Alex Edelman – on Meeting Obama, Grieving his Best Friend & the Power of Comedy

More of my interview with Comedian Alex Edelman. We dig into whether sitcoms and action movies are political, how Alex became buds with ‘Modern Family’ co-creator Steve Levitan, his early career working with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and how he’ll continue to cover “spicy” issues in his standup. This episode was recorded at Chifa in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian Alex Edelman joins the show. Over addicting chili noodles and lomo saltado, Alex tells what it’s like juggling acting and writing on the Peacock sitcom ‘The Paper,’ what it was like finding out former President Barack Obama watched his award-winning standup special ‘Just for Us,’ and how he handled a huge career moment while grieving the loss of his best friend and collaborator. This episode was recorded at Chifa in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More of my interview with former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. Dr. Biden tells me about a difficult request she made of then First Lady Michelle Obama, how it was becoming Second Lady then First Lady while keeping her career as a college teacher and why she was emphatic about continuing to work. Plus, we here more about what it’s like to be a student in Dr. Biden’s class. This episode was recorded at Culina at The Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden joins the show. Over burrata salad and cappelletti, Dr. Biden brings me behind-the-scenes of the final days in the White House. She also shared intimate details from her early days of dating President Joe Biden, her special relationship with sons Beau and Hunter, and shares the difficult moment she had recording the audio for her new memoir A View from The East Wing. This episode was recorded at Culina at The Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More of my interview with 'Bridgerton’ star Golda Rosheuvel. Golda talks picking jobs that challenge and provoke, and I share my meet-cute story with my husband Justin. Plus, we share our tips and tricks for memorizing Shakespeare. This episode was recorded at The Begging Bowl in Peckham, London.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'Bridgerton’ star Golda Rosheuvel joins the show. Over Thai delights, we talk about becoming famous in mid-life after nabbing the role of Queen Charlotte in ‘Bridgerton’ and the way it changed her life. We also get into meeting her wife and how that relationship keeps her grounded, and how she ended up starting a bakery with her family – which has won awards for its sourdough. Plus, how being dyslexic has shaped the way she prepares for roles. This episode was recorded at The Begging Bowl in Peckham, London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More of my interview with Sitcom star and Office Ladies podcast cohost Jenna Fischer. Jenna tells me more about rewatching ‘The Office’ for her hit podcast (co-hosted with Angela) Office Ladies and her husband Lee Kirk’s surprising ‘Office’ cameo. Plus, she tells me more about her journey with her cancer diagnosis and treatment – how she navigated sharing the news with her kids, to how she’s channeled that pain into her latest project ‘Nimrods.’ This episode was recorded at Ca Del Sol in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sitcom star and Office Ladies podcast cohost Jenna Fischer joins the show. Over branzino and lasagna, we talk about nabbing the iconic role of Pam on the U.S. version of ‘The Office,’ even wearing her own temp clothes to tape the pilot, and how regardless of the show’s popularity, she was able to weirdly fly under the radar in L.A. We also hear about the odd jobs she did to get by pre- ‘Office’ and we dig into her new role in ‘Nimrods,’ a Green Day inspired flick directed by her husband Lee Kirk, and why it’s especially poignant at this point in her life. This episode was recorded at Ca Del Sol in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More of my interview with singer, sitcom star and stage queen Vanessa Williams. Vanessa tells me her memories of working with the late great Cicely Tyson in the 2013 revival of The Trip to Bountiful, what it’s like performing for British audiences, and her royal encounters. This episode was recorded at Flute at the Broadwick Soho in London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Singer, sitcom star and stage queen Vanessa Williams joins the show. Over tuna tostadas and butternut squash salad, Vanessa tells me about repeatedly having to prove herself across careers – from Miss America and the controversy that forced her resignation, to building success in music, Broadway and television – meanwhile, dealing withjudgement, racism and being underestimated as a performer. We also reminisce about her iconic role as Wilhelmina Slater in ‘Ugly Betty,’ her chemistry with costar Michael Urie, and why it stands out as one of her favorite jobs to date. Also, we get into her role as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada musical, now on the West End. This episode was recorded at Flute at the Broadwick Soho in London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices