The Inhabit Interview

What does it actually take to balance a successful Hollywood career with deep, fulfilling relationships? Actress and executive producer Allison Williams gets radically honest about the habits, mindset shifts, and hard-won lessons that help her invest in her life, family, friendships, and marriage.Allison Williams is an actress and executive producer best known for her breakout role as Marnie in HBO's “Girls,” and her critically acclaimed performances in Jordan Peele's “Get Out” and “M3GAN.” She is also the co-host of “Landlines,” a podcast about friendship, motherhood, and navigating modern life with your closest friends by your side.She reveals:- The accidental decision at age 22 that she credits for helping her navigate her career - The audition trick that made Lena Dunham say "there she is," and how improv training made it possible - The note-writing habit she and her husband share that keeps their romance alive between busy shoot schedules - The one habit she's desperately trying to protect her son from developing - What Rita Wilson taught her about celebrating wins before you know the outcome - Why she keeps a notepad next to her during playtime…and why it makes her a better mom, not a distracted one - The leadership habits that make actors and crew actually want to work with herTIMESTAMPS00:00 – Intro: "We're lucky enough to play dress up for a living" 01:00 – How Allison and Julie met in Yale's improv group Just Add Water 03:30 – Why improv is foundational to Allison's acting career 05:00 – Getting rejected from Yale's main stage musical, and discovering improv 07:30 – The insane sequence of events that led to her Girls audition 10:30 – Lena Dunham asks her to improvise, and she nails it 13:00 – Filming the pilot, the table read, and the slow-burn of big career milestones 14:30 – Rita Wilson's advice: celebrate every small victory16:00 – Anxiety, catastrophizing, and adding gratitude to the mix 19:00 – How she got sober at 22, one month at a time 21:30 – 12-step programs, therapy, and finding her own path to staying sober 24:00 – Why habits are the foundation of presence and energy 26:00 – Allison's podcast Landlines and de-stigmatizing parenthood 27:00 – The universal chaos of car seats and the magic of Inside Out 29:00 – Having a nanny, acknowledging privilege, and not comparing yourself to celebrities 30:00 – Why Allison moves slowly through chores (and loves assembling IKEA furniture) 32:30 – Long-term friendships from kindergarten: what they really mean 35:00 – Going back on SSRIs, and why she finally stopped ignoring her own advice38:00 – The habits she hopes her son Arlo will (and won't) develop 40:30 – Finding quality connection time with your kids 42:00 – The "guess what happened at school" game with Arlo 44:00 – Staying present: notepads, phones face-down, and intention 47:00 – Romance as a practice: love notes, post-its, and hiding letters in suitcases 51:00 – Allison as an archivist — saving every note 53:00 – Habits for aspiring actors: line memorization, morning routines, and managing nerves 55:00 – Executive producer habits: learning names, checking in, and setting the tone on set 57:30 – The accordion of work and home life — and transitioning between them 58:30 – DVF's "wink at yourself in the mirror" habit and staying connected to yourself 59:00 – Wrapping up + how to support the showLINKSLandlines Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/landlines-with-allison-williams/id1818021794 Allison's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aw/Julie Shain’s Substack: https://getinhabit.substack.comFollow Julie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getinhabit

In this episode, we sit down with Spencer Russell, creator of Toddlers CAN Read, to break down how children actually learn to read, and why most parents are getting it wrong.If you’ve ever wondered:- Can toddlers really learn to read?- What’s the best age to start reading?- Is school enough to teach your child to read?- How do you teach reading in just 5 minutes a day?This conversation gives you a simple, science-backed approach to early literacy….plus real strategies you can start using immediately!Follow Russell Spencer:https://www.toddlersread.com/https://www.youtube.com/@toddlerscanreadInhabit:⬛ Join the Inhabit Substack here - https://getinhabit.substack.com⬛ Follow the Inhabit Podcast on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/getinhabit?igsh=a3N2ODl3ZzJ3eDZ5

In this episode, Charles Duhigg, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of The Power of Habit and Supercommunicators, breaks down how habits shape the way we communicate.We explore how conversations often happen on autopilot, why people feel misunderstood, and the simple communication habits that can dramatically improve connection with your partner, children, and colleagues.If you’ve ever felt like you’re “missing each other” in conversations, this episode will give you practical tools to become a better communicator. LINKSCharles Duhigg’s books on Amazon: https://bit.ly/3Q0HPwQCharles Duhigg’s Substack: https://charlesduhigg.substack.comJulie Shain’s Sustack: https://getinhabit.substack.comFollow Julie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getinhabit

What actually matters in parenting and what doesn’t?In this episode, economist and bestselling author Emily Oster breaks down the data behind the biggest parenting decisions, from pregnancy to toddler years and beyond.We talk about sleep, feeding, discipline, and even marital satisfaction—what the research says versus what most parents believe.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice, this episode will help you make clearer, more confident decisions backed by evidence.Timestamps00:00 Why most parenting advice is wrong01:30 Emily Oster’s approach to parenting04:00 Pregnancy myths and food choices08:00 Why sleep matters more than you think14:00 Sleep training explained with data16:00 Breastfeeding vs formula19:00 Toddler nutrition and picky eating23:00 Discipline that actually works30:00 Reading and child development33:30 Marital satisfaction and parenting37:00 The 4 F’s decision-making framework42:00 How to think better as a parentEmily Oster is a professor of economics and the bestselling author of Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm. Her work focuses on helping parents make better decisions using data instead of fear. Check out her website: https://parentdata.org/ Check out her books here: http://bit.ly/4tpwZyYInhabit: Join the Inhabit Substack here - https://getinhabit.substack.com Follow the Inhabit Podcast on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/getinhabit?igsh=a3N2ODl3ZzJ3eDZ5

Why do some people stick to habits effortlessly… while others struggle no matter how hard they try?In this episode, we sit down with Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author of The Happiness Project and The Four Tendencies, to break down why your personality determines how you build habits, and how to finally make them work for you.You’ll learn how to identify your tendency (Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel) and use it to your advantage, so you can build habits that actually stick without forcing yourself into systems that don’t fit.If you’ve ever felt like you lack discipline or consistency… this will change the way you see yourself.What you’ll learn:* Why most habit advice doesn’t work for everyone* The 4 personality types that shape behavior* How to stay consistent without relying on motivation* The key to building habits that feel natural (not forced)* Simple strategies you can apply immediatelyFind out your tendency:Take the quiz → https://gretchenrubin.com/quiz

Get Jessie’s new book here:https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/9-Months-That-Count-Forever/Jessie-Inchauspe/9781668219126What if your baby’s brain, metabolism, and future health are shaped before they’re even born?In this episode, we sit down with biochemist and bestselling author Jessie Inchauspé (aka the Glucose Goddess) to uncover the science behind pregnancy nutrition, and why these 9 months matter more than we’ve ever been told.We also dive into the emotional side of pregnancy, including miscarriage, stress, and the habits that truly support both mother and baby.This is not about perfection, it’s about understanding the small shifts that create lifelong impact.Join the Inhabit Substack here - https://getinhabit.substack.com⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 Why pregnancy shapes your baby’s future01:20 Jessie’s story & why she wrote this book03:30 Miscarriage, grief & emotional healing08:30 “Postcards to the womb” explained09:40 How low protein affects your baby’s body11:10 What glucose actually is (and why it matters)13:00 How sugar impacts your baby’s fat & metabolism15:30 The UK sugar study (60,000 people)18:30 How much sugar is actually okay?19:40 Simple hacks to reduce glucose spikes20:40 Why fruit juice is NOT healthy24:30 The 4 key nutrients every pregnancy needs25:00 Omega-3s & your baby’s brain development26:30 Why your brain cells are built before birth28:00 Best fish to eat (and mercury myths)31:00 The choline problem (and why eggs matter)33:30 Why most women are deficient34:30 How many eggs you actually need36:00 Are eggs bad for you? (myth debunked)40:00 Omega-3s, allergies & inflammation42:00 How much protein you really need44:00 Easy high-protein habits45:30 Good habit / bad habit (rapid fire)46:00 Oat milk = “pasta juice”?46:40 Calf raises to reduce glucose spikes47:00 Hypnobirthing & stress reduction48:00 Final advice for future parentsInhabit:⬛ Join the Inhabit Substack here - https://getinhabit.substack.com⬛ Follow the Inhabit Podcast on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/getinhabit?igsh=a3N2ODl3ZzJ3eDZ5🔔 SUBSCRIBEFor more conversations at the intersection of science, health, and real life, subscribe for weekly episodes.

Dr. Sara Reardon, known online as The Vagina Whisperer, is a pelvic floor physical therapist helping millions of women understand a part of their health that’s rarely talked about.In this episode, we dive into the hidden role the pelvic floor plays in urinary leakage, painful sex, postpartum recovery, menopause, and even orgasms.We talk about the everyday habits that affect pelvic health, the biggest myths about Kegels, and what every woman should know about her body, at every stage of life.You can learn more about Dr. Sara Reardon and her work here:Website – https://thevagwhisperer.comInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/the.vagina.whispererGet her Book - "Floored: A Woman's Guide to Pelvic Floor Health at Every Age and Stage, A Comprehensive Guide for Women of All Ages" HERE - https://www.amazon.com/Floored-Womans-Guide-Pelvic-Health/dp/0778310531Inhabit:⬛ Join the Inhabit Substack here - https://getinhabit.substack.com⬛ Follow the Inhabit Podcast on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/getinhabit?igsh=a3N2ODl3ZzJ3eDZ5

Will Stephen has been a writer for “Saturday Night Live” since 2015—over one-fifth of the show’s history. The Emmy-Award-winner is the voice behind some of the show’s most beloved sketches—everything from Bowen Yang as Moo Deng to Rap Roundtable to Friendos.I wanted to chat with Will to learn about the habits that helped him build an enduring career at "Saturday Night Live" — the world's most famous sketch comedy show. Check out our episode! "The Inhabit Interview" is a show about habits that serve our lives and relationships. Learn more at getinhabit.substack.com.You'll learn:🔴 How Will made it to the set of "Saturday Night Live" — and what it was like auditioning for the show's iconic creator🔴 Habits that guide his comedic approach — and the ones he turns to when coming up with ideas🔴 How he handles public responses to his sketchesFollow Will Stephen: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wmjstephen/?hl=en⬛ Follow the Inhabit Podcast on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/getinhabit?igsh=a3N2ODl3ZzJ3eDZ5

Welcome to "The Inhabit Interview," a show all about habits, in service of relationships.I'm Julie Shain, the host and founder of Inhabit—a newsletter, platform, and podcast. I started Inhabit because I wanted a place to gather information about the habits that enhance our relationships and help us lead rich, meaningful lives. Those include sleep and nutrition habits that help us show up better with friends and family.But they also include the lesser-known habits: the questions we do or don’t ask when starting a conversation. How we regularly host gatherings (or don’t) to promote connection. The chore distributions that can support or weaken a marriage over time.“The Inhabit Interview” examines these questions alongside authors, comedians, actors, and entrepreneurs. What are the habits that make their lives work? Which are the ones they wish they adopted earlier—and recommend broadly?I’m not gonna lie, it’s an all-star lineup. You'll hear from:“The Power of Habit” author Charles DuhiggEconomist Emily OsterActress Allison Williams“The Happiness Project” author Gretchen RubinThe Glucose Goddess Jessie InchauspéThe Vagina Whisperer Dr. Sara Reardon…and so many others. Make sure you hit subscribe. And stay tuned! Episodes come out every Thursday.