Choice Words with Samantha Bee

Let’s make better choices in 2024! But how? Is it about following good advice? Is there a scientific method? Can everyone do it? Each week in January, Sam will go beyond superficial hacks and get at the truth of how to lead a more meaningful life, starting with comedian Sarah Silverman. Sam asks Sarah about the advice she offers strangers on The Sarah Silverman Podcast, the one best choice she made in 2023, and what to do if you’re paralyzed with indecision. Follow Sarah Silverman @sarahkatesilverman on Instagram. Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian and actress Chelsea Peretti isn’t great at making choices. She likes to vacillate between different options, from acting in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” to directing the feature film “First Time Female Director,” to launching the podcast “Call Chelsea Peretti” back in 2012. Sam asks her which comedy movies were most influential to her growing up, how stand-up can feel both energizing and lonely, and why she keeps bringing her phone with her during bath time. Follow Chelsea Peretti @chelsanity on Instagram, @chelseaperetti on TikTok, and @chelseaperetti on X (formerly Twitter). Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. Apple Books has teamed up with Lemonada Media for an audiobook club. The December pick is Worthy by Jada Pinkett Smith. For more details, visit http://apple.co/lemonadabookclub. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When actor Penn Badgley was offered the role of Dan Humphrey in “Gossip Girl,” he initially turned it down because it wasn’t interesting enough. He also turned down the role of Joe Goldberg in “You” because he didn’t want to glorify a serial killer. Sam asks Penn what led him to change his mind on these two career-defining shows, how his Baháʼí faith helps him make decisions, and why you won’t be seeing him on crypto ads anytime soon. Follow Penn Badgley @PennBadgley on Instagram and Twitter. Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and Twitter. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When President Trump was elected in 2016, comedian June Diane Raphael considered dropping everything (except her new baby) and running for local office. Instead, she chose to write a book helping other women do it. In some small part, that decision led to 2018’s record year of women winning seats in office. Sam asks June where her propensity for sharp decision making comes from, whether having kids helped or hurt her career, and why she prefers true crime over comedies. Follow June Diane Raphael @junediane on Instagram and @MsJuneDiane on Twitter. Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and Twitter. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re off this week but wanted to share a new Lemonada Media series with you that we know you'll love. It's called I Need To Ask You Something.We all have terrifying questions that we can’t stop thinking about. Did I make the right decision as a parent? Can I share a secret with my mother or father? Usually, these questions go unanswered because it’s too scary to imagine saying them out loud. This is the place where young people and caring adults in their lives can ask the hardest questions of each other.In this episode of I Need To Ask You Something, you'll hear from Seth. Seth didn’t get a lot of unconditional love as a child. He spent many difficult years in the foster care system before he was finally adopted by his moms Jeannie and Denise. Now, he sits down with Jeannie to ask: How can you still love me after all the hard times we’ve gone through?To hear more of I Need To Ask You Something, head to https://link.chtbl.com/INTAYSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When author and activist Raquel Willis came out to her parents, they didn’t both react positively at first. While that was hard for her, she did not let it stop her from continuing to come out to others and live her truth as a proud trans woman. Sam asks Raquel how online forums helped her find community when she was a young queer person, why she wishes more members of the mainstream media would trade in their “objectivity” for empathy, and what she would like young people to learn in school about sex and gender.     Follow Raquel Willis @RaquelWillis on Twitter and @raquel_willis on Instagram.   Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and Twitter. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.   For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When actress and comedian Ellie Kemper was supposed to make her Broadway debut a few months ago, she was so nervous she kinda hoped she’d get sick and be unable to take the stage. Many negative COVID tests later, she made it through her show’s run, but did end up losing her voice at the end due to stress and anxiety. Sam asks Ellie if she’d consider upping the fear factor and doing a one-woman live stage show and if she’s good at setting boundaries for herself at work. Plus, a surprisingly in-depth discussion about rat eradication efforts in New York City.   Follow Ellie Kemper @elliekemper on Instagram.   Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and Twitter. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.   For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Congressman Ro Khanna has a big decision to make, he wants to gather all relevant information and hear many differing opinions before he makes up his mind. When he’s at home, he defers to his wife. (Smart man.) Sam asks Rep. Khanna what it feels like to make decisions that affect millions of people, how he stays optimistic about progress when things feel so dire, and what the heck is going on with House Republicans. Plus, Rep. Khanna makes a choice in real time when the vote buzzer goes off during their conversation!   Follow Rep. Ro Khanna @RepRoKhanna on Twitter and Instagram.   Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and Twitter. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.   For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Rachel Bloom was making a name for herself in comedy, she shared her life openly online. Then she became a mom and realized she wanted her daughter to decide for herself how online she would be. Sam asks Rachel how she balances her instinct to overshare with her desire to keep her child’s life out of the public eye, how she came to combine her love for sketch comedy with her background in musical theater, and what she means when she tells Sam she fears creative atrophy.    Follow Rachel Bloom @racheldoesstuff on Instagram.   Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and Twitter. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.   For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Sam asked multihyphenate entertainer Phoebe Robinson what professional endeavor she’d pick if she could only choose one, Phoebe realized her answer was a recent shift in opinion for her. The writer-producer-podcaster-actor-comedian has recently rediscovered the joy of standup comedy. Sam and Phoebe get into why Phoebe used to dread every standup set, the freedom she gained when she realized it’s impossible to make everyone laugh, and how she’s learning to trust her gut more.    Follow Phoebe Robinson @dopequeenpheebs on Instagram and Twitter.   Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and Twitter. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.   For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.