it with you and Gay Guys? I don't know. Why is this, what has happened? So I think... Were you bit by a radioactive or something? You've got something. Thank you for saying that. Yeah, you're welcome. No, I think I identify as a gay man. Like I think if I was ever gonna like Really like my pronouns are em in that way. Yeah, but like, um, I don't know what it is. Well, I think what I've learned is like, I didn't get married and have kids.

And like, who else, as a woman, like your female friendships become rarer as your friends get married and have kids. And especially when you live in New York and nobody can afford to live there. And so everyone's moving, they're going near their parents in Florida and Jersey and Tennessee, and then you're like, who can I go on vacation with?

Who has disposable income, like, excellent taste, and like, can meet me on the level where my life is? And it's, unfortunately, gay men. Yeah, unfortunately, you're stuck with us. Yeah. You're trapped with us. I'll take it. I'm thrilled, you know?

It's just, yeah, I've never been around, I myself am a gay guy. Yes. And I've never been around as many gay guys as anytime I meet up with you. It's like, you've got like a harem. We went for my 40th, we went to Mexico City. And I did invite women.

Like I did. I did. And I invited straight men. Who shows up for me, the gay men. Yeah. And it was me and five gay men. We added two on my usual group. And we were like hitting up Mexico City.

And we went to the like taco truck in the morning. And then we went to the Michelin restaurant at night for my actual birthday. And I'm like in the morning and then we went to the Michelin restaurant at night for my actual birthday. And I'm like in the bathroom and this woman, she's like, I think I saw you this morning at the taco truck. And I was like, oh yeah, do we have the same itinerary? She's like, well, you guys are kind of hard to miss.

And I was like. Cut to you guys in feather boas, fucking yeah. And I go, oh yeah, we're kind of a crazy group. She goes you and all those men They're gay they're all gay she goes all of them People think I'm getting like the hottest men you've ever seen. But I'm like just like every one of them is just like, kaka kaka kaka and like, you know, while they're at the taco truck, like, let's take Krista home.

Yeah, exactly. And I just think everyone thinks like, look, you're so intimidating. You're always surrounded by men. I'm like, if you can't tell that these men wanna get me laid as much as they do. That is so funny. We're all looking at, we're going after the same guys actually. Yes, exactly.

I was sitting with my gay friend on the train the other day and we were both checking out this guy and we were like, okay, Dodger's hat, like maybe that's for me. He's like, yeah, but really white shoes. Maybe that's for me. Like we're just sort of, you know. This broadcast is brought to you by Squarespace.

Squarespace is the all-in-one website platform designed to help you stand out and succeed online. Whether you're just starting out or scaling your business, Squarespace gives you everything you need to claim your domain, showcase your offerings with a professional website, grow your brand and get paid. All in one place, we all could use a good website

in this day and age, I tell you what. And Squarespace has so many awesome features to get yours up and running. Squarespace gives you everything you need to offer services and get paid. All in one place, from consultations to events and experiences, showcase your offerings with a customizable website designed to attract clients and grow your business. Get paid on time with professional on-brand invoices and online payments. Plus, streamline your workflow with built-in appointment scheduling and email marketing tools. I love email marketing and the tools that enable it. Get discovered fast with integrated Squarespace SEO tools. Every website is optimized to be indexed with

meta descriptions and auto-generated sitemap and more. So you show up more often on search engines and bring in more of your ideal customers. Head to squarespace.com slash show true for a free trial and when you're ready to launch, use offer code so true to save 10% of your first purchase of a website or domain. Today's episode is brought to you by Alma. Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high quality, affordable mental health care. Alma has built a community of over 20,000

diverse therapists. Therapists on the platform offer both in-person and virtual care. While online tools and resources can be a useful starting point or supplement, human relationships are an irreplaceable part of mental health care. Alma can help you find someone who will work with you on your specific needs and goals

and support you in making real progress and improving your mental health. Alma makes things real simple to find a therapist. Some people turn to impersonal online resources like forums or chatbots because they think finding a therapist is expensive and difficult. The directory makes it easy to find therapists that take your insurance and meet your unique needs with filters like gender, race, therapeutic approach, and more. Know the cost of your sessions upfront using Alma's cost estimator tool. At Alma, 97% of therapists accept insurance, including United, Aetna, Cigna, and more.

Better with people, better with Alma. Visit helloalma.com slash so true to get started and schedule a free consultation today. That's helloalma.com slash S-O-T-R-U-E. Good luck in New York. Checking it out, babe. All these guys are acting gay even when they're not. But also all these gay men are having sex with women now. Yes, don't I know it.

Honey, the whole world's gotten in a big damn hurry. What's going on? Everything's upside down. Left is right, right is left. Agreed, agreed. Every time I get coffee with a gay guy now, especially in New York, they're going, wow, you know I am. Yes. I slept with a woman. I, especially in New York, they're going, well, you know, I slept with a woman.

And I'm like, what is going on? I know. Fascism is winning. I know. Gay guys stay gay. I support it. I know you do. I'm like everybody, I'm just,

everybody do what they need to do at this point. I feel that way until it specifically comes to gay men. And I'm not talking about bisexual men. Let's get that out there right now. No, we're not talking about bisexual men. Card carrying, platinum homos, that are being like, what's in there? I wanna see.

Yeah, they're for the first time ever going after vagina. And I'm going, what's happening? My friend Issa Medina has a podcast and she texts me yesterday and goes, when you back in New York, do you wanna come back on my podcast and debate with me about, she does like a debate topic. She said, do you wanna debate with me about the validity of bisexuals? I said, she's bi. I said, leave me out of

this. I've had it. I've clarified my stance. I know. Well, you've already made quite a ruckus in the lesbian community. I've made waves in the lesbian and bi community too many times. I'm looking for peace. But yeah, gay guys, straight guys are acting gay, gay guys are acting straight. What the hell happened? What the hell? Listen, and I'm, you know, Andy and I talk about this, Andy's my best friend who I live with, and when we like, we'll walk the dog,

and we have what called straight privilege, is like, the doors are flinging open for us all of a sudden. I'm like, you're no longer a gay man, I'm no longer an unmarried 40 year old woman, like, we are now the future of America. You know? Like people are just. We are the ideal.

Yeah. They're just like, oh my God, thank God. Heterosexual people with dogs live in New York City. And we're like, baby, you have no idea what's going on here. But yeah, it happened with my other gay friend the other day when they walk around with us. We were in Brooklyn, furniture shopping. We had like coffees.

We bought like, we bought a bunch of chairs and everyone was like, where are these going? Do you have a dining table? Will your kids sit at this? Please, your kids. I was like, I'm literally making a fuck hut for my gay friend. Like, you know, that's where these chairs are going.

You know? Dude, yeah, it's, I don't know what's happened. Everyone's gay, everyone's, have you seen this, speaking of New York, have you seen this? I woke up yesterday to find on my Instagram feed. Well, the West village thing, the West village thing. Yes. What is this? Okay. They're going, Oh, the girls of the West village. Listen, they wear jeans and

two years ago there was like, Oh, straight women are doing poppers now. And I'm like, guys, these are not hot takes. Like they're trying to make something out of something. I'm like, white women have lived in the West Village now. That's a new, hello? Hello. No, this is like all of your friends complaining about how headgum is not easy to get to.

It took me nine minutes to get here today. Yeah, because I'm a millennial, babe, and we go where it's comfortable. And no, I'm just kidding. That was a, what's your fuck, Parker Posey. I'm just too old to be uncomfortable. No, you know, it's funny, cause like, when I moved to New York, my first dorm was at NYU,

it was in the West Village. And I was 17, 18 years old, like running around in the streets of the West Village. And it's taken me, you know me 24 years to be able to move back with three other people is how I'm affording to live there. And I look around and I'm like, who are these children? How are you affording to live there? And I go, oh yeah, I mean, it's always been young.

And yeah, I feel like they're trying to make a moment out of it. I don't care for that. But I think what I don't love as being a woman of age is like when people decide they invented something, like it's driving me crazy. This is happening a lot. They didn't invent the West Village, nor did I.

Gay men invented the West Village, frankly. And they, you know, everything we're enjoying is because of pioneers. And like, I don't know, I don't like to, and that's why I get like all bent out of shape about the like skinny jeans and side part. I'm like, girls, you know, you're gonna get to a point where you're just gonna wear whatever the fuck is comfortable.

That was such a loaded sort of in-stress girls, you know? Yeah. You just, you had, there was an energy of loaded sort of an stress girl. Yes. You know? Yeah. You just, you had, there was an energy of a million aunties in that. Yes, yes. Girls, you know?

Girls, you know? Just like you're about to. You're just, you think it's not coming for you and it's coming for you. Yeah. You're going to get old and it's OK. Yeah, it's aging is coming for many of you. Not me, but many of you are, yeah.

Best case scenario is we get old. It actually is. I really do. I was just thinking, I was talking to somebody, a kind of newer person in my life. Name them. Name them, name, name, name. But we were talking about getting older, and he was like, what were you like at 22 or something?

Yeah. And I was like, just insecure, uptight, intense, worried, I was worried. And I don't relate to any of those things now. And I'm like, how cool is it to get older? I was talking to my friend, I have a dear friend who's 25, and she was like, and X, Y, and Z, they're getting married and so and so.

I said, and they're getting a divorce, honey. I was like, you guys are 26. I was like, I said, and I really, like, with kind of some fury, like, had gunpowder behind it, was like, nothing about my life is the same as it was when I was 26. I don't have the same friends. I didn't even know Andy at 26.

I met him at that point. Nothing, I don't, my beliefs are not the same. Where I live is not the same. How I look is not the same. My body parts aren't the same. Like, there are so many things about me that are not the same where I live is not the same how I look is not the same my body Parts aren't the same like there are so many things about me that are not the same like I there's no a single Recognizable quality so like just live live and enjoy. It's like don't hold on to any of this. It's gone. Yeah, already gone Sorry Well you're talking about body parts being different

I was talking to my mom the other day I was in Kansas City and we were out to lunch and she was like, you know, all my girlfriends are getting these Like suppositories they put a little she has like hot flashes. Yeah, but they get specifically They cut a little slice in your butt cheek and put a suppository in there and then like stitch it up and that's yeah You do it every four months. Yeah Minipause. Yeah, and she was like, you know, everyone's, my friends are swearing by it, so I'm having an appointment to go and get it.

And she was like, it's not paid for by insurance. And my mom's very progressive, so she doesn't need these lessons. But I was like, you know, that's gender care, like that's hormones. That's gender affirming care. Gender affirming care. I talk about this all the time

because, you know, I had breast cancer. Yeah. And I had- Thank you, by the way. Yeah, yes, you're welcome. I did it for you. Thank you, yes. So you didn't have to. No, I just, I'm like, are we going into breast cancer

on the pod? I guess we are. Do it. But I, my surgeries were covered to have my reconstruction for gender affirming care. Like that, and nobody batted an eye. In fact, they're like, please have breasts. Yeah, God, please put them back. God, please, don't you fucking dare.

Put them on, put them on. Yeah, yeah, we can't look at you like that. She was, they're like, please have breasts. Yeah, God, please put them back. God, please, don't you fucking dare. Put them on, put them on. Yeah, yeah, we can't look at you like that. She was, well, I told her, I said that, and she was like, she was like, she was like, I know, I'm gonna say that to my friends. Yeah. You know, and I was like, it is, it's like all that stuff, like, my mom loves trans people,

doesn't need to hear any of that, but it's like, but yeah, it's like all that stuff, like it should be paid for, number one, number two, it's because you need it for health. If you're having hot flashes. Those are unbearable. You need help Oh god the menopause conversation honey. It's it's crazy. Yeah, and then no one cares No one cares and you know, but these fucking guys will Viagra is gender-affirming care hair plugs are gender-affirming care Yeah, I'm like all this stuff that these like Middle-aged, you know, sometimes like Midwestern and Southern people do.

But then they'll at the same time be like, well I don't want trans people in the bathroom. I'm like, we're all doing the same shit, you fucking weirdo. Relax, everybody's doing the same stuff. Everyone needs to relax. Everyone needs to relax. We all wake up and hope that we're making a living

and we're gonna have a nice day. We wanna have fun, we wanna hang out with our friends and family. Agreed. It's what everyone wants. Everyone. I just wanna start a political party that's like, everyone shut the fuck up. Yes. Shut the fuck up. Agreed. Is what everyone wants. Everyone. Can I just want to start a political party that's like, everyone shut the fuck up.

Yes. Shut the fuck up. Agreed. Relax. Relax. We need to figure some actual key things out. It's embarrassing. It's embarrassing to have a take.

It's humiliating. It's like, don't be worrying about anybody else. Also. Just do your shit. The immigration deportation thing, there's a million reasons that it's evil and crazy, but particularly I'm like, do you not feel like a loser being like, where are your papers?

It's like, what? Why do you care about someone's driver's license, you fucking freak? It's freakazoid behavior. Completely. I don't care about someone's papers. What are we talking about? What are we talking about? What am I, the fucking Gestapo?

Yes. I don't care. I don't work for these fucking people. We went down to, we were in Atlantic City a few years ago. Thank you. Yeah. And so that you don't have to. Yeah.

And they had this like t-shirt store and it was all these like raging Trump t-shirts that were like pro Trump, like get that woman out of office, you know, kind of shit. And we were like, should we buy some of these and just keep them in our closet in case we need to prove, like when it's all going down. Yeah. like t-shirts show us your t-shirts well there's this one I have an eagle you know ripping up the trans flag

during a closet tour for the Gestapo unboxing for the Gestapo my trip to Atlantic City where I bought pro Trump pro Pro Trump, paraphernalia. We're just like, can we keep them in a box in the back in case it all goes to hell? When it all goes to hell? Yeah. That's, Lisa Trager and I were chatting recently and I had gotten a, I got a dumb phone.

Don't worry, it's not working out. It's not working out. No, don't worry, don't worry. You can make fun all you want. Everyone has disrespected it. I'm not making fun, I'm not disrespecting. I'll never be at peace. No, don't worry. Don't worry. You can make fun all you want. Everyone is this respected it I'll never be a piece. I'll never be a piece. Everyone disrespected it. I already changed the number back Just forget it everyone just forget it. Did you have a dumb phone and not give me the phone number? Well, you have the number because it was my old number, but I okay you always have my number, but I got a dumb phone

Don't worry. It was a total failure. Why was it if I'm actually curious because I I'm not Disrespected me everyone disrespected me people refused people were so stupid people were texting me I'm getting 12 Instagram DMS a day from friends saying hey, I texted you but it's green So I think your number got shut off. No, it's just not an iPhone. So then I'm getting DMS It made my life infinitely worse. I was I'm not allowed to I'll just be on I'll just die on the phone I'll die on the phone. Yeah'll be addicted to technology like everybody else. I'll keep my eyes glued to the algorithm so Mark Zuckerberg can go on fucking Theo Von's podcast

and talk about colonizing Mars or whatever the fuck they're doing now. I'll just be a fucking sheep like everyone else. I'll be in the system. Fine, I'll watch TikToks until I fucking drool myself to death. Yeah. Fine, no dumb phone for Caleb.

No. But anyway, I was talking to Lisa. And she goes, you know, maybe I should get a dumb phone. Caleb. No, but anyway, I was talking to Lisa. Yeah, and she goes she goes You know, maybe I should get a dumb phone. I'm about to travel internationally and I go what's the correlation? She goes well, they're stopping people at the border now and checking their phone and I've said some really bad stuff on there And I was like, oh really? Yeah, I guess so. There I can go through your text messages and see if you've been anti-Trump Which is good. That's good. Yeah, I think that's a positive sign of a democracy Yeah, when the yeah when the president's allowed to check your text for hateful comments, totally come in and out of the country

Yeah, probably right for the best. Yeah. Yeah wants to keep us here for some reason. Yeah What's that about? Yeah folks I'm gonna be honest with you if Edie is getting you down You need him to get your confidence and other things back HIMS provides access to treatments that can help you stay hard and last longer so you can be ready whenever the mood strikes. HIMS is changing the healthcare industry by providing you with access to affordable sexual health treatments from the comfort of your couch. HIMS provides access to a range of doctor-trusted ED treatments like chewable hard mints and Viagra and Cialis and their generics for up to 95% cheaper. The process is 100% online, so there's no need for uncomfortable doctors visits.

Just answer a series of questions on their site and a medical provider will determine the right treatment option. It prescribed, your medication ships directly to you for free, no insurance is needed, and one low price covers everything from treatments to ongoing care. The future products include compounded products which are not approved for and are verified for safety, effectiveness, or quality by the FDA. Prescription required. See website for details, restrictions, and important safety information. Price varies based on product and subscription plan.

Bodied that. When was the last time you needed to go to a doctor but you pushed it off? You made an excuse like, it'll heal on its own, or I'm too busy, or maybe I don't even know which doctor to go to. I think we've all been there. Booking a doctor appointment can just feel so daunting, but thanks to ZocDoc, there's

no reason to delay. They make it so easy to find and book a doctor who's right for you. ZocDoc is a free app and website where you can search and compare high quality in-network doctors and click to instantly book an appointment. We're talking about booking in-network appointments with more than a hundred thousand doctors across every specialty from mental health to dental health Primary care to urgent care and more you can filter doctors who take your insurance are located nearby are a good fit for any Medical need you may have and are highly rated by verified patients Once you find the right doctor you can see their actual appointment openings

Choose a time slot that works for you and click to instantly book a visit Appointments made through ZocDoc also happen fast typically within just 24 to 72 hours of booking you can even score same-day appointments Stop putting up those doctors appointments and go to ZocDoc.com Slash so true to find an instantly book a top rated doctor today. That's ZocDoc.com slash so true ZocDoc.com slash so true. Zocdoc.com slash so true. I really had such high hopes for like my sanity this time around because I knew it was coming. Yeah, of course. And I was like, I'm just going to be chill.

I'm just going to be fine. And like, like six days I was like, like it cannot be chill. It sucks. I, it really sucks. I have some election. I have some disinformation I'd love to share on my platform. I think he stole the election. No. Yeah, I think he stole it. I do. He won by a margin in every swing state that is unbelievable and I don't believe it's never happened before. I think he

stole the election. I think that Elon did something to the computers. I'd love to spread that around. You guys clip this up. I think that they stole it. I think he stole the election I think that Elon did something to the computers I'd love to spread that around you guys clip this up yeah I think that they stole it yeah I think they stole it yeah I think Kamala wouldn't that be great I think Kamala actually won yeah she's actually the president yeah oh she's my president she's my president she's in office yeah you know what I love that you did oh god when you played Liza Minnelli in Halston yeah okay I loved that performance. Thanks, hon. I just thought you were brilliant in it. That's really nice. Did you? Did you? Was that like a dream? Well, how was

that? Yeah, totally a dream. Like I, I like very rarely. I'm happy when I get a part. I'm like happy to have the money and then have to do the job. Yeah. Yes. But it's also like, it usually means like canceling a vacation or some other job that you can't do or something, you know. And I've always had like anxiety around actually working. And for this one, like I wanted it so bad and I got it. Like that's so rare.

And for like a day and a half, it was like utter bliss. And then it was abject terror for the entire time I was doing it. It was so scary. It's pressure. It was so much pressure. I mean, listen, gay men, like my bread and butter. This is your community. I can't disappoint.

And also like, you know, the Broadway community and the people who like, you know, I'm gonna have to face a lot of people who have a lot of opinions about her. And I was so nervous, I was so scared. And we also shot, we shot one episode of it and then the pandemic happened. And so I had been training, I was like in all kinds of,

I was in dance class, voice and speech class, acting, I had an acting coach, I was doing dialect coaching, I had like, you know, getting fitted for color contacts. Like it was like, I was fully immersed. And then they were like, it's not happening. And I felt like you go to the grocery store with no cart and you're like, I can hold all these things, you know?

And then it was like, I just dropped them. I'm like, I don't know what else to do. And then it came back in September of that year. And I think that like time was actually so good to marinate on the things. And I honestly think like time was actually so good to marinate on the things. And I honestly think the show was better. I think like you and I's relationship was better. Like, and this is kind of like, you know, gets into the nerdiness of it.

But for the first episode, we're sort of like the beta versions of ourselves. Like I'm Liza before I meet Halston. He's Halston before he meets Liza. And when we came back for the second episode, it's when we have all kind of come into our heyday. And it felt that way. It felt like I remember seeing him and him seeing me on that first day of shooting when we came back

and being like, we're here, we've arrived. You're Halston, I'm Liza, and we're gonna like do this. And we just kind of settled into it. But it was really scary and I'm really grateful that people have been nice about it it. But it was really scary and I'm really grateful that people have been nice about it. Yeah, it was so good. No thanks.

That's so cool. Yeah, I adored it. I like wanted to do something really hard at that time. Now I don't really wanna work that hard anymore. But like at that time I was like bargaining. I was like, if I get this, I will do only this. Like I just wanted it so badly. And I dedicated myself to it in only this like I just wanted it so badly and I you know

I did the I did I dedicated myself to it in a way that you know, I wanted to do Yeah, that feels really good. Yeah. Yeah, I feels I feel similar I'm working really hard on something right now that should come out this year and I'm it's like I'm excited about how Horrifying it is. Yeah, I'm like excited about how horrifying it is. I'm excited about how difficult it is. I'm scared of it. And I'm like, it's nice. Also to be, there are times when I'm thrilled to be something that might fail,

be a part of something that might fail. I'd rather strap myself to the front of this and go down than kind of sneak around in the back and not be responsible for its success or failure. Sometimes you wanna just kind of be the reason something is. I feel that I learned, this is a lesson that I learned in the Human Resources, the Big Mouth Spinoff, my first writer's job, is I was so,

it was my first writer's room and I was so, I guess I was nervous about certain things, but I was like, as long as everyone understands that I'm here to write jokes, I'm fine. I can write jokes all day long. And anything else, like structure, format, story, huge, like large theme things, understanding how a room works, politics,

that's all stuff that I feel pretty equipped to pick up. But I was like, I am a little more nervous about that. And I am of course also nervous that if I don't do it the way they like it, that I'll never get a job again. That's part of it. But the big thing I took away from it was like, like it that I'll never get a job again. You know, that's part of it. Of course. But the big thing I took away from it was like, I think one of the, there were so many talented like accomplished TV writers in that room who just know what the fuck they're doing,

who have written a million episodes of TV. Yeah. And I really respected, respect to them presently. But I was like, one of their scripts was, I don't remember whose it was, maybe Victor Keenash or somebody like that, but one of their scripts was up first, and we as a room just like ripped through it. We just like redlined this and changed that joke

and this didn't work at the table and that didn't work at the table. There's a feeling of like, number one, that's all of our responsibility and work. We all worked on it, so it's all of our collective work that we're editing, and number two, it doesn't make the person who technically authored it's all of our collective work that we're editing. And number two, it doesn't make the person who technically authored it any less of a writer. This is the process. And it's a similar thing as like you're talking about like being in a project

that flops and like strapping yourself to the front of it. It's like I've seen plenty of actors, directors, producers, etc. that I deeply respect who have been involved in a project that wasn't for me or wasn't even objectively very good. And I've never walked away from it being like, oh, that person's a flop actually. I've just been like, oh, that thing wasn't great, but like, they're still great. Yeah, you have to always be like applying that to yourself.

You're just assuming everyone's going like, oh my God, how embarrassing for her, you know? And maybe they are, but also like most people are going like, yeah, that's, everyone has had a clunker, everyone. And also, yeah, I had that experience, I was doing a sitcom, and they were throwing new jokes at me. And I'm like, no, no, I can make this one work. And then I was like, why would I want to make a joke work

if it's not working? Like, why would, give me a better joke, let's do it. Let's have fun. So it's like, I try to keep that idea in the same way. I was just like, why wouldn't we want to rip apart the script and try to make it better? Why not? Why would you hold it so tight?

Yeah, why? But I'm a real tight holder. Listen, this is all bullshit. You have trouble loosening the grip? Oh, baby. I'm learning, but yeah. Just a real vice grip. Yeah?

Oh yeah. Do you think so? What are your biggest flaws? Oh my god. Oh my god. I mean, definitely that. A big need for control. Yeah. Yeah. Makes sense. Where do you think that comes from? What's that about? Is there a really scary, sad answer that we shouldn't actually get into? Yeah, there's probably a scary, sad answer. Yeah. Cool, well then we just won't do that. I don't really care. I have a better question for you than that. What's so true to you? Oh god, what's so true? You know, you watch the show. I do't really care. But you're right. I have a better question for you than that. What's so true to you?

Oh, god. What's so true? You know, you watch the show. You knew it was coming. I do. Actually, I listen. I don't watch. You don't watch?

No. Oh. I'm a listener. OK. That's good. That's still good. Yeah. Yeah, I know.

You could do both. Is that OK? If you what I would love is. Am I supporting you OK if I do that? Yeah. Just the audio comes out at midnight on Thursdays. Yes. If you could listen to the audio and then just put the YouTube

on in the back and let the ads run some other time, like when that comes out later, and do that a couple times a week for all the episodes, that'd be the best way to support it. We make good money off the YouTube. So if you could just run it. And if you're ever in a doctor's office or anything like that and you see that there's a YouTube option,

just put on my show on repeat. Anything like that's helpful. Okay. All right. Well, I got into podcasts because I wanted to be able to listen and keep walking. I didn't want to have to watch it. We love listeners. So I'm a listener. Listeners are news. Well, now I've wasted all my so trues on our conversation.

What? Yeah. You didn't save one? I guess I didn't. Well, we were talking about it. Like a hot take is embarrassing. Let's see. What is so true to me? You know what? We don't have to do this. I could cut this. But let me give you this. Since you gave away a lot of your general so trues, what is your Broadway so true? What is your so true about Broadway, Broadway shows, Broadway performing, Broadway culture?

Okay, I have a good take on this. It's kind of maybe uncouth, but just like I, what I, Broadway is a service industry with a high turnover rate. And that is something that we have to get used to. What do you mean about that? Shows are gonna close, shows are gonna run shorter than they're supposed to, that is the beauty of it. Like the ephemera of Broadway is why we're all there. It's why you pay a premium to be there is because you can't watch it over and over again. It's gonna happen once. So live capture things like stuff like that. I'm actually happy they're doing it

now. It's better than these sort of like shitty versions they were making and sending out because like people are making opinions on shows based on like a video of a show. It's not that's not the show. You're never going to be able to do that. You know, it's as if you were watching when you're on set watching someone film a movie, if you were like, that's the movie, that's not the movie. So I just love, I like, I'm a big advocate for the ephemera of it. And that like, there's a lot, every year in January, a ton of shows close and everyone bemoans the state of Broadway and arts and new work. And I am like, Cats was a new musical at one point. Like, you know, the, Cats was a new musical at one point.

Like, you know, The Music Man was a new musical at one point. Like, just because they become these, you know, huge juggernaut successes doesn't necessarily mean that we are not supporting new musicals. Like, we need room for everybody. And like, if you think about what your first Broadway show was, it was probably not Death of a Salesman, you know?

It was probably The Lion King. It might have been The Addams Family, which I was in. It might have been these shows that are sort of like what you might consider low-hanging fruit, but there's room for everybody. And shows will come and go, and that doesn't mean we're a bunch of plebes that don't understand the art form.

It means we're generating content in a service industry and we are trying to figure out the most amount of joy to the most amount of people. And I just think we need to like relax a little bit about that. But none of that makes any sense to you because you don't know anything about Broadway. I got it, I know everything about Broadway now.

I feel like I got a crash course from the true pro just the business of it I think we're in when we're artists We don't think about the business of it And I think like just lean into the business of it a little bit and be okay with that the business is the art Yeah If we're not running like a beautiful new show would never exist if another show didn't close So like you have to make room for so many there's only so many theaters Yeah, and and and enjoy that and I'll be sad when my show closes,

as it will one day. And you know we move on. Something new might come in and be beautiful. Yeah. Yeah. I, yeah, I, that's, that, um, that reminds me of like just the life in general. Like life in general is like things will end. Life itself of course will also end. Things end. Things come and things go. New things can sometimes only begin because old things have ended. Everything is not meant to stay the same. It's like what you were saying about talking to your 25, 26 year old friend or whatever. It's like, yeah, this is not, you will only make yourself sad hoping that good things last forever. Good things do not last forever. You will find a new good thing and you'll be like,

oh man, it would be cool if this one lasted forever. And it also won't. Yeah. It's like the new good thing is around the corner. The old good thing is behind you. You gotta just fucking keep it moving. Yeah. Yeah, it's so true.

Ah! Ah! You know, there is a joy. Someday we should make a compilation of the number of times. Most people don't recognize when they do it. But the number of times that people organically say the name of the show. Well, you picked a good title, babe We did we did pick a good title, but I love when it happens. I know I love when it happens

It's so great. It'll happen to me sometimes when people are talking to me. Yeah, and I'm like, oh, yeah, that's fun And they don't notice they're just talking but I'm like, I like do you say it all the time? Are you embarrassed if you say it? I get humiliated when I say it now. Yeah, I'll be like talking to someone, I'll be like, oh my god, that's so true. And then I'll be like, ugh, it feels hack when I accidentally do it. Yeah, but you created it. It's the name of the show because I talk like that.

Exactly. Yeah, there were a lot of, all the names, ideas for the show when we were. Yeah, give me some of the. They were like, just a bunch of gay little, it was like no totally. It was like, it was like, it was like completely, like just calling the show completely. It was, there was a bunch of gay little, it was like no totally, it was like completely, just calling the show completely. There was a bunch of them.

But they were all just gay little phrases that mean nothing outside of the context. And that's how it should be. Yeah, that's how, gay out of context. Gay out of context, another good one. Yeah, exactly. What, if you had a podcast, what would you name it? What do you think?

Well, Andy and I wanted to start a podcast, and I think we should now, because really, people are wanting to do podcasts more than they wanna be on TV shows anymore. It's such a different world. It's more stable. Yes. Crazy enough.

We wanted to start a podcast about aging in the industry, because we both started the business as sexy kids, and then what happens when you grow like an adult and what you do, and like kind of the craziest things we've done to our face to like try to be young or kind of like, you know, the supplements we've taken or whatever. And wanted to interview like girls that had played Annie who are now like 28, you know, like what's that like,

you know, growing in the business. And the title was My Lines. My Lines, yeah, yeah, yeah, like, what's that like, you know, growing in the business. And the title was My Lines. My Lines. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love that. Like your lines, your reading lines, but also your lines. Yeah. And we recorded like two episodes and we never did anything with it. So we will now. Please bring it back. Yeah. Please make it happen. We just do it at our house before we live together. I have an opposite thing where I'm actually I feel deeply that my acting career is fine.

I get stuff here and there. And I like the things I've been able to be a part of. But I deeply feel that my 40s are probably where it's at for me. And I feel that I'm like, I'm kind of like, every time I see a sign of myself getting older, I go, thank God. Yeah.

Work-wise. And I know that most people feel the opposite, but I'm like, I have never, like traditional ideals of beauty have never been attached to my body Yeah, by virtue of being fat and so I'm like fucking bring it on. Yeah, I think I'm gonna eat down in my 40s I feel like that like as a like a woman that's Experience is so insane because like and people will tell you this but you don't really know it until you're in it It's like as you get older

I'm like more powerful than ever and people couldn't care less like it's like I have I get less interest the older I get and I'm like y'all don't even fucking know like I'm I could run this joint like I have so much more experience knowledge confidence like you know fire like I just totally understand things in a way that I didn't before. And people are like, cool, yeah, you're gonna, you know, you're not useful to society anymore. Thank you. And like, I'm hoping that changes. But I feel like there is this dead zone of like, the Alice and Janies who are going to like be great in their 30s, disappear in their 40s, and then like show back up in their 50s

being, nailing it. There is this dip here in this age where you either kind of amass all of your power and then come back stronger than ever or you just kind of go, yeah, that wasn't for me. So we'll see what happens. I've talked about this a little bit, but there's something interesting that my friends who,

my friends or acquaintances who when we were you know in our teens or early 20s That had social capital based on their appearance Yeah, that that now as we get a little bit older because some of them were maybe a little bit older than me Yeah, a little bit older than me now That that capital is disappearing. Yeah, and it's a really hard thing for them to manage. And I feel this opposite thing where I'm like, I'm getting, my thing is like accruing. I'm getting better and better because my thing has always been based on my personality

and my mind and my whatever. And so it's this funny thing where I'm like, I feel so excited about aging and so unconcerned about my appearance because it's never been en masse something that anyone was interested in. I think I'm I'm not down on my I think I'm so hot and plenty of people, you know, I might that's all fine Yeah, but I'm just saying in mass traditional standards wise people do not like fat people that our society does not like fat people We have very specific ideas about what fat people are

I fucking posted a picture of myself on a bike ride with my friend yesterday, or the other day. And, or I'll talk sometimes, I've talked on this podcast before about liking going on long walks. And people will comment or DM me the craziest shit, being like, you know damn well you don't go on walks. And I'm like, what is your opinion of,

you think fat people don't walk? Honey, look at my legs. They're chiseled of stone. Like, of course I'm walking. Are you insane? I'm also your New Yorker, honey. I'm like, it just doesn't, yeah, they think that the conceptions that societally we have about fat bodies

are, they don't bother me anymore, but they are, it is objectively, percentage-wise, more in the camp of negative. And I just think when you, and it doesn't have to be fatness, but when you don't have access to, like I've been desired, but I have not been desirable. Capital D desirability as it's prescribed to us

as we all like suffer under the boot of this like ideal of like the ideal body and the ideal beauty that strangles all of us, it strangles women, it strangles men as well, although a lot of us don't take time to think about that. It's just patriarchy we package, but the way that that suffocates all of us, if you're used to suffocating under it more visibly

and more constantly, as age adds onto the pile and as ability goes away as you get older or whatever changes, you just don't have as hard of a time dealing with it as people who had fewer of those obstacles. Sure. Do you know what I mean? I do know. If you're conventionally beautiful when you're 20, yeah, it's like twink death. It's like if you're conventionally hot and everybody wants to fuck you when you're 20, and all of a sudden you're 32 and the club fits aren't hanging the same on the frame. Totally. Now all of a sudden you're kind of

staring down mortality and going, what am I? Totally. And it hits different. It totally is. Yeah. And I had this observation the other day, because I'm like single and I was like, I don't know a lot of women in their 40s who are just like falling in love. Like, because we're just a little too smart now. But like, men in their 40s are falling in love. I have so many of my friends in their 40s who are finding great loves, and I'm like,

oh yeah, because they're all dating 26 year olds. No one's even looking over here, because they're just like, yeah, you got our number. You don't wanna, they don't wanna be seen or perceived, I guess. Well, part of it's malleability. I think part of the reason that older men are so attracted to younger women other than,

is, sorry, a lot of the older men who are attracted to younger women, they want them to be as close to looking like children as they can. And that is reality. We have a problem. But there's this other component of it that isn't always that.

That's like, you've built a life that you like. You're successful in your job. You oftentimes own a home that you live in alone, you have a dog that you love, and an older woman is gonna come in and call you on your shit and hold you to account and be a fucking adult partner to you. It's nice to have, I understand the psychology of being like,

oh, how about this malleable young person who doesn't have ideas and is just charmed by my house and my wonderful life I've built for myself? Well, they can be the big, yeah. They can be the big guy. And it's obviously humiliating in a different way for them. But yeah, you get it. Yeah, absolutely.

An older woman who has her shit together is intimidating. Well, exactly. Intimidating is the, that's what, you know what's so fucking true to me? Yeah, come on. I hate the word intimidating. Oh no, I know you do. I know you do.

Holy shit. Someone was like, well, you're intimidating. I said, well, I'm only getting more intimidating. So get on now, or you're way out in the dust. And also just like, I have heard it so many times, and it offered to me like a dog giving me a dead bird, as if it's like the gift that I want. Well, congratulations, they're intimidated by you.

Honey, you're so intimidating. So you'll never know love, you know? And I'm like, fuck you for weaponizing my, who I am inherently against me as a reason that I cannot be loved by somebody. Because I own a home? Like, what the fuck? I would love to use this opportunity to put out an all call,

but the reality is, who you're looking for is not listening to this show. I'm just thinking like, single straight guys that are in their 40s are probably, this isn't the forum for you to reel in. Listen, my loves don't have to be in my 40s, they just need to be chill with me being, you know, in charge. So maybe there's a straight guy out there

who's interested, guys, hit Krista up. Yeah. Or hit me up and I'll source. Yeah, please. Don't go straight to Krista, she's busy. Come to me and I'll decide who's worthy. I start sending you. I would love that. I send you like three resumes a week. I want to do like zero work on this. Like 32 insurance brokers, stable. Seems like he has, yeah, he's got a Roth IRA. You think guys with Roth IRAs listen to your podcast? I would take that. There's probably a couple. Yeah. You

know, I do have a weird, I've mentioned this before, but most of my fans are who you would expect. Like most of my fans are lesbians, non-binary people, gay men. You know what I mean? It's like, that's the crew. But then every once in a while, I would get approached on the street by a backwards hat, baseball jersey wearing,

just like, dude, I love your shit. And I'm like, ha! I'm like, thank you, thank you, but whoa. Did you all see Cole Escola doing the straight person impression on Cole Bear? No, but I want to cry. Oh my god, it was so funny.

They seemed insecure about the thing, but it was so good. And they're like, you just have to like, you just like, don't move your mouth. You just like, don't enunciate. It was really fucking funny. You got to watch it. Yeah. It was really fucking funny. You gotta watch it. It's really great. It reminds me of a joke that I saw Mateo Lane do once

back when I was living in, we were not friends yet. I went to a Mateo Lane show as a fan when I had moved to Brooklyn for like a summer internship. And I saw Mateo with this bar in Brooklyn and he did this joke where he was like, he was like, yeah, I had to get a voice coach because I'm auditioning for this role and he's a high school football player.

And like, if I play him with my current voice, he's gonna have a secret. And I just, I thought thating for this role. He's a high school football player. And like, if I play him with my current voice, he's gonna have a secret. And I just, I thought that was so fucking funny. I love Cola Scola. Oh, the best. Have you seen O'Mary? Of course I've seen O'Mary. Okay, all right, good.

I also saw Betty Gilpin do it. Really? I saw O'Betty. Oh fuck. And I gotta go see Titus do it as well. O'Betty and O'Titus. You need to get the Triple Crown. Oh babies, it's so great. I just think I have long thought that Cole is one of the defining comedic voices of our generation.

And Omeri for me was like this, I mean I literally could cry, I'm so proud, I'm just so proud. I think Cole is a genius and I'm so, it's in an industry that is like often so fucking brutal and annoying and like, I just find, so many things happen in this industry, I just go fucking brutal and annoying and I just find, so many things happen in this industry, I just go, why the fuck am I a part of this? And then someone as brilliant as Cole

makes a work as brilliant as they're capable of and it gets the support that it deserves and they get the love that they have earned. And then you go, at least that. Fuck, that's awesome. Well, it was so thrilling when seeing it the first time because I saw it off-Broadway, seeing somebody doing what they are perfectly capable of do like the thing they wrote that only they can do

It's like it's just such an exciting moment to watch that kind of coalesce But I have a little fun fact about Cole on the television series smash, which I was a part of there's a number that I do like one of the big numbers where I'm like hanging from acrobatic silks from the ceiling. And there's like a little cutaway where a scene happens where Jeremy Jordan goes into a coat check to like steal someone's coat

and Cole is the coat check person. No, Cole! Yes, and it was like, I think their TV debut or something like that, our show runner Josh, like knew of them from other avenues. But anytime people watch Smash, every time they like watch that number, they're like, cool, it's cool, that way, oh, cool.

It's like, no lines. I don't think they have a single line. They just shake their head. It's like so funny. Some don't need it. Some don't need it. Yeah, I love Omiri. I saw it at Wuseel Yeah, yeah, it's a

hotel. What was it? It's the Lou. I can't I'm Lucille Lortel theater theater. Yes, I saw it there. Yeah. And I need to go. But I want to go back and see it. That was maybe the other one that was on my list. Well, I'm going to take you to maybe happy ending. So when you decide to go, we'll go together. Let's go. And then, because I like taking friends to it. Let's go.

Yeah, it's on my list of shows I need to see right now. It's so exciting. And then when Col comes back, or when Titus comes back, I mean, we'll go see O'Mary again together. We should go see Broadway together. I would love that. Is there anything you wanna plug, tell the people about? Yeah, I mean, definitely come see Smash, the musical.

If you were a fan of Smash, the TV series, it's a very different version of the show. It's a comedy, it's like an all out farce. It's really silly and fun. And we got some great dancing, all the songs you loved from the show are in it. I am sort of representing the Deborah Messing role from the television series. I wear a lot of scarves if you were a fan.

You'll recognize those. And you know, Caleb, about the scarves. You know, yeah. You go to bed thinking about them. Well, that's just, yeah, when I think about Smash, I'm like, well, it's a scarf show. Totally. Honestly, if people ever ask you about Smash

and you say that, people will think you know about Smash. If you were like, well, the scarves, they'd be like, yes, yes! Scarves! And guess what, Krista? You're not getting out of here without doing this. I'm so nervous. You thought. No, I was excited. I want 50 US dollars.

Krista, you know what's going to happen. I'm going to read you 15 statements. You're going to tell me as quickly as you can if you think they're true or false. If you get 10 or more correct, we're gonna give you 50 US dollars. I'm gonna go as fast as possible. I'm gonna try because it drives me crazy when people take their time and show their work. That's a real listener.

Yes. That's a real listener. He says as quickly as possible. See, I told you I'm a gripper. Yeah. Are you ready? LeBron James is seven foot tall. True. False, six, nine. Kraft Mac and Cheese came out in 1937 true true The longest hiccup attack ever recorded lasted 68 years

True true a little shop of horrors never won a Tony true true Earth's rotation is speeding up False false it's slowing down a shrimp's heart is in its head true true. They never made a sequel to Independence Day false false They made one in 2016 Pepto Bismol was originally blue. False. False. It's always been pink. Jeremy Jordan's full name is Jeremy Michael Jordan. True. True. Ancient Romans used to drop a piece of toast in their wine for good health. True. True. The sixth largest mall in the US is Burlington, Vermont. Sixth largest what? Sixth largest mall in the US is in Burlington, Vermont. False. False. It's in Costa Mesa, California. Lorde is from England. True. False. I mean. False, she's from New Zealand.

They these days, we'll have to check in. The drowsy chaperone opened in May of 2009 on Broadway. 2009? False. False, May of 2006. NYU's mascot is a bobcat. False. It's true.

Well, I'll fight you on that, but go. Ha ha ha ha! Sutton Foster was a state champion tennis player in high school. False. False, how'd she do? 13. Ben, you're thinking 14 False. False. How'd she do? 13.

And you're thinking 14 maybe. What was the NYU Bobcat? We're really the violets. There is no like, we don't have sports teams so we're not really Bobcats. Look into it. Well he wrote them so he's in big trouble here. So it's the mascot is a person, I've got it right here for you all to see. The mascot is an individual, if this will load.

Hey, was that pretty good? That was unreal. I don't know that that's common. It's not only uncommon, that was unreal. That was crazy. That was crazy. I'm giving you 14. I'm counting it.

OK, because weigh in, NYU kids, because I remember the Bobcat kind of being like a joke because we didn't have a mascot. It was like, we're the bobcats, but we're like the violets. See the NYU violets up at the top there? Yeah, I want NYU kids, this is the first and last time I'll ever say this, but NYU kids, I wanna hear from you.

Yeah. Yeah. Hey, there's a first and last time for everything. NYU kids, I wanna to hear your opinion. I would have said true, but I thought, oh, this is one of the trick ones. But what was the, I got a trick one wrong. What was it? Oh, what did you miss?

Oh, six, nine, seven foot. Come on. Oh, you missed LeBron James. Come on. That's not even fair. Like I, if I know Sutton Foster facts, you think I know how tall LeBron James is. Yeah, it's not fair. Those two don't intersect.

It's not fair. Krista, we love you. I love you. ThisBron James is. Yeah, it's not fair. Those two don't intersect. It's not fair. Krista We love you. I love you. This is so fun. Thanks for doing it. I never thought I'd see the day. An all-timer I love it. An all-timer with Krista Rodriguez. I want that 50 bucks. You're gonna get it. You're gonna get it. I'm coming. You and Trixie Mattel will get your cash. I love ya. Love you. Thanks for doing it. That was a HeadGum Podcast. Hi, I'm Jessi Klein. And I'm Liz Feldman, and we're the hosts of a new HeadGum Podcast called Here to Make Friends. Liz and I met in the writer's room

on a little hit TV show called Dead to Me, which is a show about murder. But more importantly, it's also about two women becoming very good friends in their 40s. Which can really happen, and it has happened to us. It's true. Because life has imitated ours. And then it imitated life.

Time is a flat circle. And now. We're making a podcast that's about making friends. And we're inviting incredible guests like Vanessa Barrett. Wow, I have so much to say. Lisa Kudrow. Feelings, they're a nuisance. Nick Kroll.

I just wanted to say hi. Matt Rogers. I'm like on the verge of tears. So good. So good to join us and hopefully become our friends in real life. Yeah, take it out of the podcast studio and into real life. Along the way, we are also going to talk about dating. Yep. Spousing. True. Parenting. Uh huh. Careering. Yeah. And why we love film and Louise and it's the greatest movie of all time. It shouldn't

need to be said. No, it's sweet said. It's just a true thing. So please subscribe to Here to Make Friends on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And watch video episodes on YouTube. New episodes every Friday. Hey, Gorge. It's me, Got Mik. And me, Violet Tchotchke. And we want you to listen to our podcast. No, Gorge. Now on HeadGum.

Each episode, we will be bringing you vlogs, answering burning questions, discussing what's going on right now, and diving into all things fashion, hookups, gossip, and more. With past guests such as Heidi Klum and Deedee Von Teese, KnowGorge always keeps things hot. Listen to KnowGorge on your favorite podcast app or watch full video episodes on YouTube. New episodes every Thursday. Bye Gorge!