Rachel Dratch

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Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of Good Hang. I am so excited about this episode. It is the great Rachel Dratch, my friend for almost 30 years and America's favorite. And we are going to talk about so much good stuff. We're going to talk about growing up in Massachusetts. We're going to talk about our love for the musical Annie. And we're going to go behind the music and do a deep dive into the...

world-famous clip that kicked this podcast off and that has kept us laughing ever since. So get ready for a great interview. And before we start, we always like to talk to someone who knows our guest, is a fan of our guest, has a question that they want to give me. And I'm very excited to talk to Kevin Cahoon today. Kevin is a dear friend of Rachel. He is an incredible actor, musical theater pro. Tony nominated for the great musical Shucked, and you can catch him in a million other things. And Kevin is zooming in to get things started. Kevin, hi.

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I get to see you on this Tuesday. I know. I wish we were having margaritas with Dratch. Hey, listen, wouldn't that be great? That's a good hang right there. That is. For listeners, I've had a few margaritas with Kevin and Dratch over the years, pre-show, post-show, because both of you were on Broadway. Well, listen, anytime I can hang out with you. How are you? I'm so great. How are you? Where are we talking to you from?

I am in Texas at my mom's place, rural Texas, outside of Houston. It's a sunny day. We've had four days of torrential rain. And I'm dealing with these wild hogs. I know this is crazy. They're wild feral hogs that show up in the middle of the night and they tear up your property. They travel in packs of 30 and I've set up alarms all around and I think they're working. But last night we had a few come and the alarms went off in the middle of the night, which there's nothing more terrifying. And I'm good with animals and I grew up with a lot of animals and I'm fine with animals. Not these animals, not a fan. It's worth a Google if anyone wants to Google. Texas wild feral hogs.

Well, I mean, the thing that I'm so excited to talk to you about today is that... You, like many of us, deeply love our guest, Rachel Hatch. Beyond. Tell me how you two first met. We met doing a musical called Minsky's in L.A., written by Charles Strauss and Susan Birkenhead and Bob Martin. It was coming to Broadway, a star-studded cast, and it closed in L.A., which is, you know, the great showbiz tale. But what you take away from experiences like that are the people, and you usually have one or two from each show. And I fell in love with Rach immediately. What's not to fall in love with?

She had told me she had gone to a psychic and I think you had bought her this psychic reading for her birthday. That's right. I should talk to her about that because if she's open to it, because her and I both went to the same psychic at the same time when we were both pregnant. Yes, that's right. And she had gone to, we had before the show, we would go, I would go to her dressing room and we would have a day catch up. What'd you do today? Who'd you see? Where'd you lunch? And she had said, I went to the psychic and the psychic told me that our show was going to close out of town. And we were like, they're crazy. That'll never happen. We're moving into the St. James theater. Well, the psychic was right.

But anyway, that was probably 15, 16, 17 years ago. And it has just been the most nourishing, fulfilling, steadfast friendship that I could have ever, ever imagined. And then I've gotten to have new friends like you that I've met through Rach. And you know that they're a good friend when you meet their friends and those friends become your friends as well. So it's just been the most rewarding friendship I could have ever imagined. I hear you. I feel the same. I feel like there's a few friends that, and it's proven to be true now that Rachel and I have been friends for almost 30 years. And there's a few people that you know in...

success and in quote failure in good times and in bad times, they're going to weather that storm with you. And that's not always the case with everyone. Sometimes people are better when things are going badly, right? They're like, they like that. And sometimes people want to hear when you're succeeding. That's what they, when they want to be along for the ride. But Rachel Dratch definitely is there for both. If you're lucky enough to have her as your friend. That is so true. And she's a wonderful gift giver. She never forgets an occasion where she's going to bring you a little something. You know, I did a Broadway show that ran nine months and.

She was there opening night. She was there closing night. She was there in between. She came again. She brought friends. It's just, she is a cheerleader for those that she loves. She is a champion. She'll go to bat. She just, life is a little brighter when Rach is around.

Cahoon, let's talk about Shucked, which is the show you're talking about. That's true, yes. I loved you in it and loved that show so much. You were so dear to come. Of course. It made the world to me. And let me tell you what, Amy Poehler, you're one of those friends. Because not only did you come to Shucked, I did a production of La Caja Fall in the fall. You came to La Caja Fall. You are there. I mean, you're...

you know, you birds of a feather fly together. You guys are just exemplary friends. Oh, friend. Thank you for saying that. That means a lot. And I love, I mean, it's not hard work to go to a really fun show and watch you. Before we get to your question, I do want to, I'm going to talk to Dratch a little bit about her, her Tony Nam and her show POTUS and how, I mean, because I know from being her friend, how, how positive an experience that was for her, like great women that she became really good friends with, a Tony Nam, a hilarious part. Do you remember that time and what she said about that experience when she was working on that show? Well, here's the incredible thing. And it's so rare.

She got a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut. Damn. Happens. That is like remarkable. And I've seen Rachel on stage so many times at the public Shakespeare in the park, Manhattan theater club. She is always the standout. And when you do a Broadway show, whether you want to admit it or not, there's always a part of you that thinks maybe just maybe that childhood dream would come true. That show that I watched once a year in June, maybe I could be a part of that show. And then when it happens, it is just, it's the most.

It's the biggest embrace you could ever imagine from a community that you've always wanted to be a part of. And, you know, a lot of people probably know Rachel from television and from film, but her theater career is just as sparkling and just as dynamic and diverse as her impact on TV and film. Yeah, she's played so many different types of characters. It's actually a good question. She's played like men and dogs and people and like mothers and robots and whatever. She can do it all. She can do everything. That's why you hire Rachel Latch, you know? It's so true. It's so true.

we should all be as versatile as Rachel Dratch, you know? Okay, so Kev, what do you think, I mean, I could talk to Dratch and will probably today forever about so many things, the past, the present, the future, anything you think I should ask her today? Yes, it was hard to pick one question. I have two that I think are sparkly. One is about the theater because I feel like a lot of people don't realize that Rachel Dratch was a theater kid and she went to theater camp and her dream and ambition was to be in plays and in musicals and then her career took a brilliant detour. I would ask her.

Little Rachel Dratch going to theater camp. What were her three beacons of light in the American theater? A musical, a performer. Who was it that filled her with, I want to do that. That's what I want to be when I grow up. Such a good question. That was the one question. And then this is something that inspires me about Rachel. She brought us all Debbie Downer, one of the most iconic American comedic characters.

When Rachel Dratch is thinking about feline AIDS and North Korean train accidents and insurrection, what is that catalyst that gets her out of her doom and gloom and brings her back to reality? That would be another question. Debbie would want me to point out that it is good that you brought up feline AIDS because it is the number one killer of domestic cats. Well, that's true. Listen, we've talked about feral hogs and feline AIDS. What's next, baby? Texas, baby. These are such good questions, Kevin. And I don't think she knows that I'm talking to you today. I did not tell her. Okay, good. I didn't tell her.

We had a little kiki yesterday and I was zipped lips. Oh my God. I'm so happy because she's going to be so happy. These are really good questions. And I think nobody loves a good question more than Trash. Like if you ask Trash a good question, she's like, that's such a good question. She will say that. I guarantee you. And I had told Blake Lee who was on, who's a dear mutual friend of ours. I told him not five days ago, Amy, I was like, you were so incredible on Amy's podcast. It's so fabulous that you were on there. It is so chic. What a cool thing. I'm so proud of you. And then my phone binged and it was you.

I just, I can't thank you enough. Are you kidding me? Thank you. Thank you for taking a break from fighting the hogs. And, and if, you know, if you are eventually eaten by them, just know that our time together was so special to me. It was. And I carry it every single minute. All right. I can't wait to see you in New York, friend. I love you so much. Love you. Thanks so much for doing this. Rachel Dratch is here. Are we starting? Is it official? Yeah. And we need to talk about, wait, what, what do you got? Let's get started here.

Rachel's pulling out the world famous headphones. You've seen it. You've seen it before. This is my new trademark, everybody. By the way, I didn't, I didn't tangle this. This is how it came out. I was doing it. This is in their natural state. World famous. Rachel Draft headphones. It was a shot fired around the world. These headphones is where it all began. The chaos.

Beginning. Oh, wait. Now that I'm with Amy, everything's all right. We don't even use these, but I have to bring those up. A historical item. Of course Dratch brings a prop. Brings a prop from home. For people that didn't see, our first episode of Good Hang, Dratch was in the group that was talking about our guest, Tina Fey, and boy, did we have a good time. Oh, my God. That was probably my biggest laugh of the year. I just watched it again on the way over here, and we're going to get into it today. Of course we are. People need to hear the behind the music.

Where were you when you saw the clip? I mean, I owe you money for that clip. I owe you money for that clip. But it really was like, it started off the entire vibe of the show. Like, I'm so grateful for it because it started off exactly what I was hoping, which is I was hoping that this would be like fun and easy and a laugh. And that was the deepest laugh. Oh my gosh. It was such a good laugh. Like, I mean, imagine like your best laugh ever. And then it's, and then it's like recorded for you to watch again. Like that, that never happens because you can't plan that. No, no. And also having Fred and Seth and Zarna there. And there's really no better, I would say like,

partner than Seth when Dratch is Dratching because he's so good at keeping like like things moving in a way or something like he was making me laugh so much so hard he's like Dratch we're probably gonna cut all this out and then when I was like I'm holding everything up and he's like no this is how she wanted to start like he was the perfect foil the comedy foil also the thing that gets me which is such a like improv and such a good example of what a good listener you are is that at the very end you clap which is what we asked you to do 15 minutes before to get started god that clap end it with the beginning people Comedy 101. Okay. Second copy of this podcast is Drash is swirling her ice drink. Okay. But it is like that. I have to say when I was thinking about what to talk about today, I was like, we have had deep laughs. We have. And you love to laugh. And the way Drash has many kinds of laughs.

And you have, like, I know people have done your laugh to you. Oh, yeah. Also, when you go into, like, a level two laugh when you're going down deep, you go. Like, you get very old school. Oh, my gosh. You do. Wait, I just need to say, though, that when that was happening, that I didn't know that was going to be used for on camera. Right. I didn't tell you that. You did not tell me. I looked back at the text. I'm very sorry. No, no, I don't mean that. I mean, it was the best thing ever. But I just mean, for people wondering, like, why did you order food, right, when I was podcasting? Like, who could argue still with audio? Why did you? Well.

Because I thought it was like a half hour of time. True. And then it came very quickly. And then my dog barked. And then my dog's name is Ruffles. And Ruffles started barking. Anyway, sorry, go ahead. Do you remember, I think we talked about it, there was a hilarious, whoever's the TikToker who did this, somebody posted, there were many clips of it, and then someone went and looked at your chart. Yes, my horoscope, whatever Zodiac. Well, so I'm, what's Pisces? I didn't know this word. Stellium.

means all your things are in the same sign, like every single thing. But I guess there's one little thing. But this woman, she did my chart on TikTok and she was laughing really hard. She's like, how is this woman surviving with everything in Pisces? She's like, she is. Somehow she's making it work. But I guess there's like one thing in Capricorn. She goes, this Capricorn is holding the whole rest of it all together. It's doing the work of, you know, 10,000 men or something. And she calls you the Pisces final boss. Yes. And I have wondered if other people were talking about ADHD, I guess. And I have wondered.

if I have that as an adult. I don't know. I don't know. But that, if you look at that clip, you're going to be like, yep. I feel like it's like, I mean, we talk about it like in, you know, the Pisces being a shorthand for, like, you know, it's in its best place. Chaos.

I'm saying. That's what I'm saying. But we're opposite. Amy's Virgo. Amy's Virgo. By the way, I don't know much about science, but I just know about this. I don't know. I do like astrology. I think it's cool. We like astrology. We like Enneagram. We like anything that is about personality stuff. But what's fun about talking about Pisces and Virgo is Pisces are kind of the fish that are floating through life, and Virgo is the virgin setting the rules. I don't know. But I feel like you do definitely have a dreamlike approach and an adventurous approach to life. I would say that, yes.

Yes, I think you are like a curious traveler. And you definitely don't. I feel shy. I feel shy. She got shy. Did you see what happened? Curious traveler. I'm trying to be myself. I can't see. It was like a cloud, a shy cloud came over.

You are kind of shy. I am shy, yes. It goes without saying, we've been friends for 30 years. We are often mistaken for being the same person. Or like just the other day, we were in a public bathroom and someone was like, I saw your sister in the bathroom. Like they think we're sisters. But you and I do definitely have like, if life was like a rom-com, like we would be like growing up next to each other. Yes, walking by each other in the mall, probably. Yes, so talk to people who don't know, like early dratch, where did she grow up? What was her life like? Early dratch, grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, next town over from Amy, but we didn't know each other. Although, well, we did work in the same ice cream store, which we always have to say, called Chadwick's. And if you don't know that, I'm not even living under a rock. But anyway.

But yeah, I grew up in Lexington. And I don't know. I was shy when I was little. But I was always, I mean, I watched SNL when I was in third grade at someone else's house at a sleepover. Like their older brother was watching it. And I was immediately like, what is this? But I definitely was. I mean, I don't know about you either. I wasn't like, I'm going to be an actor when I go at all. No. I didn't think I knew that was a job, really. It was sort of like maybe a little dream. Like when I saw Annie.

You know, the musical. I'm like, how are they up there? Where do I get one of those buckets? Annie. There should be a documentary about women our age and how we were affected by Annie. So, but yeah, and then I did school plays, but I definitely was not like the queen of the drama club. You know, I just did it for fun. You did get a superlative though, and it was. I did. I got class clown. Did you get class clown? Or did you guys do those stupid things? We had class clown, but I didn't get it. What? I'd like to know who did. I was a second runner up for most casual.

Most casual. What did that even mean? I don't know if it's in manner or dress. Second runner up. Kind of casual. Class clown. But then let's see. I don't know. Then.

Oh, and then also, well, my dad was very funny, as you know. Yeah. Paul Dratch. Paul Dratch. And so we just kind of had like, you know, he would do like kind of, oh, this is funny. I ran into someone whose dad had gone to high school with my dad back when I was in high school, you know, and then she said, oh, my dad said your dad used to always do impressions of the teachers when they left the room and have everyone laughing because he was doing it. Yeah. So like, I just sort of had that. It was in my blood. No, but I mean, it was sort of like in the atmosphere. And then you did school plays. Yeah. I mean, getting class clown, you got to be.

funny in real i guess like in junior high i started kind of like pipe up one-liners in the back of the room kind of thing but um much to the chagrin of teachers i'm sure but um but then when i got to college then there was an improv group there And then I was like, I didn't even know what improv was back then. Now it's like more. So you're in high school in Lexington, Massachusetts, which a shot heard around the world that we just mentioned. Like the birthplace of democracy. Right next to it was Burlington, Massachusetts, where I was from. And let's be honest, they were not different at all. There was maybe, right? Oh my God, look at Jack. She just blanched. Well, I was going to say, I exaggerated for a fact. Okay, okay. That's so funny. Okay, okay. We shared them all. We shared them all. I often hung out at the Burlington Mall. Yes. We probably passed each other. We did. I think we did. At the Brighams or something. Like we definitely, I felt like we had very parallel lives, like short, blue-eyed Massachusetts girl.

who like were good students but wanted to be funny. And the Lexington, I always used to joke that Lexington is like for Parks and Rec fans, Lexington was the Eagleton and Burlington was the Pawnee is how it felt. Like we thought Lexington was where the rich people were. And what did you think of Burlington? Burlington? Oh, I didn't think about it. No, I'm just kidding.

How do I get Amy to see? No, first of all, I worked at Caldors. Yes. Which is across the Burlington line. I crossed town lines to rank at Caldors with the Burlington Bad Girls. And our teams played each other. Our teams played each other on Thanksgiving Day. And so since then, we always call each other. Well, now they don't anymore, but we used to call each other on Thanksgiving. Yeah, we used to track at Burlington. We used to track each other on Thanksgiving. And then you go to Dartmouth. I went to Dartmouth. Ivy League, Rachel.

Yes. And very, very, like, what was your experience there? Like, did you like it? Well, great question. It was, I went back in the 80s, and it was very conservative back then, which I didn't even really know what that meant. But it was just like, it took me a while to find my people there. Like, you know, I had friends at the beginning and everything. But then the general ethos of it, I didn't feel like I really matched with. Right. And then I saw the improv group, like, some friend of mine from, like, acting class or whatever. I was like.

Come check this out. And as soon as I saw it, I was like, not like this, but I was kind of like, oh, I feel like I could do this. We have very similar stories because same thing. I went to Boston College. I was trying to figure out how I fit in. Really? I didn't know that part of it. Big sports school and lots of private school kids. Prep school people, which as much as we joke about Lexington, we didn't have that prep school vibe. No, we were public school kids. And I was like, what person is that? Yeah, that was a big vibe there. I can remember going into people's dorm rooms and being like, how do you know how to get your dorm room so ready so fast? And they're like, I was living in Deerfield.

I spent three years at Deerfield and that's how. But I didn't know that you felt that way too. Yeah, and so I saw an improv group my freshman year. My mother's fleabag. Yes, and yours was said and done. Your list was nothing like those improv group names. Our friend Brian Stack, who is a performer at Second City, used to love to talk about good and bad improv names and how they would either be really goofy, like pun-filled, or they would be very serious and pretentious. Oh, I haven't heard the serious ones. There was one, and if anyone's listening as part of the group, I enjoy your work and I respect your work. But one of them, he said, was called Society's Mirror. No.

Is that real? Good question. I don't know. There's no way to check. I think it's not a battery. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So you, did you do, were you in said and done? So then, yeah. So then I got into said and done and then I was like, oh, like these are the fun people, you know? But you were a theater kid. I, well, I mean, I don't know. I just did like, you did plays, right? Did you play a theater camp? I did go to theater, summer theater camp. Yes. But not like one of those, like, I'm not saying this to be like, it wasn't like those ones, like the real ones. It wasn't like professional, like, you know, kids that were, it was just like suburban Boston, like, you know, whatever. But, but yeah, then I, that's where I met our pal Alec. But, but yeah, I wasn't like,

Like, the star of anything. Like, I wasn't, like, rolling in and then, like, the lead and everything. I started out, like, everything. I started out, like, the chorus. And then you move up a little bit the next year. Yeah, that kind of thing. Yeah, and I think, like, me and you, like, we didn't really know anyone that were actors or writers growing up. I just never thought that would be a job. Right, right, right. Did you have, like, an idea as a kid what your job would be? I mean, like, every kid in third grade, I wanted to be a marine biologist. Like, like, like us all, right?

Everyone wants to be a marine biologist. What do we think we're going to do here? I don't know, like play with dolphins and save the nature. I actually legitimately was like very in, and still am like, a career in saving nature was like something I actually, when I was little. Then as you know, I wanted to be a therapist. But I also, like every time I'd see a movie, I was like, oh, like I was just really intrigued.

Had no idea how you ever did that. And I also, to be really, like, not self-deprecating, it wasn't like I felt like I had special skill in acting or anything. But I loved, like, cracking jokes. You get class clown, but yet you don't think you're skilled. Because it's, like, not like, well, I'm an actor. Like, not like that, but just, like, I like comedy and I like watching it. And, like, I had a group of funny friends, too. So we would always, like, you know, I had legit funny friends. So that was also sort of, like, practice. You know what I mean? Yeah. Okay, so you get to Dartmouth. You graduate. And what was your degree in? It was drama. And then I minored in psychology. Right. And then, oh, so, my improv group. Sophomore summer, we were on campus. We took this little, like.

trip because one of the guys in the group was from Chicago so we went out to Chicago for a week just to like check out Second City ImprovOlympic and just like you know go to all the little sites there and then I was like okay maybe when I graduate I'll come back here and like try this you know and I sort of just wanted to try it more to know that I'd give it a shot I don't know how you were about this but I was kind of all you hear is like it's so hard you're never gonna make it like that's all you hear when so then I was like buying into that and then I was like okay I'm just gonna go out and try Chicago And then I won't make it. And then I'll come back and be a therapist in suburban Boston. And, um, but then like very, then like, I mean, I don't know what she's going to, but right when I got there, I did not get into classes at second city. Like I heard like everyone auditions gets into classes and then I didn't get into classes. And then I was like, Oh, like, what did I do? But then I just stuck it out and then I took class. Like everything I did, I kind of didn't get the first time around sort of. Oh, interesting. Interesting. Well, like that. And then like touring company, I auditioned, didn't get it. And then like, um, well, SNL, I auditioned two times. Like just, but then you kind of get used to that, I guess. I don't know. But, um, but anyway, uh, yeah. So then I eventually got into the classes and then did like little theater.

things there and eventually got into the touring company. So you get to Chicago and do you remember when we first met? I do. Well, in my memory, we were in the lobby of Second City and you had just moved there and you were in the touring company, I guess. I don't know if you were in it yet or just coming around to check it out or something. But anyway, I remember meeting you and I remember you being really friendly and like, I would just say like sunshiny. Like it's not, you don't always remember meeting someone for the first time, but I do remember, at least in my mind, this was the first time. And I just remember you were like very like, like you are, you were very friendly and smiley and you know.

Cute little blondie. I remember meeting you, but I saw you. So I arrived and you were kind of the junior to my freshman in Chicago, I would say. And I saw you on stage. You were in Lois Kaz, an improv show, very kind of famous improv show named after a woman that worked in the office or something. I don't know. Sketch and improv and comedy. It's just like music, right? Like it's like, oh, go check out this cool band. Like, oh, these two people are singing together.

Um, you know, you just were like watching groups and trying to figure out what was good. What did you like? And Lois, the show that you were in, um, was just like, Oh, these are the cool, good improvisers go see them. And I remember, so the first time I saw you before we met, um, I saw you on stage and I just remember, you know, I think like when you see someone on stage for the first time, it's very, it's a very interesting dynamic. Like you're just like forever looking up to them. Like it feels like, and I just was like, Oh, she's so funny. Like just loved being.

like watching you perform like just and um and you know subsequently like we got to know each other in Chicago and I was your understudy for uh touring company for sure yeah so what is touring company for people who don't know well it's like your first step to getting into second city and you're not out on the road like for big long times you're just like you're going to Indiana for the weekend like that kind of thing yeah and it's just sort of like cutting your teeth and I mean you get paid of minimal sums you're like it's your first like I'm a working actor you know yeah and it's sort of your first step to moving up the little ladder there yeah so we didn't get to tour together because I was only filling in when you were and then Amy struck out And moved to New York and started UCB, which I told you before that I was always just like, what do you guys do? Like, I didn't know you guys that well, but I was just like, what are they doing? Like, they're on track to, you know, you were already very successful in Chicago or like successful, like.

known to be good improvisers, whatever. But then, like, you definitely would have moved up the ranks at Second City, but you guys had this, like, pioneer spirit of moving here. It's kind of like, if the Draction Polar rom-com is happening, this is where we kind of separate for a little bit to go find our own. Right. Because I moved to New York, you're on main stage in a very famous show at Second City, and then you meet Tina Nguyen. Oh, so then Tina joined on the next show, then they changed it to Three Men, Three Women, which was, like, revolutionary. And I was like, what? I know. Three women together? I know. But then Tina came in for the next show, my second show on main stage.

called Citizen Gates. And she was, of course, hilarious from the get-go. And then we did two shows together. And then I started to get more comfortable up there and being better at creating characters and all that. And then Tina went off to write for SNL after her second show. And then I stayed there. How many more years did you stay there? Well, I was four years on the main stage. And it was such a fun job. I mean, it might have been my favorite job ever. Take us back to what it was like a day when you were on the main stage in Chicago. What was that day like?

Well, I mean, I remember like you'd sleep really late, much later than I do now. But then you're writing the show. If you're rehearsing, you're writing the show by day. So you're in rehearsal all day. But you never wrote like how we did at SNL where you were like at a typewriter. What a typewriter. Okay. Word processor. I think I got a good one here. Give me more paper. I'm out of paper, Schultze. Ding. Okay. Computer is what they're called now.

But no, like, it's not like SNL when you're like, oh, let's think of something. We're in an office. It was all on its feet and, like, just someone had an idea. And then you'd try it out in front of the audience. Or the audience would give a suggestion and then a scene would really hit from an audience suggestion. Let's try that again, but let's change this. So that's how we wrote the thing. And then eventually, like, the show would be done and it'd be set and then you'd just do the show night after night. But the show is, like, sketch, like, for those that don't know, like SNL. And then afterwards, you'd improvise every night, pretty much. And that's how you get really good at improvising, by just...

Night after night after night. Because if I had improvised right now, I'd be like, ugh. I'd wait, linger in the back line. If you keep doing it like a well-oiled machine. This episode is brought to you by Apple Watch. Your heart tells the story of your health, and with the new Apple Watch Series 12, you can understand it better than ever. It's got this new readiness score, which, based on your activity, vitals, and sleep, basically tells you whether it's a let's go or do less day. I'm always trying to navigate that. And it's now backed by the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable, so you can trust what it's telling you. Visit apple.com slash Apple Watch Series 12 to learn more.

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So talk to us about you're on it. You get to SNL what year? 99. Right. Yeah, fall of 99. And I was the only new person that year. Well, the only new actor. Ali was a new writer. But yeah, so you just get like... Who's on the cast when you get in there? I just got a little tense. You know, this show comes out on Tuesdays. And to me, I just realized, I was like, oh, this is like a new way to...

changed tuesdays for me because tuesdays used to be writing night at snl where it was like the dread of tuesdays like oh no this is the night where i have to try to get on the show because you audition basically every week and i haven't written anything yet and i'm so tired and uh i'm gonna let the host down i'm gonna let every myself down now that there's like this show comes on tuesdays i don't know there's just something like but yes i think people are aware of the dread but what what just came up which particular type of dread i don't know i just thought of like walking in there And I'm picturing the hallway. And I think I thought you were going to like go to the audition, but no, then I'm like right in that hallway. I'm in the hallway, Amy. I'm in the hallway. Stay in the hallway. Stay in the hallway. Stay there, Rachel. I can sell the office.

Here comes Lauren down the hallway. Okay. So you're there by, that's hard being the only new cast member. That was hard. I can't, I cannot tell a lie. That was hard because that place is like, well, I think, you know, some people, like when Will Ferrell came in, I think is the, you're like a whole bunch of new people. They were like the freshman class. And then you're all like in it together. But when you come in new, like no one's like, you know, here's how this works in here. And it's just, you're kind of just like, hey guys, what's, you know, wandering the halls kind of. It definitely feels like the high school version of like your tray in the lunchroom. Like where do I sit? Yeah, for sure. I mean, Tina was there, so that was good because.

she knew how already she knew the system obviously but like I had someone to write with because some people come in there and they're great but if they don't know how to write like also the writing for SNL is very different from writing for Second City like a scene that killed at Second City you couldn't get it on SNL because it's just different like and at the time you're like but this is awesome but now like with more wisdom like why wouldn't it work just because like a scene in the theater like could take longer to get going you didn't need to like laugh laugh laugh like it's like people in the theater are just like into seeing this character kind of do their thing but SNL had to be like you need laughs like off the bat you need to know what this is right away and um I don't know just just one thing do you remember the first scene on SNL that like you were getting laughs and you thought like it's working like that felt like no Gosh, I remember the first, because I remember the first few times I got on, like, I wasn't even, I left my body. So I remember like, this is going really well. I was just like, I'm on, like that kind of thing. Well, the first, very first show, I wasn't in, like the, you know, season premiere, whatever. And like, you've told all your friends, like, I'm on this, and everyone's watching it, but your scene gets cut, like it does. And then the next week, the same thing happened, scene got cut. So it was like the third week. Who was the host, do you remember? The one that I got on was, I should know this, oh my God. Well, I know the first one was Jerry Seinfeld, then it was Norm Macdonald, and then it was...

And does not compute. Oh, my God. I don't remember. It's funny. The brain remembers trauma. So you remember the two shows that you worked on. Dana Carvey? I'm going to have to go look. They're going to do those three guys in a row. What year was it, Dredgy? It was 1999. Third episode. Okay. This will be a fun game. Dana Carvey? Okay. I'm going to have you guess the musical guest because that's always fun, too. Oh, my God. See? I don't remember this. 1999. I don't remember anything. No. 1999. SNL. Hosts. And don't worry. We're going to keep all those. Let me tell you one cool thing, though. Wait. Let me tell you one cool thing, though. Please.

Please. The very first musical guest was David Bowie. And when I was, I've told this before, but when I was getting my photo taken for like the very first opening credits, like it was on the stage, you know, like in 8-H. And David Bowie was, it was Thursday, he was rehearsing with the band. So like I'm getting my picture taken and he's right over there singing Rebel Rebel. I mean, I've chilled every time I think about that because that was just like.

I mean, I don't even have words for like the surrealness. That's a very, you have a soundtrack of that moment for your life and it's David Bowie playing live. It's David Bowie, icon, yeah. So I remember that. Should we tell the Black Crow story? Okay, so one time, so I don't do drugs at all.

And then one time, the Black Crows were the musical guest, and someone on the Instagram came up to me and was like, hey, do you want... That's my drug offer voice. Hey, do you want whatever you call it? Not a joint, but just like a hit off a joint. I see. And I was, I don't know, I tried it a couple times. It's never really worked. I've never really dug it. And then I was like, okay, sure. So I took like one puff off of this Black Crows. Am I going to get sued? The Black Crows pot. You took a hit off the Black Crows pot. I took a hit off the Black Crows pot.

And my cousin was visiting me, my cousin Zach. And I came back to the table and I was like, oh, I guess this is like, I'm really high right now. And I was so embarrassed because like, it was my little cousin. And I never, ever, ever get high. And then I came back and I was kind of like, I don't really remember if I told him or not. Oh, he didn't. He might not even know. I don't even know. But that was my one like. I remember you telling me you couldn't get up from your chair. Oh, I don't remember that. But it's possible. That you were kind of stuck. I was just like, really like, anyway. And that's why I don't do drugs.

No, I'm just not into that feeling, I guess. No, you're not into that feeling. Only if it's from the Black Rose. And then, yes, Chris, Chris Robinson, call me, call me. I just love that that was the particular strand. It wasn't like I was like partying with the Black Rose. It was like secondhand made it down to the music guy. And I was told it was from the Black Rose. But it's so interesting that you took the hit. I know. I was feeling a little jaunty that night. I don't know. I don't know. No, but drugs is not your thing. It's still not my thing. No, I like a margarita.

Or perhaps you like to sail to the Pinot Grigio Islands. Amy and I will occasionally sail to the Pinot Grigios. We'll text each other and say, shall we take a trip? To the Grigios. Yeah. Yeah. And then when you were at SNL, like, I feel like we got, I was thinking today about all the stuff we got to do together. And we got to do a lot of dumb. So fun. So fun stuff. Oh my gosh. But, you know, and I was thinking, it was like, I mean.

In many ways, I wish we had more time together when I was more experienced there because I was new and kind of stressed. And you were, again, the junior to my senior. And I felt like I loosened up more and figured out how to just have more fun as I got older there. But we did get to do some fun stuff together. Well, first of all, you were in the original Debbie Downer. And that was so fun. I mean, just to be laughing there with you. Well, you bring this up. And, you know, I ask this question to people on this podcast. And I truly feel like it is because of Debbie Downer that I ask this question. Again, I owe you a lot of money. And thank you for building this podcast with me.

Debbie Downer, I've said it many times before, was and is the thing that I go to, also maybe now replaced by the clip. The clip. I watch the clip a lot of times. And I just wanted to clarify, I don't go like watch my work. Like I don't go watch like a movie I did because I just like to have it in my head. But that, it's like I said, it was like seeing your biggest crack up. Yes. And just like, I have to laugh every time I watch it. Me too. And Debbie Downer was like that for me during very dark times because it was the combination of us all having fun, you, your...

Like the way in which you are physically trying to hold it together, like the way like the laugh was like something you were trying to hold in combined with the zoom in. And the sound effect. And we've watched it so many times. Like, Emily Spivey knows everything. She's like, this is the part where your lip starts quivering. Because there's one part where at the very beginning I'm going, g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g. And then there's the part where something falls backstage and I look away. My high start over there. Like, we know every single moment. It is. It's like the Zapruder film. Like, frame by frame. And it proves, it just, it got me, it's such a serotonin boost. Before we move on, talk to us about the, like, who did you write Debbie Downer with and how did it start? Oh, like the origin of it? Yes, the origin of it. Oh, okay. People will want to know. So, um.

Well, it really started because I went on a vacation by myself. That had been suggested to me by a therapist. I'll leave that detail out. on this one-on-one Amy interview no I said it like once or twice but usually I leave that part out for the masses but um no not like this number one podcast masses um but no she was she just like she kept saying like take a trip at yourself and I was like why like I don't want to do that I can go with friends I don't want and I just kind of took it as like doctor's orders like I just like I'm doing this and I like self-propelled myself to the jungles of Costa Rica I wanted to pick somewhere that it wasn't going to be like honeymooners. I wanted to pick somewhere that was like, just like, I don't know, somewhere kind of remote, I guess. So it was like very remote. It was in the Osa Peninsula. You had to take like the big plane. Then you take the smaller plane. Then you take the two hour Jeep drive. I mean, I was going deep out of society. And each time they were like, it was like Barbara Potty 1. Well, no. So I picked this, it was like this eco lodge thing. So I went there and, and then it was just like a, it was, so there was like these commune, it wasn't like a lot of people there. And it was actually really cool. Like I did meet really cool people. And I met these two sisters that like, like they were older, but they're like my age right now. But, um,

I mean, the age I'm now. And they were sort of like, they sort of told me like the rudimentary fundamentals of what is later known as the secret. Like, did I tell you? People should know Dratch knew the secret before anyone knew the secret. And I learned it from the jungles of Costa Rica from two white ladies that were from Colorado. But anyway, so they were just weird, you know, because you're like chatting. And I got to say like hats off to the suggestion because I never would have talked to strangers if I was with friends, you know? So I'm like having this conversation and these women were telling me about like, you know, basically like what's the law of attraction, I guess. But they put it like.

You know, if you think on positive things, positive. And if you're focusing on lack, you'll attract lack, basically. But then it almost, like, the whole thing got, like, sealed because then we were on this, like, you know, you could do, like, nature walks or whatever. And we were on this, like, walk on the beach, like, with the little, like, it wasn't, like, a group. It was, like, whoever's here and wants to do all this thing. And this woman was saying, like, there were these, like, beautiful birds overhead, these, like, scarlet macaws. And it's, like, way up in the sky. And this woman goes, I want a feather to bring home for my daughter. And I swear, like, 20 seconds later from, like, way, way up high, this feather starts to just go bloop, bloop.

it falls down we all like kind of see it like and it lands like right at her feet whoa Amy doesn't believe in any of this stuff I do that's cool that's cool but I believe in manifesting that was cool though so then I was just like sold I'll join your cult no but then okay this isn't anything about Debbie Donner this is just other stuff on that trip but anyway but then the Debbie Donner story is that when later it was like sitting at dinner like you're with randos that are there and people just making chit chat and someone said like where are you from and I said New York and then they said like oh were you there for 9-11 And it was like three years after 9-11. It wasn't like it just happened. It was kind of, and then I was kind of like, uh, yeah. And then like, it's kind of like, just like a Debbie Donner, you have to like get the conversation back because it was like vacation times. Right. And then like about a week later after I got home, I was like out listening to some band, which isn't something I usually do, but I think that's kind of interesting because like doing something you don't usually do and then your brain is kind of like, I don't know, you're not on your usual channels, I guess. Yeah. But then I just had that idea of this kind of based on that, like someone, like a Debbie Donner popped into my head. Yes. And then, which this is kind of just.

talking creativity I found at SNL you couldn't just go in there and like okay let's think of a scene like it had to be like moments like that like and to me that only happened like once or twice a year which is why like you might sit there at home you're like why isn't there like SNL man but it's like thinking of really original characters that kind of like hit on something it's not something you can like steer the ship on like to me like it has to like vibe out with you I don't know yes you have to be like to your point you have to like keep the channel open and be like find the muse and like find you which just can't be like churned out exactly but then I took it to Paula Pell who we wrote with often and is hilarious and everyone knows Paula now because I love Paula's like out there more in front of the camera but anyway and then we were on writing night we were trying to write and we set it in an office and it just kind of wasn't really flowing it just wasn't really jiving and then we were like maybe we need to put her somewhere really happy so then we thought of Disney World of course happiest place on earth and then And then while we were writing it, like, of course, Paula was cracking me up with these one-liners and everything. And then we started just going, like, just for ourselves. And then we were like, what if we put that in the scene with actual trombone sound? So then for read-through, we had, I don't remember if we had, like, the live person or someone just had done it. But then at read-through, like, it killed. But then you never know, because sometimes something can kill at the table. And then when we were in dress rehearsal, Jimmy and Horatio were kind of laughing. And I was thinking, like, you guys, I feel like this could work. Like, keep it together, guys. And then, like, on air, I just flubbed one of the lines. And then I don't even know. I guess I was, like, so nervous. Sure. And then we all started laughing. But thankfully, you just, like,

like, like the good Pisces fish. Like you just like, you went along for the, like it was, it's so joyous watching it because it is just the, it's like what real live TV is supposed to feel like. Like it just felt like a special moment in time. And also, I mean, you are such a good performer that you are able, you were able to like do it and have, and enjoy doing it at the same time. It was like just, it's very, sometimes when people are stressed, it's stressful to watch. Like it's not good to watch. I feel. I mean, but you don't seem stressed in that moment. Well, I love watching performers that like, this is what like.

You know, I feel like I've had so much time now that I'm older to, like, think of, like, what makes a good comedian and everything like that. And, like, I love watching people, like, you can tell that underneath it, they're also, like, laughing inside. Like, I mean, better to keep it inside. But I mean, like, like, and I feel like you have that. Like, I was just talking about you. I forget, like, in what context. But, like, you are always, like, you can see the joy of performing. Like, there's two levels happening. There's, like, what you're performing and then this sort of joyful, like, under bubbling that's also happening. Like, I just, like, Steve Carell just popped into my mind as, like, someone that, like, you can see the fun happening behind. Will Ferrell is another one. Will Ferrell, oh my gosh. Like, the mischievous, like.

dance underneath it where they're having fun. Circling all the way back to Debbie Downer and all the way back to the question that I ask my guests, this brings up the person that I spoke to earlier before this podcast. So you know we always like to talk well behind people's backs. I talked to the great Kevin Cahoon about you today. You did?

I was wondering who my person was going to be. And because I want him to lead us into Broadway, which we're going to next. This Virgo has a plan. Okay. I'm taking you there. I'm aware of the time. I'm aware of the time. I could hang all day, but I'm just kidding. But I talked to Kevin and he had a couple of really good questions for you. And one was, and it's a similar question to what we asked on the podcast. It's like, when you're feeling that.

When Rachel is feeling like that Debbie Downer feeling, what do you do to get yourself up out of it? And that's a question we ask here, which is, what do you watch, listen to, when you've got Dear Blues, as we like to call it, how do you get up out of it? What makes you laugh? You know, for me, it is a lot of Debbie Downer and clips. I mean, it is a lot of you, Rachel. That's so nice. It is you. Like, you really get me out of the dumps. You really do. You're like an elevator that helps me get up out of there. Uh-oh. Tears. Tears. But you really get your shitty way up, and it's because of the laughter. You do that for me.

Is there anything else that you like to go to to just like... The bottom of a tequila bottle. The worm. The worm. I ate the worm. I ate the worm. That was such an 80s thing. Like, she ate the worm. I know. I know. Now there's no worms anymore. No, there's no worms. Let's see. I forgot that you asked this. That's okay. I feel like I don't have, like, healthy... I'm serious. I mean, honestly, the real thing that loves me is, like, meeting with friends out in New York. Like, that's my honest answer. Yes, you like socialize. The Marx nights and, like, meeting with my lady friends. Yes. Because, like, I feel like I have this great group, various groups of people, but they're all, like, fun. But then, like, I love a friend who is really fun and, like...

sees the joy in life and like can laugh through like the foibles and all that, but also has the side that's like, you know, the amateur psychologist, like, you know, that we can help each other out. And if you're like, I like if you show up to a friend and you don't have to be anything other than what you're feeling, because like there's certain friends where you can just do that. You can come in and you're like, you know, I'm not going to be bringing my A game. And like, that's fine. And I like not having to exert extra energy to pretend I'm like somewhere I'm not. And I hope that like.

I'm not for other people too. That's exactly how I described you, by the way, to Kevin. Exactly that, which is you are a friend in good times and bad, in sunny weather, in stormy weather, and you just can always show up as the version of yourself. That's exactly how I described you. Well, that's what I like in others too. This isn't like a joy thing. This is more like a mindset thing. I like doing those word puzzles in the art times. That's my ritual as I do all those because it sort of makes me forget all the...

you can't be like emotional when you're trying to think of the word. Well, I would say as a person that has now known you for 30 years, has vacationed with you, has, you know, our kids are friends, like we are in a lot of different ways in life together, that those kind of like quiet, puzzly moments is a drach recharge. Yeah, that is a recharge, yeah. Because you are a very interesting combo of introvert-extrovert. Like you are very extroverted and especially on stage, but your everyday, like you definitely need quiet time.

I guess so. Would you say no? I don't know. I think I used to need less of it. I think now I'm a little more like, I just need like the recharge moment. Yeah. Okay. Kevin also had a question too that leads us into Broadway. Okay. And you were in an incredible show called POTUS. Tell us about that experience, what it was like working with those women and what it was like being nominated. Well, I mean, it was a lot like the mindset of, so it was this comedy with all women and I just got like.

called up to do this show with Susan Stroman who I had done a few readings for and the part was very much like the clown in the show so I got to do a lot of like physical just like make up your own bits and all this stuff and it felt very much like being back in Second City like in the best way and also I love like just I mean the theater schedule is no joke as any Broadway person will tell you but Because, you know, you have to kind of, like, sign your life away. Like, you're not going out on the weekends, all that stuff. But the thing that I love about theater, it's just you and the audience. Like, there's no one saying, like, um, we think this should go this way. Or, like, of course there's a director in developing this part. But once you're up and running, it's just, like, that feeling, that connection of you and the audience. Like, and that was, like, harkens back to Second City. Like, oh, how long am I holding this sliver? Oh, if I do this little tiny thing, it gets left. Like, you don't even, I love all that stuff. So, um, it was just very freeing and fun.

Yeah. And you loved the women you did it with. Yeah, yeah. It was a very disparate group that was all like meshed really well. And where were you when you got your Tony nom for your Broadway debut? Well, you know, the nominations come out like in the morning and you can just like watch it online. I was just like, okay, I'll check this out, you know. And then like they said my name and then, you know, your phone starts going off. I mean, that was something like, you know, as a comedian, like comedy often doesn't get like award stuff. But all that to say, like I didn't expect, like getting nominated was never anything that I thought.

would be happening. Because when you're in comedy, you just don't really think like that. But the Tonys are an exception, I think. The Tonys often do give it up for good comedic performances. Yeah, that's true, yeah. I think they really are like, they really respect the craft. They do. The craft, yes. So Kevin had a question about you being like young Rachel. Like what were some theater performers, some musicals, some shows that like, I think his question was like, what are the top three?

pieces of theater uh that you like really inspired you when you were young you know like maybe scratch some little right well i guess as mentioned annie can we just for one second talk more about annie because annie so many female parts so many parts for girls right like that alone like a lot of shows just don't have a lot of parts it's like there was Rachel and I were both in Once Upon a Mattress we were Amy had the lead and I had the boring part but we were in the same production we were in the same production both of our schools I was in the sixth grade production oh this is funny though and Amy was in the high school were you a senior and Amy if you know Once Upon a Mattress Amy played Winifred the princess the clown the clown yeah Carol Burnett originated in Broadway and I played this character Lady Larkin who's the boring part but let me also say this that Because it was in sixth grade, the only comedic hook that Lady Larkin has is that, well, she's pregnant, and so they're in a hurry to get married, you know, because they're in the castle. So they need Winifred to get married. Well, in sixth grade, they take out the pregnancy, of course. So I have nothing to play. There's no there there. I'm just a lady in waiting. What am I going to play here? I don't even think I knew that the original characters, but they changed the lyrics because the real lyrics were, in a little while, you and I will be one, two, three, four, like kids. And they're just like, you and I will be together. That's what they changed it to. And you're like, I got nothing to play. I got nothing to play.

Okay, so Annie. Annie, of course. Also orphans. Orphans. One other thing is, with Annie, everyone's like your age. Literally, you're 10 and they're 10. She's like, how do I get in this? Like that kind of thing, right? And also, a dog. A dog. We love a dog. We love a dog. Did you have the album? Oh my God, I knew every single song. I wanted to play every part and I loved it so much. Okay, so Annie. Then also, well, of course, this is probably the same too. Like Gilda Radner, Carol Burnett, Lily Tomlin. Yes.

I mean just those and they were on stage like they were they were I mean I only saw them obviously like I saw them like I mean when I was really little my parents watched Laugh-In and I remember Lily Tomlin being Edith Ann in the giant chair and that's the truth sorry and then Carol Burnett of course yes and like oftentimes we get asked till we're blue in the face about women in comedy right and like I just think growing up seeing them you're not thinking like oh these are women in comedy you're just like this person's really funny and they're being really brash and bold and they're you know not afraid to look weird and here she is with the curtains as a dress and just like, you know, she's like the center of it all. And I'm like, you know, Gilda Radner making all her faces and everything. Like, so I just think you're just seeing that and you're not delineating. And then like, I mean, the first season of SNL, that cast, like I did watch like, you know, John Belushi, Steve Martin, but that's why like when Steve Martin hosted SNL, it's like, oh my God, Steve Martin. Like I still have that when I'm, when I see Steve Martin, I'm like, when I'm hanging out with Steve Martin, no, that never happened. Not true, I've seen it. But anyway, I think like seeing them was an influence, but not knowing at the time, of course.

Fame. Fame. Which, of course, we all have played that on the piano. Well, you can play the piano. No, but I was like plunking it out, but out here on my own. Oh, Coco. When I'm down and feeling blue. Everyone wants to hear this. I close my eyes so I can be with you. And then what was the third one? And then I would say hair. Hair. Hair. I don't think a lot of people are talking about hair these days. No. The musical. No. Hair was so big. Like the music and the movie. I think like the movie. The movie. Because that was the first like.

I mean, I just remember, like, excuse me. That had, like, major, like, tragedy in it and sadness. But also, like, yes, I remember seeing that at the Lexington movie theater. It must have been nice. We ate gold. We ate gold-covered popcorn. We ate golden popcorn and we drank champagne. We showed our movies on the side of a barn. Side of them all. Side of a dress barn. That's where we showed our movies. Oh, my God. No, but I remember hair was like...

like emotional and but also just the music so good so good and yeah anyway I think they like they should do a new production of hair but there's no parts in it for us like that's all new while young is there's gonna be some like old lady who tells the kids get out of my lawn get out of the park I'm walking my dog. You should cut your hair. That could be us. Yeah, that could be us. Or like a businesswoman who comes in and goes, listen, people. Yeah. This bunch of hippies could really make us some money. And they go, get out of here, lady. That's what I would put like a New Yorker who comes in to ruin the vibe. Right. But you have played so many different things on, on, on. Like you have played like, you played a man. You played a, you were, we love a Marco Polo because we are women of a certain age. We like to Marco Polo each other. You were Marco Poloing me one time wearing, having a mustache. A mustache. In a production of.

Was it Anything Goes? No, you were playing Guys and Dolls. Guys and Dolls. Yes, I played a dude. Yes. But you've played a lot of different things on stage. Well, I mean, as have you. But we are but the makers of Mary. We are but clowns for your pleasure. We don't win Oscars, but we shall make you laugh. We are here but to be the fools. We are but fools. Drash and I always say if we were back in those times, we would definitely be...

Not only jesters, but we'd be the maids. We'd be the maids at the bottom of the castle. We'd be the scullery maids at like... Scrubbing things. I think that's the role that I think I'm born to play is like some... Because I would love to do... I'm going to put this out there. A Broadway thing. This is great. I'm doing the secret. Like a really, really funny Broadway thing. And maybe I'm playing this person. Scrubbing. This is my aspiration. I just want to scrub on Broadway. Yeah. I want to scrub my way to a Tony. You listening?

You listen, you big muckety mucks. I had the Jonas Brothers on and we were singing Les Mis. And they were like, you would be really good in Master of the House. I was like, I know. Ever since I was 20 years old, I'd be the old lady in Master of the House. By the way, you can cut this. But I got to audition. I made the mistake of auditioning for Les Mis on Broadway for that part. And I'm like, you know I can't sing, right? And they're like, just go in. And then I even went to like...

a voice lesson sure but like that part is like you really have to say you really and it's an incredible part an incredible female actress have played it incredible singers but it's definitely the most comedic part yeah but you have to have a good voice which I like just realized when I was in front of these people in the room just like I mean because they didn't just give me the master of the house song there's another song that's like very complicated yeah and I just like like I skulked out I will stick to making Mary without song if it please you. If it please the king. I shan't be singing for the king again. Does it please the king for me to not sing? Yes. Cut to us just like, how do you like your potatoes? And we could do a duo. A duo. We could do a, we could do like, we could play maids together. By the way, that would be a very funny idea for a show is like, you know, upstairs, downstairs. It should be like called downstairs. And it's just us. We're just washing clothes. And we have dirt on our faces for sure. 100%. We've been having grooves this morning.

Okay, and the last thing I just wanted to talk about, because we talked about it a little bit, is your woo-woo-ness. Because we're going to talk about your podcast, your great podcast, woo-woo. And Amy was a guest on it. Absolutely. One of my favorite episodes. You need to listen to Amy on woo-woo, my podcast. There's so many great stories on there. And you are very open to psychic experiences. You are not judgmental in any way, I would say that. Oh, then I'm not judgmental. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I would say you are also a little bit psychic. And you have that channel open, speaking of channels. What is that woo-woo world? So I started this podcast called woo-woo. And I always say, I'm not really woo-woo, because I don't.

Like, I don't live my life like, I've got to ask my psychic. I don't have a psychic. But anyway, I was feeling the need to say, I know, but I was feeling the need to say, like, I'm not, like, super woo-woo. But then I started doing this, and it's definitely making me more woo-woo with the stories I'm hearing. But the reason I thought of doing it is because I just had sort of collected these stories from friends over the years. And I was like, oh, these stories are really cool. Would you come on and tell this? So that's kind of how it started. And then you came on, which was really fun. And you're not, like, a huge woo-woo believer. You're not, like, totally shut down. But Amy came on and talked about the Enneagram, which she lives her life by.

I mean, for those who care, Rachel is an enneagram of nine if you haven't noticed. Yeah. The ultimate nine. The ultimate nine. Peacekeeper. Peacemaker. But yeah, so I guess what else do I say about it? Well, I was going to say that there's a couple of woo-woo things that have happened with us. I feel like a little tiny woo-woo. Most of my woo-woo things have happened with you. And we were pregnant at the same time. Our sons are close in age and I'm happy to say like real friends, which is so great. And I can remember a very like hot summer where you and I were waddling around the city, like both really pregnant. And you can tell from our height, like we didn't, we carried out front.

You know, there's not a lot. So I just remember us being like going to movies, like so hot out and going to a psychic to talk about our kids. And you brought me to this really cool psychic who, you know, like just you just have introduced me to a lot of just like give this version of life a try. I guess. Yes. It's kind of like, why not believe that that thing was not a coincidence? I don't know. Yes.

I think once you're, it's almost like we're saying about writing sketches. I think once you're kind of open to it, then you start to see things. Like you just, I don't know. I don't want to say like you get messages or whatever, but I just think the more open you are, the more woo-woo you might become. Do you think that like that, has anything happened lately that has felt a little like in the woo-woo world for you? Well, first of all, as Amy said with the pregnancy thing, that a psychic told me that I was going to have a kid when I was 43 and I wasn't even with anybody. Yeah, that's a cool story. And then that happened. So that was my first like little like, this is really strange. Yeah, you write about it really well in your memoir. Thank you, Amy.

And let's see, I don't know, something lately? I'd just like to hear your, like, is there any vibe you're getting right now? Like, what's the vibe of this room? The vibe of this room is great. Outside this room, not good.

Things are not good once you leave this room. The vibes are not good. It's so true. But this room is a good hang, and it's fun and bright and cheery. But I feel like you do that. I mean, like, you're really fast at being like, this isn't a good vibe. This isn't a good hang. That's true. You're really good at reading people fast or experience other rooms. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're like, I don't like that. I don't get a good feeling from that. Yeah, and I start to, like, again, older, I get, like, listen to that. Like, if you get that feeling of, like, eh, like, you're allowed to not.

hang there or whatever I don't know and last question are you afraid of zombies would you in a zombie movie how would you this is my new question I'm just thinking about right now but maybe I'll ask people moving forward because Dratcher are always inspiring me I might just freeze is that what you're about I think you're about to say well I was going to say it kind of gets into like conflict styles oh gosh yeah but it is sometimes I think I think with conflict I freeze which isn't always a bad choice you don't like you're not fanning the flame I just noticed it about myself though so if zombies were coming I guess I'd freeze you'd turn into a statue yes and you'd hope that they went by you but we can't end on this no we can't end on this we're going to cut this Let's sing the song from Chadwick's. Oh, okay. The chant? So Chadwick's was an ice cream place that Dratch and I worked at. Not at the same time. Not at the same time, but I have to say probably the highest percentage of SNL people from any ice cream place. Probably. Two. Yeah. It was a purple building. Okay, I'm going to do a lip balm break before we sing. Do you need any? No, I think I'm okay. So it was a purple building. It was a purple building. Full-time ice cream. You had to wear a styrofoam barbershop quartet hat. We often had a kazoo. We often had a kazoo. And I feel like we were both attracted to the drama and the showmanship.

Not drama, the showmanship of Chadwick's. Because when it was someone's birthday, you got a free Sunday. And they did not check. So people came in a lot with birthday Sundays. But then there was a little birthday chant. And it went something like this. Ladies and gentlemen, we're happy to have you here at Chadwick's today. But we're especially happy to have Amy. Because she came here to celebrate her birthday. So with the sound of the drum, please join in singing Amy a loud, embarrassing happy birthday. Then they would order a giant ice cream and it was called... The Belly Buster. And it was carried out by...

Two men holding a stretcher thing with a big bowl in the middle of it. This was a separate thing. If you ordered the Belly Buster, there was an announcement for the Belly Buster. And it went something like this. Ladies and gentlemen, we're happy to have you here at Chadwick's today. We'll introduce you to the Belly Buster. Ten scoops of ice cream. Five different toppings. Mounds and mounds of whipped cream. Cherries and nuts. Chadwick's own Belly Buster. And then we'd do like drum drum. And then the two guys would come up. The thing in the stretcher like pretending to struggle under its weight. And then.

It would land at the table. And if you ate, rumor had it, the lore was that if you ate the Belly Buster by yourself, you got it for free. That's right. Do you remember that? Yep. And there used to be like teen boys vomiting and drinking the ice cream juice in an attempt to get it done in time. Yeah, the vomit was separate from the ice cream juice. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, the teen boys were trying to get it done and I don't think I ever saw it happen. I don't think I did either. Lore, but lore says it happened. And now Chadwick's no longer exists. Nope, it's just in a landfill filled with ghosts. That's been an interview for my podcast. The ghost of Chadwick's.

But that's a good ending. That's a good ending. Love you, Drew Chiefs. Love you. This was fun. So fun. Thanks for doing it, buddy. And thank you again. I really do owe you a lot. Always in my life and on this show. So come back anytime and bring your headphones always. Hold on. We're going to wrap it up. We still can't get them on. This isn't a good ending. It is still hard for you to get them on, though. Here we go. What the? Oh, here we go. Nailed it. Dratch out.

Thank you, Dratch. You are the best. My baby Drooch, my little Ray Ray. Thank you for coming on. You know, we talked a lot about a lot of things, you know, the idea that, you know, life can be a series of interesting and unexplainable events and it can be really woo woo if you let it. And so as part of this polar plunge, I do want to just remind everyone to check out Rachel Dratch's podcast, Woo Woo. Her and her co-host, Irene, they listen to people's interesting, ghosty, spooky stories. They get into that, that those chills that you get when something weird or unexplainable happens. And so check out that podcast. I have gone on the podcast and I have said.

that I've never seen a ghost. And I'd like to keep it that way. So I'm fine with that. But if you have seen a ghost, contact WooWoo and not me, okay? But good for you. And it's not a competition, but I'm glad I didn't. Okay, thanks for listening. Bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss-Berman, and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by The Ringer and Paper Kite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane, Kaya McMullen, and Alaya Zanaris. For Paper Kite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss-Berman. Original music by Amy Miles.