It's Open with Ilana Glazer

After the U.S. Midterms 2026, now known as the Blunami, Ilana unpacks the last 10 years (and really, 407 years) of fascism that have led to this moment. The U.S.’s spectrum from fascism to democracy for different kinds of Americans, at different times in history, has become exposed. And now it is so transparent, so obvious, that the veil has lifted, and Americans are making the country what it always purported to be: a country for the people and by the people. Looking ahead, it’s time to step on the gas for progress!Host: Ilana GlazerProducers: David Rooklin, Amanda Jane SternVideo: Lexa KrebsAudio: Nicole MaupinLighting: Kevin DemingCamera/Sound: David RooklinEditor: Tovah LeibowitzGraphics: Raymo VenturaArtwork: Andrew BrischlerAll Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod

In Season 1 of It’s Open, we had the privilege of hosting Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, aka AOC. She and Ilana talk about how, when being sexualized as Millennial teenagers in the early-2000s by full-grown men, their instincts were correct: this is not normal, and decades later, revealed itself to be connected to the dark truth of the Epstein files and worldwide child sex trafficking rings. We see here how the casual trauma of these constant occurrences stayed with both middle-aged Millennial women, and while it may have been processed and understood, the feelings of those experiences never went away. 

Ilana sits down with renowned NYC-based national touring stand-ups and longggg time comedy buddies Nimesh Patel and Mookie Thompson to reminisce hard about the good ol’ days coming up as young comics in the Brooklyn and Manhattan comedy scenes of the 2010s. Celebrating the Netflix release of Nimesh’s fourth full-length comedy special BUY THE DIP, directed by Mookie, the group confronts getting OLD (aka middle-aged), the liabilities of Long Island, and Indian Americans on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Come on in, it’s open!Host: Ilana GlazerProducers: David Rooklin, Amanda Jane SternHead of Partnerships: Deanna SpinaleVideo: Lexa KrebsAudio: Nicole MaupinLighting: Kevin DemingCamera/Sound: David RooklinEditor: Tovah LeibowitzGraphics: Raymo VenturaArtwork: Andrew BrischlerOutro Music: Don HurAll Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod

Texas Senator James Talarico & Ilana Glazer talk about how faith is a practice, not something that just happens. And when you practice hope, a higher power starts to emerge — however you see it, whatever you call it — that deepens a person’s love for the people. This practice of hope, faith, & trust is what feels like the foundation for the Blue-nami of the Midterms 2026. Love won this election season, and now, the real work can begin.

Washington State Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is one of the realest elected officials out there right now. Currently serving her fifth term, she’s an immigrant who came to the US at age 16 all by herself, and, when elected in 2016, became the first Indian American woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. The congresswoman led the wave of progressive fighters 2 years ahead of AOC’s 2018 election, and is an OG member of The Squad. Japayal is a leader on immigration reform, Medicare for all, income equality, expanded labor/union rights, and LGBTQ+ equality. She’s been working with the survivors exposed by the Epstein Files, and she speaks to all of this with working class normalcy; she makes sense to the average American. Join Ilana and the Congresswoman as they look at the meaning and spirit behind today’s democratic socialism movement, the trauma of the January 6th insurrection, and the incoming wave of progressive fighter candidates swelling across the United States. Rep. Jayapal is a true patriot who leads Americans to claim our power. The power is still in the hands of the people! Come on in - it’s open!BROOKLINEN — Use code ILANA at checkout to receive 15% off your order at http://www.brooklinen.com Host: Ilana GlazerProducers: David Rooklin, Amanda Jane SternHead of Partnerships: Deanna SpinaleVideo Producer: Lexa KrebsAudio Producer: Nicole MaupinLighting Director: Kevin DemingCamera/Sound: David RooklinEditor: Tovah LeibowitzGraphics: Raymo VenturaArtwork: Andrew BrischlerOutro Music: Don HurAll Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod

Today, Ilana sits down with her brilliant and dear friend, Erica Chidi. Erica lives, works, and creates at the intersections of human health, culture, and technology. She is a full-spectrum doula, the co-founder and former CEO of the digital sexual and reproductive health platform LOOM (acquired by Perelel Health in 2024), author of NURTURE: A MODERN GUIDE TO PREGNANCY, BIRTH, EARLY MOTHERHOOD—AND TRUSTING YOURSELF AND YOUR BODY, current SVP of Brand & Editorial Content at the digital media platform Refinery29, and the creator of her new YouTube series BODIED.With great care, Erica and Ilana look at sexual violence in America, the neglect of our country’s mothers at the institutional level, the denial of postpartum mental health disorders, and the surging interest in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for women. They also discuss sleep hygiene, the mistake of giving “basic bed”, the addictive malaise of context switching on TikTok and Instagram, and how AI-doomerism is misogynistic, uncreative, and just dumb! Come join the conversation, it’s open.RITUAL — Visit http://www.Ritual.com/ILANA to save 25% on your first month!Host: Ilana GlazerProducers: David Rooklin, Amanda Jane SternHead of Partnerships: Deanna SpinaleVideo Producer: Lexa KrebsAudio Producer: Nicole MaupinLighting Director: Kevin DemingCamera: Greg MurthaEditor: Tovah LeibowitzGraphics: Raymo VenturaArtwork: Andrew BrischlerOutro Music: Don HurAll Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod

Today on It’s Open, Ilana is joined by the sensational, the trailblazing, the thought leader and activist: Miss Peppermint. She was the first openly trans contestant on RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE, the first trans woman to originate a lead Broadway role for the musical HEAD OVER HEELS, is an Out Magazine’s Out100 honoree, and Pep is the biographical subject of the documentary film A DEEPER LOVE: THE STORY OF MISS PEPPERMINT. We are so proud of herrr. Peppermint and Ilana get right into it, unpacking genocide as a framework and how the current power structure simultaneously oppresses the underprivileged and represses the privileged, leading to this universal state of deprivation. They confront the reality of the genocidal frameworks against Black Americans on which our country was built and that continue today and how, on the other side of the same structure, living beyond the gender binary is a common phenomenon across the world and one that empowers individuals and their communities, alike. Come join us, it’s open!BROOKLINEN — Use code ILANA at checkout to receive 15% off your order at http://www.brooklinen.com Host: Ilana GlazerProducers: David Rooklin, Amanda Jane SternHead of Partnerships: Deanna SpinaleVideo Producers: Lexa KrebsAudio Producers: Nicole MaupinLighting Director: Kevin DemingCamera: Greg MurthaEditor: Tovah LeibowitzGraphics: Raymo VenturaOutro Music: Don HurAll Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod

Joining us today is the brilliant, noble, and hilarious Jennifer Welch — co-creator of the breakthrough political and cultural podcast I’VE HAD IT, which disrupted the political media landscape, amassing over 4.5 million followers across platforms with razor-sharp, unfiltered, anti-authoritarian critical commentary, first broadcast from the “Buckle of the Bible Belt”, Oklahoma City! Jennifer talks with Ilana about the Bible Belt’s disturbing obsession with sexual chastity and purity culture, the hypocrisy of evangelical atonement, and how these misguided patterns have led to morally corrupt, sexually repressed politicians. Jennifer unpacks the false narrative from the Right that un-learning capitalist conditioning and standing up for human rights is somehow political “radicalization”. They discuss Jennifer’s hit YouTube channel, brand new book NOT TODAY, FASCISTS, her triumphant move to New York City, and how we are actually winning the culture wars. Come on in, it’s open!GROUND NEWS — Go to www.groundnews.com/open to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan and unlock worldwide perspectives on the stories shaping our world.RITUAL — Visit http://www.Ritual.com/ILANA to save 25% on your first month!Host: Ilana GlazerProducers: David Rooklin, Annika Carlson, Amanda Jane SternConsulting Producers: Madeline Kim, Kelsie Kiley, Glennis MeagherHead of Partnerships: Deanna SpinaleVideo Producers: Lexa KrebsAudio Producers: Nicole MaupinLighting Director: Kevin DemingEditor: Tovah LeibowitzGraphics: Raymo VenturaOutro Music: Don HurAll Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod

Anointed by Rolling Stone in 2017 as one of the 20 greatest stand-up comedians of ALL TIME, our guest today has released 12 highly acclaimed stand-up comedy specials including his most recent Drop Dead Years in 2025, has trail-blazed the podcasting genre since the launch of his Monday Morning Podcast in 2007, continues to add outstanding TV and film performances to his credentials from roles in Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian, to this year’s highly anticipated The Social Reckoning, and made his Broadway debut in the 2025 revival of Glengarry Glen Ross. Please welcome the humble, the heroic, the brilliant: Bill Burr.Ilana and Bill discuss his upcoming cinematic role as a fictional moral compass in The Social Reckoning, and how acting helps him to personally unlock emotions long since buried “way out in the Atlantic”. Further, Bill shares about returning to an analog way of life, letting go of anger as his primary emotional driver, and the sensibility of looking and acting one’s age. Come on in, it’s open.GROUND NEWS — Go to www.groundnews.com/open to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan and unlock worldwide perspectives on the stories shaping our world.Host: Ilana GlazerProducers: David Rooklin, Annika Carlson, Amanda Jane SternConsulting Producers: Madeline Kim, Kelsie Kiley, Glennis MeagherHead of Partnerships: Deanna SpinaleVideo Producers: Lexa KrebsAudio Producers: Nicole MaupinLighting Director: Kevin DemingEditor: Tovah LeibowitzGraphics: Raymo VenturaOutro Music: Don HurAll Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod

Today on It’s Open we are joined by one of the most popular and influential creators of infant, toddler, and early childhood educational content in the world today—with over 21 million subscribers, and over 17 billion views on YouTube—it’s the one-and-only Ms Rachel!Ilana and Rachel’s burgeoning friendship brings them together as they connect deeply about standing up and speaking out for the safety and human rights of ALL children, how compassion is awesome, and the “empathy trap” is nonsense. They also explore their respective journeys coming to understand, treat, and ultimately celebrate their personal expressions of neurodivergence. And finally they share their love and fascination with the wonders and joys of motherhood. Come on in, it’s open!PRIMARY — New customers can use promo code ILANA for 25% off plus free shipping on their first order at http://www.primary.com (promo excludes clearance styles)BROOKLINEN — Use code ILANA at checkout to receive 15% off your order at http://www.brooklinen.comHost: Ilana GlazerProducers: David Rooklin, Annika Carlson, Amanda Jane SternConsulting Producers: Madeline Kim, Kelsie Kiley, Glennis MeagherHead of Partnerships: Deanna SpinaleVideo Producers: Lexa KrebsAudio Producers: Nicole MaupinLighting Director: Kevin DemingEditor: Tovah LeibowitzGraphics: Raymo VenturaOutro Music: Don HurAll Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod