Wild Card with Rachel Martin Lena Waithe (Encore)
Mar 5, 2026
Lena Waithe, writer, producer, and actress known for The Chi and Emmy-winning work on Master of None. She talks about how writing builds empathy and the creative friendships that shaped her career. She reflects on lessons from The Wizard of Oz, admits she struggles with being wrong, and considers legacy and resilience in her work.
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Grandmother's Room As Creative Sanctuary
- Lena Waithe found safety as a child in her grandmother's room, sitting in an old wooden chair while they watched cable TV together.
- Those conversations and TV analysis with her grandmother sparked Lena's early storytelling instincts and validated her curiosity about characters.
Finding Writer People In A Small Group
- Lena discovered her writer community through a writer's group introduced by Michael Svoboda while she was a PA/assistant.
- That group led to friendships and collaborations with people like Justin Simien and eventual projects like Dear White People.
Emerald City Won't Replace Home
- The Wizard of Oz taught Lena that chasing an imagined 'Emerald City' won't make you feel at home once you arrive.
- That lesson reframed ambition: pursue goals but don't hinge happiness on reaching them.