Monica Lewinsky
Appearances
Aftermath: Hunt for the Anthrax Killer
Episode 1: Isolated Incident
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Aftermath: Hunt for the Anthrax Killer
Episode 1: Isolated Incident
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
American History Tellers
Buffalo Soldiers | Suffering in Silence | 4
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
American History Tellers
Buffalo Soldiers | Suffering in Silence | 4
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
American History Tellers
Buffalo Soldiers | Suffering in Silence | 4
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
American History Tellers
Buffalo Soldiers | Suffering in Silence | 4
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
American History Tellers
Buffalo Soldiers | The Last to Leave | 3
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
American History Tellers
Buffalo Soldiers | The Last to Leave | 3
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
American History Tellers
Buffalo Soldiers | The Last to Leave | 3
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
American History Tellers
Buffalo Soldiers | The Last to Leave | 3
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I think what was interesting that I started to see in the public arena was that Very sadly, it was a lot of women who said worse things about me than the men. The men told a lot of jokes, right? So the late night hosts. I think when Jay Leno retired, some media... boop-de-boop, whatever, organization, had done a study and listed the top 10 targets, his top 10 targets of his late night show.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
And I was on that list. And so, and I was the only person who wasn't a public figure in this, you know, these are... So it was... I think the men told the jokes, the women sort of eviscerated me. And look, also, let's recognize that while there were so many ways that I think Bill's behavior was more reprehensible than mine, I did make mistakes. So I think we see it very differently now.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
And even through that lens, I still made mistakes. I still did things that were wrong.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Well, I mean, I think that it really was the younger generation. When I wrote my first person essay for Vanity Fair in 2014, it was your generation and the younger generations that really
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
insisted on reevaluating this story because you were all coming to it with just the facts, not having gone through the brainwashing or lived through that media lens and bringing different perspectives that happened throughout generations, right, from generations. And so it was really interesting to have this front row seat to observe everything
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
In the very beginning of the article coming out, it was sort of the same voices saying the same thing. Oh, you know, go away. You had your 15 minutes. And then it was the younger generation, the younger journalists, the younger women journalists who were starting to say, hold up.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
All the things that you just said about the power differentials, both from age and within the resources, resources of both money and power and people who work for you who are able to disseminate information. I had to hire lawyers. I'd never done any of those things.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
i was split because i felt so guilty um i felt so guilty for everything i i felt like this having become public was my fault that i had because i had confided in linda and so if i had not confided in her I felt as if this wouldn't have become public. And so there was an enormous amount of guilt. I didn't want him to lose his job. So there was a part of me that felt good. Deny it.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
This is what you should do. You know, that sort of a thing. And then there was a part of me that um, was so humiliated and, um, to kind of have the most powerful man in the world saying that, um, you know, basically your damaged goods like is, uh, not something, not something you want as a 51 year old woman and not something you want as a 24 year old woman.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
It was, well, it was gaslighting. So I think that was what I experienced on a pretty large scale. And it was... It was devastating. You know, it was devastating at the time. And I think what, you know, what we see now in today's world and as a grown woman, I hate to break it to any 24-year-olds listening to this because I know from 21 to 20, like 25, you think you know everything.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
You're like, I'm a fucking adult now. I know everything. I'm so sorry to tell you. You will look back on this time and be like, oh... Little 20-year-old me. Little girl. Yeah, no. So I, you know, I thought it was something it wasn't. And my feelings were real. And it was very frustrating and painful to... To have people talking about this in a way that was untrue.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Oh, a hundred percent. I think that there were, um, you know, right. That's the whole, the whole goal of gaslighting. Right. So, I mean, I don't think the white house's intention was to gaslight me. I think the intention was to stay in power and to get out of legal jeopardy, but that, I think that is the core of being gaslit is you do start to doubt yourself.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
There were many moments. It's interesting, in the moment, the rock bottom moment was probably, it was several months into the investigation and I guess whatever the layering of whatever had come out in the news that day, whatever it was, it was just too much. And I had remembered thinking, okay, I was able to, the first two weeks of the investigation, I didn't have a therapist.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I couldn't go on medication. And eventually I was able to get a therapist who had to be a forensic psychologist, who was amazing, Dr. Susan. I'm still grateful to her today. And yeah, I remember thinking like, okay, I'm gonna call her. And if she answers, then I'm staying. And if she doesn't, I'm out. So I think for me, that was rock bottom.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
And that, again, just kind of the maelstrom of media and 24-hour news and the internet, the report coming out was the first time that you missed history being made if you didn't have access to the internet. Google had just launched. Web traffic doubled overnight. Like, it's just, those are the kinds of things that we just can't even fathom now, right?
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I mean, and this was all pre-social media, but, you know, all the news outlets had, like, WWW representation and comment sections and things like that. So... That was a moment where I think – I don't know. Sorry, I'm babbling a bit. No, you're doing great.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I don't know if you ever had anything like this when you were growing up, but I had a couple of different moments in grade school where it was like – I did something embarrassing and that feeling of like, I don't want to go to school. The whole class knows. The whole grade knows. Everybody's going to this and that. And so that's one level of what we experience.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Or if I'm at a dinner party and I knock over, I don't drink anymore, but if I knocked over a glass of red wine on the white tablecloth, you know, you're mortified in front of this group and you're able to draw a mental perimeter around that. And
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
What I experienced and now why I care so much about anti-bullying with young people, because I understand what this is online and with social media, there is no border. And you literally, it literally feels like the entire world is laughing at you. And it is devastating.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I call them moments of grace. And so I think if you have that moment of grace and the... I don't know that beauty is the right word, but the beauty of having one moment of grace is that somewhere lodged in the back of your mind will always be that experience of having had that grace. You get through the moment and... things get better.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
It doesn't always just continue better and better for the rest of your life. But once you've, you know, and that's, it's especially why I worry so much about young people because they haven't had enough life experience to like now at 51, when
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
something bad happens and feels devastating, I have a whole folder of times that I've had fucked up thing happen, I'm devastated, dah, dah, dah, whatever it is, and then it got better. And now I panic even less and less, which is amazing. I'm so grateful for that.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
So yeah, don't let young people listening, don't let anybody tell you it is not great to get older because your 50s are fucking amazing. Yeah. You have a long time to get there, girl, but it's amazing to feel so comfortable with yourself. Right.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Boy, I think you – I think really – and maybe women of older generations weren't able to do this, but at least how I feel is – I know the operating manual to me. And that is one of the most empowering things I think anybody can have, but especially a woman.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Yeah, it took me a really long time. And like I was not until 2010, So this 1998 to 2010, there were – I would have moments of being angry. But I didn't realize how much I had lost until I came out of graduate school and I couldn't get a job. And that – and also I think at the point where I was because I was – in my early 30s. So now all of my friends have gotten married. Most of them have kids.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Some of them are even like going on to their second marriages, you know, second and third kids. And I'm still, I have nothing, you know, or that feeling of nothing. And, you know, it's, it very much was, that was the point when I realized how much had been taken from me.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
what do you mean like people were literally turning you down in job interviews oh yeah I mean it was it was everything from I I wasn't even allowed to go interview certain places like I a place would say, no, we don't, you can't even come interview, even though I was qualified to, because it was 2007 when I was job hunting, I was, and then Hillary was running in 2008.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
So there was this high likelihood that she would become president or, you know, or could get the nomination. So I think at that point she was expected to get the nomination, but of course Barack Obama did. So at this period of time when I am job hunting, people were saying, well, could you get a letter of indemnification? I can never say this. I had Bell's palsy a few years ago.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
So sometimes some words are still a little hard for me. But ask me if I could get a letter of indemnification. Indemnification. If they hired me because they relied on grants and so they were worried that they would lose all their funding. So it was it was there were a couple of places that, you know, were interested to hire me, but would be like, well, you'd be interacting with the media.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I mean, I think that there were definitely a period of time that I contemplated it, except given the world we lived in. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I'm good. I'm a little nervous. I still get nervous with these kinds of things, but in general, I'm good. I'm excited. It's a very busy... As you know, launching a podcast, it's a lot more than I ever could have imagined.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
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Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
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Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
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Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
that those things became less important because I was been able to, even though I will always be defined in some way by my history, I am also defined by my present.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Well, it felt, it kind of felt for me like it was the next step for my own reclaiming and my own experiences of having lost my narrative, almost my life at 24 and what that journey or process has been like to come back that in many ways that's in the bones of the show. I think this idea of losing something and getting it back
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Well, I had a whole – I call it my dark decade. I mean, it was a whole period of – floundering and having no purpose. I mean, I'm always lucky. My family's always been amazing. I've always had friends. Thank God. You stepped away for about 10 years. That was the time.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So I have always dated, not always successfully dated. Yeah. And I was somebody who had wanted to get married and have kids. And I'm sort of past that point of having kids naturally. So that, I think that was a focus for a long time. But it was definitely my, you know, my dating life has been complicated, I think, at times, you know.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I've had a couple instances like that. I mean, it's sort of this wide spectrum of... I think my bullshit detector for someone who was there for the wrong reason has been pretty strong, luckily. But then there have been, there's a wide spectrum of like, how intimacy goes after something like this.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
And it's, you know, it's like, I mean, thankfully, no one's ever asked me to wear a beret in the bedroom. But, you know, I mean, there have been, you know, it's complicated. Look, I think our comfort level, and it might be generational, but I think comfort level of intimacy
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Really feeling like you can own your own sexuality fully can be one layer that many of us go through when you add on the way I was sexualized and humiliated around sex. Um, you know, it, it makes it more complicated, you know?
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
That's one part of me. I mean, it's funny because what was amazing to me, I was thinking about coming in and sitting down with you. And it was like, oh, you know, thanks to you. I think it was episode three. I'm like, you took the mantle of blowjob queen. I cannot thank you enough. What? You know, so it was, you know, what was it?
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
It's, you know, I think that those – I think that the first – The first handful of years, I was very self-conscious because of how I'd been sexualized and because, as we were talking before, of having the most powerful man, you know, to wag their finger and say, I didn't have sex with that woman.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
And George Lakoff wrote this essay where he was talking about how, I wrote about this a little in one of my articles, but how we see because we haven't had a fucking woman president yet, but we see, we see the male president as a father figure, this idea of the father of the country saying, you know, and so I had concerns about that. And I think that they're,
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Again, because of my own self-esteem issues already, I think that it impacted things. And I don't drink anymore. I mean, I have champagne on like rare – I'm not sober. I just don't drink. So – You know, but I think that helped for a while. And then, you know, I mean, I joke now, like if I were still drinking, I'd probably have a lot more sex.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
But, you know, because the sort of the moment in the night, you know, the moment in the night was like, or I should say more casual sex, but that moment in the night where you're sort of.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I had had some sexual trauma from when I was younger that, you know, we didn't even have, again, didn't have language for the kinds of things that, you know, that happened. And so you don't even know that you're acting out. You know, you don't even know, you can't even piece those things together. So it's, it is, but I, you know, I've also been really lucky in,
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
So just to reel it back a few days, I found out about the investigation several days before the rest of the world did. There was a sting operation that happened at a shopping mall. And then I was up in... There was a Ritz-Carlton attached to the shopping mall. And I was in the hotel room really...
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I haven't been super successful at a relationship. I haven't been successful at all at a relationship that goes the full distance. But I have been really lucky and dated some amazing men. And those men, each in their own way, helped me find a piece of myself again. Shame.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I guess my brain's going in a few places, but I guess the kind of good news and bad news is the good news is that... those moments will dissipate. Like that shame spear that stabs you, that wound will heal. The bad news is that we keep dealing with shame in different ways throughout life. And I think for me, the thing that is
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
think of shame almost being like a bacteria in a Petri dish, that it's like when you put it into this Petri dish and it's all by itself, it just grows, but it's still alone. And that's the thing to know the most is that almost everything anybody might feel shame about, somebody else is feeling the same thing.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Like it is not, it doesn't necessarily mean there's, you're not going to feel some shame, but for it to lessen a bit in some ways. And It is, I wish, I wish, wish, wish, you know, we get to a place in our world where women can just sort of like shirk the shame, you know, and just, you can't even be shamed. Because that's what we see with some men in the world who are shameless.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
And that's, it's complicated. It is, it's something I still deal with.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I don't know how successful I have been in trying to navigate the double standards. I think in some ways my own reclaiming has been trying to open a path or continue a path that not a lot of women have been able to go through before, which is to be a fallen woman and to rise. letting many other women know it doesn't, I'm not the one to say this.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
This is like a well-known quote of just, you know, it doesn't matter how many times you fall down. It matters how many you get up. And so I think that's the most important thing. So I'm sorry I don't have a better answer for for you on that.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
realizing that what felt like my life was over, certainly my life was going to change and that I was threatened with jail. essentially told if I didn't cooperate and wear a wire that I would go to jail for 27 years. So... Oh, my God. And so I kind of saw this train starting to barrel down the tracks, and I really felt like the... 21st, January 21st, opening the door.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Because... But we're working, you know. Exactly. And I think the thing that is so... important about change.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
And it's one of the things I, I admire about you and I'm so excited for you and grateful to you is that you are, you are pushing forward in a path in, in business and podcasts as a young woman, right up there, right up there with these men who are, you know, who are valuing what their contribution is in their podcast and they're being, um,
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
They're having that reflected to them and what they've sold them for. And you have done that, Alex. Like, I hope you take that in every day because of you. Other women are going to be able to have successful podcasts that they then move on to other places for for. You know what I mean.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Thank you so much for coming on Call Her Daddy. Thank you, Alex. This was so lovely.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I was living in the Watergate apartment complex with my mom. And so I remember opening the door. And these were in the days where people would get a newspaper delivered. And in DC, it was always several, like the Post and the New York Times. And so, and I remember seeing my name above the fold and the investigation and like,
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
looking down the hall and seeing the exact same newspaper outside everybody else's door. And it was shocking. It was terrifying. And I didn't actually know how to process anything. And really, it was a moment where life as I knew it was over.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Well, I, I think the moment in the hotel, so in the hotel room, they wouldn't let me call anybody at first. So, and I had a, a,
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
pager so my mom kept paging me and um eventually they i said i was like look if you don't let me call my mom she's going to really start to worry so they finally you know they all huddled there were a whole bunch of them and they were in this connecting room to the hotel and that my the room i was in
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
The connecting hotel room had a whole bunch of other FBI agents in it and lawyers from the independent counsel's office. And so they finally said, okay, you can call your mom. And these are in the days of a handheld phone. So I'm holding the phone and the agent had his finger over the hang up button.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
And so it was this, you know, you just begin to understand subtly, maybe not so subtle, but the kind of nonverbal ways that you're starting to understand how much trouble you're in. When I had to go to the bathroom, they went in because there was a phone in the bathroom, they took the receiver out of the wall. So it was, but eventually I was allowed to go
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
asked for my mom because they wouldn't, there was a point where they all came in the room. This had been a few hours and I had kind of refused to cooperate still at that point. And they had really, they sort of sent in the heavy. And at that point, it was the kind of the pressure tactics. And so I basically said, I can't make a decision unless I talk to my mom.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
So they let me, finally let me call my mom and Um, and then she came down from New York and, um, and was, so I was waiting for her to come down. And then she called my dad who was at a medical conference and with his best friend who was a, who was a malpractice attorney, which is how I ended up with a malpractice attorney as my first attorney.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I couldn't call a lawyer. I had asked to call a lawyer from moment one because I think we all – You know, we all know from TV and the movies, right? Like when it happens in TV and the movies, usually a man comes and flashes their badge. You're like, I'm not talking to you without my lawyer.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
And they said, well, that's fine, but you won't be able to get as much information and help yourself as much. And so and then I was actively discouraged from getting a lawyer. And I... I mean, I remember very distinctly the moment of it sinking in about what it would mean for this to come out and impact my family. You know, so I had a younger brother in college.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
My dad's an upstanding doctor in the community. You know, my mom has her own world, too, and my stepmom and everything. And so that and the kind of shame and knowing that I had felt very responsible in that point, too, because I knew I had talked about things that... it was expected I would not have talked about them, so.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Oh, yeah. I mean, it was, I was, well, first I was obsessed with the case. I think, too, just to paint a little bit of a landscape of what the media life was like. Because we have a sense of how things are today with how we can get inundated with a story online with social media. Now there are eight bajillion outlets. But...
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
What it meant back then was this story was actually, instead of a story having legs for a week, which is considered a long time in today's world, I mean, it was a year. It was a year of coverage. In the first 10 days of the investigation, the Washington Post alone had published 127 articles. So that's like 12 articles a day. on just this story. So it was and that was one news outlet.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Oh, I think for five seconds. it was sympathetic and maybe after about a week, once the white house got in gear, um, I was, I, I was very quickly painted as a, um, a stalker, um, a whore, uh, mentally unstable, a bimbo, um, both the pursuer in this and also not attractive enough to be pursued.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
And really there was a creation of a version of me that I didn't recognize and my friends and family didn't recognize. And that's what happens when you have a power imbalance in a story where media is so integral to it unfolding.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
Well, I think – I can't say this for – you know, for everybody who gets involved in a relationship with someone who's, I'm trying to think of the right way to say it, but it's like, I think not everybody who has an affair feels this way, but I think a lot of especially young women who get involved in affairs, it already starts with a lack of self-esteem and self-worth. So I already had issues.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
It was this... It's kind of your worst nightmare. All the worst things that you think about yourself and say to yourself, you then start to have reflected and amplified by the whole world. And so... It was if it hadn't been for my family continuing to remind me of my true self. And then eventually when I was able to have my friends come in, I don't think I would have been able to make it through.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
I think there were really sort of two parts of me. There was both this more damaged younger part of me who was soaking up all the negativity and And it was like a tsunami and just making a bad situation worse. And then there was a, you know, maybe a future version of me or a... like a higher self or whatever, who was angry, who started to get angry.
Call Her Daddy
Monica Lewinsky: An Intern vs. The President
So it was, there were times that I was angry or frustrated. I was so humiliated.
MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries
Ep. 73 | Darkness in Donora
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries
Ep. 73 | Darkness in Donora
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries
Ep. 73 | Darkness in Donora
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries
Ep. 74 | Sudden Insanity
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries
Ep. 74 | Sudden Insanity
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries
Ep. 74 | Sudden Insanity
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries
Ep. 74 | Sudden Insanity
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts.
PBD Podcast
Epstein Files Release, Trump Gold Card Visa, Andrew Tate In US, Newsom's Podcast | PBD Podcast | Ep. 553
Mit wem? CBS? CBS?
PBD Podcast
Epstein Files Release, Trump Gold Card Visa, Andrew Tate In US, Newsom's Podcast | PBD Podcast | Ep. 553
Have you thought about that? Oh my gosh. I think that... I think that he should have said... I'm like now thinking this through. I don't think I've answered this question before. But good question. I haven't been asked that before.
PBD Podcast
Epstein Files Release, Trump Gold Card Visa, Andrew Tate In US, Newsom's Podcast | PBD Podcast | Ep. 553
I think that the right way to handle... A situation like that would have been to probably say it was, you know, nobody's business and to resign, you know, or to find a way to find a way of staying in office that was not lying and not. throwing a young person who is just starting out in the world under the bus. And at the same time, I'm hearing myself say that.
PBD Podcast
Epstein Files Release, Trump Gold Card Visa, Andrew Tate In US, Newsom's Podcast | PBD Podcast | Ep. 553
And it's like, okay, but we're also talking about the most powerful office in the world.
REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana
Death of Che
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana
Death of Che
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana
Death of Che
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts.
REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana
Operation Greylord: Chicago’s Corrupt Courts
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana
Operation Greylord: Chicago’s Corrupt Courts
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana
Operation Greylord: Chicago’s Corrupt Courts
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana
Operation Greylord: Chicago’s Corrupt Courts
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky early and ad free right now. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts, or you can listen for free wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, everyone. For today's episode, I spoke with my dear friend, Alan Cumming.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Yeah, so really the Me Too that we saw in 2017 was Me Too 2.0, right? And so, because Tarana had started the movement 10 years earlier, and it was so fascinating to me, with my social psychology background, to observe how when I put Me Too, everybody assumed I was talking about 98, and I actually was talking about this other experience.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
several others that I had had that were sort of what I was mentioning before in terms of this something that I had always talked about, like having lost my virginity at 19. Yes. And I was in therapy. I had been with this therapist for five years at this point. And I was like, well, technically I was 14, but that didn't count. Right.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
You know, and that whole, and so the, and her sort of talking me through, no, that's an unwanted sexual, you know, no, no, but I liked him and the whole thing. And I was fucking 14. Right.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
And there was no, consent wasn't a thing and the whole, whatever. But what we also see, right, is like Vessel Bandelkork, I never say his name right, but the body keeps the score. And so the reality is like you were saying, about when you were 28, that you had suppressed all these memories. And so they were living in you.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
And so it just is, so sometimes it can take a long time to see the damage. Like they'll say about a car accident, you know, if you've like hurt your neck in a car accident, that may not, you know, show up for 10 years, like the actual damage. And so I think that's what sort of,
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Always the German. German or Japanese. It's always, right, the best words.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
That's so interesting. I have to think about that because my initial reaction is I don't agree with that. And what do you mean? Well, I think in the sense that if there had not been any element of trauma in that experience... We wouldn't be making the connection. We wouldn't be drawing the line from a later thing looking back at something.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
I think we just may not experience it in the linear way that we look at trauma or think of trauma.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Exactly. And I was thinking, I was nervous, and I was thinking about two things. One was, I did the math. We've actually now known each other for 25 years. Because we met in 99. I checked on the calculator. Was it 99? I thought it was 1,000.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Thanks so much to Audible, our presenting sponsor. This year, why not let Audible expand your life by listening? Explore over 1 million audiobooks, podcasts, and exclusive Audible originals that'll inspire and motivate you. Just open the app and tap into your well-being with advice and insight from leading influencers, experts, and professionals.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
You'll find titles that enrich your life, relax you, and the ones I like best, titles that make you laugh. Whatever your focus or interest, there's a listen for it on Audible. Ultimately, it's all about starting good habits. Making a positive change is the best goal you can make for yourself, and Audible can help. There's so much opportunity and more to imagine when you listen.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Let Audible help you reach the goals you set for yourself. Start listening today when you sign up for a free 30-day trial at audible.com slash reclaiming. Thanks so much to our sponsor, Reformation. I want to take a second to talk about one of my favorite clothing brands, Reformation. You've probably seen Reformation on Instagram or at a wedding. They make the best guesting dresses.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
But if you're like me, you may have thought that's all they do. Well, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Last year, they worked with Yours Truly and Vote.org on a campaign to empower voters to take part in the democratic process and show off their workwear. From doing the campaign and getting to know the brand even better, I love their sweaters, blouses, workwear, shoes, and bags.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
It's already 1,000. No, I'm pretty sure it was 99 because I did that.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
But most important, I love how confident I feel in their stuff. Plus, it really holds up since they make everything with super high-quality, sustainable materials. Reformation is also a brand that uses their growing platform to do good in the world, and especially in the sustainable fashion space. As they say, being naked is the number one most sustainable option. Reformation is number two.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
If you're looking for clothes you want to feel great in and feel better about, head to Reformation.com. I know in the 28 period, right, when you were 28, then you started to confront the stuff with your dad, your dad's abuse.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Wait, is that the one when we were both? Oh, right. And I was in green also. We look like.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
We look like leprechaun twins. Maybe that was 99. I can't say leprechaun anymore.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
So I was saying. Quarter of a century. I know. Exactly. So our 25 year friendiversary. And then I was also thinking about that in the 25 years I've known you, I've never been nervous to talk to you.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
And... Were you worried when Tom started to have kids? Were you, like, did he have the same concerns about fatherhood that you had?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Oh, wait, sorry. So I'm not sure I understood this before. Was Tom cognizant of the abuse or had you both pushed it away?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
I'm a little less nervous, but I'm nervous. You know, I'm a little bit of a perfectionist.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Yeah. I think that's one of the hard things, particularly about trauma and abuse when you're young, is that it's sort of... You become, it's like you are able to gaslight yourself, you know, and you become very proficient at it. You become very proficient at it. It's my fault.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
So as you were going through this, were you talking to your dad at this point?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Yeah. I remember a dinner we had in L.A. a long time ago. And you really opened my eyes to something I didn't. you know, I guess naively hadn't thought about before that before people come out, they are being forced to live a lie.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
And I just, I hadn't thought about the weight of living with lies like that. And so like, I always, I understood, okay, yes, of course it's painful. You're, you, you know, you're, hiding in some ways, but somehow the idea that it was a lie and the heaviness of that was really.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
I printed it out. This is part of an email you sent me.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
I mean, it was a nightmare, but... It was so tangled. Yes, it was too... And so many... And I was so young. Tendrils. But I think... Yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
If you feel comfortable reading it on the thingy, you can, but you could read it first.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Well, I think for me, it was... You know, I think that a lot of the work I had to do when I came out of graduate school, and I thought I had gone to graduate school thinking, okay, now I'm going to start my real life as Monica Lewinsky, whoever I was supposed to be, and came out and couldn't get a job. I think that...
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
So much of the work I had to do in that, you know, what I call the dark decade, which you were there for. Yes. And.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
I know, right? Like a secret inventor. Einstein and me.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
There was, oh, this one was, I think kind of came from you or maybe you did, was Star Ruffs. Or Starbucks. It was supposed to be the dog biscuits at Starbucks for the dogs.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Oh, that is brilliant. Thank you. Okay, that's fucking brilliant. It's good, isn't it? Yeah, that's really good. Yeah. Mac, you should listen to this.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
I tried. I was a little engine that could. I kept trying. You certainly did. I kept trying. You certainly did. But sort of going... Looping back when you had your, I think you called it your nervous B. Nervy B. Nervy B. Nervy B. I've used that, except I've said nervous B, so sorry. Fine. So you weren't talking to your dad. No.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
But then part of coming, wasn't part of kind of coming out of that spiral was then... Totally, confronting my father, yes.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
We met 25 years ago at a party where we were sitting in a booth and the people in the booth next to us, someone leaned over and started to touch my hair. And I said to Alan, sort of quite frightened that someone was petting me. And we had a moment and kind of both knew that we were going to be good friends ever since then.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
I have a weird question. When you were talking about that, like you were giving it back to him, you were no longer going to carry this burden. I feel like sometimes when I've... been in situations like that, I believe it 80%. And there's still 20% that's whatever. But when you're telling the story, it sounds like you had 100% conviction.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
I know, but part of why I wanted to do this with you, like for my first, you were always the first one to do, like there was no question for me about. And it's just, I think you have both witnessed a lot with me in our friendship and you have inspired me so much. And I've learned so much from you.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
And so was there any part of you that wasn't sure you were ready to let it go or wasn't sure what would happen? Wasn't sure you would be okay with whatever happened?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
So something you were saying, it was interesting, reminded me of this thing my therapist talks about a lot that I'm always repeating of her thing that trauma doesn't go away. It's an echo.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
And the echo, the longer it goes, the sort of more it dissipates.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Right, which is what you were saying that you've, it's such an, I've had these kinds of experiences too. And it's so fascinating where something sort of flits in, right? Yeah. And then, and you're kind of like, oh, we've been here before. And then it almost like origami or something or those old, it's like another layer just opens and you're kind of going, what's this?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Yeah, I remember for me, it would often be I would just I feel like I would just pray to not wake up. Oh, you know, so but it's but you're talking about suicide. I don't know if you remember. I'm fairly certain I told you in Grant.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
That probably over 10 years ago, I had this insane, intense dream where I had gotten on a roller coaster in Las Vegas that was – it was like six people standing next to each other. And you would get on at this very high thing. Yeah. Six people get on and it drops. And the whole point was, it was a suicide ride. The whole point was like, you do not get off the ride.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
And halfway down, I changed my mind. And you and Grant flew up.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Yeah. And I just, you know, and that's sort of, What was interesting to me about that dream and so kind of reinforced in this conversation for me too is just around, we don't always talk about the details of the pain between us. Like I feel like when we see each other, oh, this happened and this happened. Oh, this was hard and this was hard.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
But there's sort of that, there's that deep, there's that sort of silent language of trauma. And so sometimes I think when you're Because I have the friends, right, that were always, you know, all the details and all the this and all the that all the time. And that dream just really showed me how much you guys mean to me. And likewise, Monica, you know that.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Okay, you have to tell me what your therapist says that meant.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
This has been amazing. I'm so grateful to you for doing this.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
And there aren't other people interrupting the conversation.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Yeah, I do not even want to encourage that, actually. I know. Cut. That's an erased part of the... No, really, thank you so much for this.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky is hosted and executive produced by me, Monica Lewinsky. Production services by WTF Media Studios. Our theme song is by Ben Benjamin and our music supervisor is Scott Velasquez. Our story producer is Elna Baker and our senior producer is Megan Donis. For Wondery, Eliza Mills is the development producer. Our managing producer is Taylor Sniffen.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Nick Ryan is our senior managing producer. Senior producers are Candice Manriquez-Wren and Emily Feldbrake. And executive producers are Dave Easton, Erin O'Flaherty, and Marshall Louis.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Yeah. No, I don't. That's what worries me. I don't either. But I feel like we've mentioned Grant. Grant's my top international husband. Exactly. I think the two best things that come with you, right, are Grant and Mary Darlene. Mary Darlene.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Aww. I love to tell everybody the story from your wedding, how she made the cake in Scotland and brought it down on the train.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Oh, good. I remember you said something at some point about that when you were growing up, it was like a, did you call it a Scottish Downton Abbey?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
So you probably know him as an actor, presenter, author, and host of the hit show Traitors. I've known Alan for so long and so intimately. I wasn't surprised in our conversation when he talked about how abusive his dad had been. But I was really surprised to learn that he had also been groomed by an older man when he was a teenager. So it was a little heartbreaking for me.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
And your childhood there, like you were talking before about your hair and getting your hair cut and the whole thing. And I was thinking about how it's funny that in the 25 years, I think every time I see you, your hair is different. And I was like, for me, if it's been six months, I'm like, am I up 20 pounds or am I down 20 pounds? What's Alan's hair? What's Monica's weight?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Did you do, I mean, because you were young, so did you do... work on that, personal work on that before you sort of took the power of, you know, your hair back in the way that it became, your hair became sort of a rebellion.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
But I hope you find something to connect to in our chat. And thanks for joining us on Reclaiming. Thank you to our sponsor, Reformation. Visit Reformation.com to see why they're my go-to for stylish and sustainable fashion. I was thinking this morning, I was awake at 5 a.m.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Yeah, because he was physically abusive. Physically very abusive. Yeah, really abusive.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
Yeah. I think I feel very mindful in my life just because my family got so exposed early on and it was so negative and there was, I think there was so much embarrassment and exposure for them too, that I feel ultra protective.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
So what's interesting to me about what you're saying with the 20, like in this 28 year old period, going to become a father, and you were married to a woman at the time, not Grant. Yeah, nope. But it's interesting to me because I had similar experience in terms of marriage. just becoming more aware of traumatic experiences that I hadn't thought of as traumatic.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
And for me, there was, I had to have done a certain level of healing. So I think it was kind of after I came sort of back out into the public arena, started attempting to take back my narrative. And I think there was a point where I felt on some version, my body, my psyche felt safe enough And that it was, you know, I was in therapy and saying this, you know, thing.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Alan Cumming
It was like, oh, yeah, but that happened. That didn't count.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky early and ad free right now. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts, or you can listen for free wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, everyone. For today's episode, I spoke with my brave and brilliant friend, Olivia Munn. We met over a decade ago and bonded over all things woo-woo.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Okay, me too. And then Cancer. You're Leo. Right. But I'm right on the cusp of Cancer and Leo. Yeah. So in Libra justice. Yeah, exactly.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
I know, at the Vanity Fair Oscar party. And then you came over not that long after and you brought me these lovely, it was like Jungian psychology books by... Robert Johnson, I think.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
But nuance isn't something... I don't know that a lot of young people have nuance, but for you, you felt like it was more demarcated than... Here's a really great example of how it affected me in my adult life.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Exactly. And we. Yes, he, she, we. He, she, we. And I loved that.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Yeah, the online, right? Because Tarana... Burke started, right, 10 years prior. Oh, yes, yes. So the online version.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Was that experience what led you into kind of diving deeper into your healing work or was that a result that you felt you could sort of stand behind your voice in that way was a result of having done the personal work.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
So many women, I think, find themselves in different levels of relationships that are everything from psychologically and emotionally abusive to physically abusive, and I think find it hard to leave. I think people talk more now about you know, attachment styles and stuff. And so I look back on some of my relationships during what I call my dark decade.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
So kind of in between 98 graduate school, whatever, and my first person essay in Vanity Fair in 2014. And I think I look at it, and maybe it's a story I tell myself, but I I think about that the pain I was in staying in relationships with people who didn't value me, who talked to me a certain way that I allowed and accepted and kept going back for more. And I look at it and I think I was...
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
I was in a deeper pain and experiencing the pain in the relationship was actually easier. I knew I had to go through pain and that was easier than the pain of really what I was sitting on of both, not only my experiences in 98, whatever, all those experiences before it that, that, that led to all of that. And so did you feel, do you feel like, does that resonate at all or something different?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Thanks so much to Audible, our presenting sponsor. This year, why not let Audible expand your life by listening? Explore over 1 million audiobooks, podcasts, and exclusive Audible originals that'll inspire and motivate you. Just open the app and tap into your wellbeing with advice and insight from leading influencers, experts, and professionals.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
You'll find titles that enrich your life, relax you, and the ones I like best, titles that make you laugh. Whatever your focus or interest, there's a listen for it on Audible. Ultimately, it's all about starting good habits. Making a positive change is the best goal you can make for yourself, and Audible can help. There's so much opportunity and more to imagine when you listen.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Let Audible help you reach the goals you set for yourself. Start listening today when you sign up for a free 30-day trial at audible.com slash reclaiming. Thanks so much to our sponsor, Reformation. I want to take a second to talk about one of my favorite clothing brands, Reformation. You've probably seen Reformation on Instagram or at a wedding. They make the best guesting dresses.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
But if you're like me, you may have thought, that's all they do. Well, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Last year, they worked with Yours Truly and Vote.org on a campaign to empower voters to take part in the democratic process and show off their workwear. From doing the campaign and getting to know the brand even better, I love their sweaters, blouses, workwear, shoes, and bags.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
But most important, I love how confident I feel in their stuff. Plus, it really holds up since they make everything with super high-quality, sustainable materials. Reformation is also a brand that uses their growing platform to do good in the world, and especially in the sustainable fashion space. As they say, being naked is the number one most sustainable option. Reformation is number two.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
If you're looking for clothes you want to feel great in and feel better about, head to Reformation.com. I think what's interesting to me is to just think about how you have this strong sense of self. You lost yourself in this relationship.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
what's so interesting to me is because I think this is in a short period of time, you were able to, it may have been, it may have felt like forever to you and may have seemed near impossible, but you actually stepped into a healing mode and found yourself again in what I think is like a very powerful and quick way of healing.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
You know, in a really – and that's one of the things that I admire about you is that you are – that you have a focus. And I think that's part of – I think that's the good side of the black and white, the good side of the kind of the fierceness, the going in and it's a decisiveness. Yeah. Yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
I think we've talked about this before of just you don't always know what's going on behind the curtain, especially for public people where we think we think we know everything, you know, and I as your friend, you know, I watched you. I remember when when you told me about that you had cancer. I remember when you told me I was in the parking garage, I was in my car. So I remember that.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
People who don't know LA watch the Californians. Oh my God.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Do you think, was there any part of you that also felt that in not telling people it sort of, um, that it almost, it could then just turn out to be a nightmare? that it sort of makes it more real when you concretize it, telling other people, or did you? No, I didn't feel that because it's very real when it happens. Yeah. My dad's a, he just retired from being a radiation oncologist. Yeah, I know.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
When you told me, you were like, if you need anything, you were so sweet. You kept offering that. He's an amazing doctor. He just retired at 81, but he's- Well, it's interesting because I grew up really – I mean, I was sort of – I'm like, I was a naughty kid.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
But, I mean, I used to sort of snoop around my dad's office and find all these slides of tumors and things, which is not a good thing to do when you're a kid. You don't really understand. Whatever. That's for another therapy session. But what I was going to say is that I wonder if because they started to find –
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
people find cancer so much earlier today if you think that's at all why they thought, oh no, it's so rare. Well, I think they're finding it earlier because for some reason people are getting cancer younger and younger, right? Right. So you decided to do the double mastectomy. I mean, what was that like kind of going in? I mean, watching them, did they mark up your breast?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
And did you, I mean, I don't know if this is too personal, but like, did you do any, did you take like- photos or any sort of a ritual or something before of like saying goodbye to what was there.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
I want to hear this story. I did a lot of research. I did all the research, but I didn't get it.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Like saying your scar, you – I want to hear this story because you did this extraordinary. I mean, aside from just as a woman, but also as your friend, just being grateful to you and so proud of you and how you have stepped forward in talking about this. And I think bringing such awareness, one of our producers was saying that she took the test because of you. That makes me so happy. Yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
So crystals, astrology, we just got into deep, real conversation really quickly, which is kind of the way I like to do it. You probably know her as an actor and an activist. And if you're on social media, you'd also know her as the mom to adorable Malcolm and May. Because Olivia and I are close, I knew about her struggle with breast cancer in real time.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
And so I think you've brought so much awareness around the issue and the bravery of talking about your mastectomy too. But then this whole other thing happened. It was like another layer of really kind of... To say owning your story feels cheap in this instance, and I can't think of the right phraseology, but you were doing a Skims ad, right?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Right. And so you went in with a plan of one thing and came out with a plan of another, right? Well, that...
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
For the maybe one person listening who didn't see it, the campaign was you proudly letting your scar show.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
still do it i mean you you can i love it but it's very i know it's hard because i remember when you told me that idea and i loved it from that moment you were one of the first people to to just say yes to be involved in this anti-bullying campaign which you wanted me for right It was the other one we were nominated.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
And also sort of, I know for me or my experiences, like somehow being able to use my pain to help ease other people's suffering has probably been the most humbling and gratifying experience in my life, you know, in that way.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
That was like a skill I had to develop to becoming a public person of that. What was that skill? It's so annoying. What is that skill? Well, I don't know that it's a beneficial skill, but it's thinking 10 steps ahead about what you are about to say. And so I find that. Exhausting.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
And I also I think also, too, there was I had another layer of it around, I guess, like really sort of unintended puns or, you know, language that I was concerned about when I gave my TED talk. I remember being worried about I don't know why this is making me emotional. Look at what you're doing to me. Bring all my emotion to the surface. This is what we need.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
But that campaign was around really actually reclaiming theme, but around taking back the power from the names that you'd been called as a kid. And so I remember you were... Actually, Kelly Ripa did your intro, and it was something about being a new girl, being bullied for being a new girl in school.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Everybody... I mean... But I remember the... You know, they give you those mics that, like, go on your thing. And I was... I remember being really embarrassed and having to kind of quietly ask the line producer there, like... Is there a shadow? And I was really worried that it would look phallic on my face. Like a phallic shadow on my face. And so something like that.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
You know, those are the filters. It's the same kind of thinking ahead about something. Exactly what you're saying about how people take, you know, something out of...
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Gallows humor. It's like, if you can't laugh, you laugh or cry. So I want to ask you something of... It's kind of... It's like a bigger question and there's another piece of it inside it too. I'm ready. Okay. Which is, so I'm really curious about this piece between, well, I guess I'm making an assumption that when you go through something like cancer, you feel like your body's betraying you.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
And I also am curious about that around if If there were any of your experiences that were impacted by the fact that you also have been seen as this like, you know, sex symbol and a hottie and was part of then that sort of other piece of it of like part of your... Like identity. Reclaiming your body really in ways and your identity with the photo shoot and with the ad. Yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Just sort of did that bring you back to yourself in a different way or are those completely separate things? From the beginning, I just...
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Yeah, yeah. Do you feel like, because we've talked about this before, like both of us having a love for Sloane Sabbath, do you feel like that role actually in a way sort of married? Because when I talk about you behind your back, I will say like, you're more like Sloane Sabbath, I think, because you're brilliant. You're really brilliant, really smart.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
But do you think that role... Because that was sort of where I first saw you as an actor. In fact, it was my mom who told me about the newsroom. She was like, you have to see this Olivia Munn girl. She's beautiful and incredible and all those things. That was Aaron Sorkin's writing.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
I've always been more of a Mackenzie, but wanting to be more Sloane Savitt. But, you know.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Do you think Erin found, like saw something in you that you didn't see in yourself yet that sort of ended up in the character that it was?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
So did, okay, did that, did you bring that to bear in the role? Yes, yes.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
You have a new show coming out, Your Friends and Neighbors, on Apple TV.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Yeah. I think we had dinner actually. I was struggling. Yeah. And you were trying to. Like I was just comatose. Make a decision. Yeah. About the medicine. About that. Yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Yeah. And had you gone public about your cancer before you were shooting this show or was... Right before. Okay. Right before. Okay.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
I'm so proud of you. Thank you so much. I feel like we're sitting on your sofa. I'm like imagining us sitting on the sofa. Ordering Thai food.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
I know because, you know, what choice? No, it's what it is, is that there I don't have like a studio studio. It's sort of move around. Yeah. So this was did they move these chairs? Uh huh.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
So, yeah, guys, I know. I need to break your back on her crystals. I probably have one in my purse. Well, actually, I have one for you because I'll give it to you after I give all my guests a crystal just as an exchange of energy. That's so sweet. OK, well, I'm going to ask you our final question that we ask everybody. So why?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
I'd like to know, is there anything that you're working on reclaiming right now? And that could be something personal or a physical object, anything that you feel in your life. That's a great question.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
So just a small PS for this episode. After chatting with Olivia, I went and did the breast cancer risk assessment tool myself. I think that's what it's called. If not, just Google Olivia Munn and breast cancer test and it will come up. And thankfully, my numbers were low, but it was a really great reminder to do something like that. So maybe you also want to do.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky is hosted and executive produced by me, Monica Lewinsky. Production services by WTF Media Studios. Our theme song is by Ben Benjamin and our music supervisor is Scott Velasquez. Our story producer is Elna Baker and our senior producer is Megan Donis. For Wondery, Eliza Mills is the development producer. Our managing producer is Taylor Sniffen.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Nick Ryan is our senior managing producer. Senior producers are Candice Manriquez-Wren and Emily Feldbrake. And executive producers are Dave Easton, Erin O'Flaherty, and Marshall Louis.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
But to hear her heartbreaking and inspiring story in the details that she shared in our conversation, it meant so much to me and made me admire her even more. And for any fans of the newsroom, we went there too. So anyway, I hope you find something to connect to in our chat. And thanks for joining us on Reclaiming. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Audible.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
I knew you were a badass. I didn't know you were that badass, Olivia.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Yeah. Yeah. all your stands, right? We'll go after that person too. Yes, yes, you're right. And so that's the thing where I think it's interesting to see something, a technology like that, bring, change a whole aspect of kind of our culture, our celebrity culture that way.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Visit audible.com slash reclaiming to find your next listen. Thank you to our sponsor, Reformation. Visit reformation.com to see why they're my go-to for stylish and sustainable fashion. Thank you for being here. I'm so happy to be here. I was so excited when you called. Aw, thanks. I was thinking about, you know, in having this chat, thinking about how we met. Oh my gosh, so long ago.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
What is so interesting to me is because I know you as all these wonderful things of kind and smart and funny and brave and you're an advocate. And so I wasn't surprised at all when you were awarded this Impact Award last year. But what's interesting is to sort of think about... John gave this great speech, and I have a quote from it. I think it went viral on there.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
But he said that, Olivia is constantly trying to keep me out of danger and keep me alive through a series of texts.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
But there were some good ones that he was like, baby, be so careful today. You could get monkey pox.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
And I wanted him to know. But it's interesting because then there was the other one of you said, please be so careful today. So many crazy things could come out of nowhere. And Sean's like, like what? And you say crazy cars.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
Oh, I'm sure. I'm sure. And I've not spent too much time, but I've spent time with both of you. And I love you guys as a couple. Aw, thanks so much. And I always leave spending time with you with like a new book or having heard something interesting that one of you has said. Same. Always feel better leaving our conversations. But it's interesting because...
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
I have been thinking about that, your impact award and how funny that speech was. And so it's just interesting to hear like how you were in this, in your youth of kind of this like Karate Olivia badass going to stand up to the bullies and then contrast that with the anxiety, right? That comes in and the nervousness there.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
And were you anxious at the same time when you were younger or is this something that came...
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Olivia Munn
I mean, well, I mean, you're younger than I am, but I, I don't, so I don't know for you, but I know for me growing up, we didn't, the anxiety was not a word that was used. It was like, oh, my stomach hurts. No, you know, no.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky early and ad free right now. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts, or you can listen for free wherever you get your podcasts. Hi guys, it's Monica. In today's episode, I spoke with my soulful friend, Molly Ringwald.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
You know, you've just sort of, you've known performance. I mean, we all know performance as kids, right? That's how we get attention from our parents, right?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Thank you. So happy to be here. Aw, thanks, Molly. It's funny because I was thinking about how on the way over that we were doing this in New York and how if we were in L.A., I would have worn my Molly shoes. Because I don't think you know that every time I see you, I like copy some outfit thing that you have some aspect.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Please love me, mommy. You don't have to be an actor to feel that way.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
You do. Thank you. I mean, like your entire career, always every performance, every performance. So on stage, too. I've seen you on stage many times.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Oh, my God. For anybody listening who hasn't heard Molly sing, she has an extraordinary voice. When you were saying before about having felt a little afraid and kind of maybe closing yourself off a bit, did you feel in some ways that were you trying to hold on to who you thought you were? Did you feel defined by how you were known in the press? Was there a separation there for you?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
And I bought these red heeled espadrilles a few years ago because I remembered you wearing heeled espadrilles with jeans and a cute top somewhere. And I was like, that's so cute. It looks so cute. And I've only worn the shoes once.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Thanks so much to Audible, our presenting sponsor. This year, why not let Audible expand your life by listening? Explore over 1 million audiobooks, podcasts, and exclusive Audible originals that'll inspire and motivate you. Just open the app and tap into your well-being with advice and insight from leading influencers, experts, and professionals.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
You'll find titles that enrich your life, relax you, and the ones I like best, titles that make you laugh. Whatever your focus or interest, there's a listen for it on Audible. Ultimately, it's all about starting good habits. Making a positive change is the best goal you can make for yourself and Audible can help. There's so much opportunity and more to imagine when you listen.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Were they not comfortable? No. No, they are. You know those items that you put them on and you're like, yeah, not today. Yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Let Audible help you reach the goals you set for yourself. Start listening today when you sign up for a free 30-day trial at audible.com slash reclaiming. Thanks so much to our sponsor, Reformation. I want to take a second to talk about one of my favorite clothing brands, Reformation. You've probably seen Reformation on Instagram or at a wedding. They make the best guesting dresses.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
But if you're like me, you may have thought that's all they do. Well, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Last year, they worked with Yours Truly and Vote.org on a campaign to empower voters to take part in the democratic process and show off their workwear. From doing the campaign and getting to know the brand even better, I love their sweaters, blouses, workwear, shoes, and bags.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
But most important, I love how confident I feel in their stuff. Plus, it really holds up since they make everything with super high-quality, sustainable materials. Reformation is also a brand that uses their growing platform to do good in the world, and especially in the sustainable fashion space. As they say, being naked is the number one most sustainable option. Reformation is number two.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
If you're looking for clothes you want to feel great in and feel better about, head to Reformation.com. You told this incredible story when—and it was interesting because I listened to it at the time and then listened to it again. You did this interview with Ira Glass for This American Life, and you were talking about this with your mom. I don't know if you feel like talking about it here.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Yeah. Especially that I find that happens a lot with vintage pieces. And I know you have a lot of vintage stuff. So, you know, I didn't know it at the time, but it turns out that when I was five, I saw you in Annie. No way. It was... like seared in my mind because it was actually the first time I went to a proper theater to see a musical or play. Who took you? My mom, my mom.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Oh, my gosh. Really? Do you think that's... Do you think that's true or do you think your sister heard your mom saying it and maybe she wanted it to be true? I mean, what do you think that was? Gosh, that would be, you know. I don't know.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Very, very funny. Memory and truth, right? They're two so subjective. Yeah. What did it feel like for you to sort of just always be told you're special? Did you ever have an experience then that you were confronted where you felt, oh, maybe that's not true, like in some way? Yeah. Yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
This was when you went to Paris. So in this phase, yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
And so my dad took me to see the movie version, which were you also in the movie? I was not. Okay. So I had already aged out by then.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Yeah. I mean, grief in general, Anderson Cooper has a great podcast on this. But I think that there's such a big, wide spectrum of grief. And it feels like that's close to the top of the list of those things that you wish they taught us when we were younger. I saw this thing on Insta the other day about parallelograms. And it was like,
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Yeah, I would have rather have learned about grief, how to move through grief than a fucking parallelogram. So, you know, that never, never became a thing for the rest of my life. So I hadn't experienced a few. I think it was actually in 2016. And I had gone back on medication at that point.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
and I'd gone, and my therapist is a trauma psychiatrist, and I'd gone in, and I was like, oh, I think I'm depressed, and maybe we need to up my meds, and blah, blah, blah, and talking, and she was like, no, this is just grief. And so I think we don't even learn how to identify that in that way, and I find I've gotten a little better with it. I know a lot of grief that I have experienced
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Aged out of like being a young person. And so it was, you know, it was interesting because that was seared in my mind. And then a few years later, I remembered, you know, seeing you on Facts of Life. And then when Sixteen Candles came out, it was, oh, it's the girl from Facts of Life, which, and I know you weren't always on.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
still carry and move through are sort of around just, not just the things that happened, but also what I lost in connection to that, right? The kinds of things that I didn't experience or go through. And I imagine even though there was a lot more positive things for you, that there were aspects of young adulthood or adolescence that you just didn't get to experience.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
And did that feel like a loss for you or just something you didn't know it, so it... I think it was...
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Interesting. I'm like now back thinking about college and how – because I went to graduate school late. That's right. So I was in my early 30s and much older than a lot of the other kids. And I so appreciated being spoon-fed knowledge. Yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
To have somebody hand you an outline for a lecture and to be given this and to just have your mind blown and constantly, you know, thinking of new things and putting things together. It is – it's such a gift that we don't appreciate at 18. At all.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Well, a gap year like they do in Europe, you know, so it's or several gap years. Yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
But you had such a presence and you had it from such a young age and sort of I felt like you brought this sense of depth. Like you just exemplified someone who is a layered person and had a lot of depth. And so I made that connection. And then, of course, watched all the John Hughes films six bajillion times. So in many ways, yeah. I felt kind of like I grew up with you.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
I think I felt more self-conscious about being Monica Lewinsky than being an older student. Yeah, it was a little harder. And I think it was.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
I think in terms of being older, that went away. So I think once I made friends, and I've always been a big believer of like, you just need one friend, one person to have lunch with, one person to go to the movies with. And I made several friends that I'm still close to today. But graduate school was really interesting for me because it sort of became the mirror of my trauma.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
So it was like all of the things that I hadn't totally understood had damaged me came to the surface. So I hadn't realized the impact of having been called stupid for such a long time. So I couldn't get up and give a presentation in class.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Like I was – and my imposter syndrome around I was afraid to go – like when we had to write essays and do dissertation, which I'd never done a dissertation or thesis, whatever it was. I was too – I was too worried about going to ask for help because I was anxious that what I needed help with, everybody else knew. And then they would like go, oh, you don't really belong here. Yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
You know, so there was that. Yeah. But you got through it. I did. I did. And you got skills that you use today, don't you? Well, yeah. I think, you know, I think I read Rashida Jones said this once somewhere and it was so perfect that I've stolen it, that a master's degree gives you a new lens. And so that is completely, you know, it really reoriented me.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
And how I looked at myself, my own story, but also what happened to me in the world because I was studying social psychology. But I – yeah. Go back to school. Well, I'm – You know, you can take one – I don't know how many classes you have to take a thing to be matriculated, but –
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
And I don't know, maybe your time in Paris was like this. But for me, it was like fumbling. I was just fumbling trying to move forward and didn't really know where. how to do that, which way to go, where to go. And so, okay, well, this isn't working. So what's the opposite of this? Okay, I'll try that. And that doesn't work. And you're, you know, kind of so.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Were you writing all along and it was just sort of one of those things where you eventually felt ready to let people read your writing? Or did you sort of start to discover that you were a writer?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
That's so interesting. I've never thought about the connection of, you know, I mean, obviously actors inhabit other people and personas, but but I haven't ever really thought about it or heard maybe of that. interest coming from sort of trying to understand the human condition better.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
We met back in 1999 through a mutual friend who just happened to be the inspiration for one of the most iconic characters of the 80s, Ducky from Pretty in Pink. You may know her from her other work too, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, or more recently, Ryan Murphy's feud, Capote versus the Swans.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
One thing I wanted to go back to, because you were mentioning it before, and this is in connection to John and the sort of early years, you wrote this extraordinary piece in The New Yorker. um, in 2018 about exactly like what you were saying before about recontextualizing, I think for, um, for today's world, like what these films meant.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
And so just, I don't know, can you like sum up the article or just, you know, what did you know?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
When that happened being showing your kids or Me Too?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
You know, I think I think I mean, that's in some ways. Right. That's the the gift of emotional truth. Right. So like, yes, it's important to see yourself in different ways. Right. So whether it's your skin color or your body type or your nationality or, you know, all those things. Right. But I think that.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
probably there was so much emotional truth in those films that, like, you can't help but find yourself in there somewhere, you know?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Thank you. Yeah, no, it's... But it's interesting because we then met in 1999 through... I guess it was like... Well, through Matt, which it turns out Ducky was sort of based. Is that true? It is true. Oh, my gosh. OK.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Yeah. But wait, do you feel like you couldn't tell that story now?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
I'm EPing, we're in the process of shooting, so I'm EPing the Amanda Knox limited dramatic series for Hulu, so... Very exciting. Yeah. It's another story of a young woman who becomes public property, right?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
So, and I think that, you know, we've seen over the years, especially as we look back now, you know, even when it's positive attention, like what you had, there is a price to pay to be owned by the world when you're very young. Yeah. Yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
I mean, that's that's in a good wave or a bad wave, like because I'd be afraid to be swept up in a wave.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Yeah. Did you did you talk about like did you have a Harvey experience?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Yeah. I think this complicated thing happens in society where—and with change, where a big cultural change happens. And— it somehow feels like it's a switch that went, you know, like it was off and now it's on. And now everything is binary about is it from the off or the on or the before or the after or the yes or the no.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
And it's so – and one of the things I appreciate about your writing is the nuance. And I think, you know, and that's what I hear you saying now of like trying to unpack these, you know – experiences and I went through the same thing. I think like with my own of just kind of first feeling and I know you
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
said a similar sentiment in your piece too, of like, am I the voice that like, there are a lot of other voices that should maybe be heard in this subject area. That's how I felt for myself. But I think that way of just trying to think, okay, how do we, how do you reprocess, but also allow yourself space to go and, Yes, it was that, but no, it wasn't that.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
And also, I think I was very and have always been mindful of, gosh, I don't want to be getting on some bus that everybody's getting on. And like we, you know, it's always been really important to me to sort of differentiate the, yeah, there was abuse of power, but it was not sexual assault. You know, my experiences from 98.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Really? I don't know. I mean, I always come away from our conversations and feel sort of renewed and like I've thought about something in a different way. And I've always been so impressed by how you've, especially over the years, like you've become an unpacker, like a real unpacker of looking at things and reevaluating and I've
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
heard you talk about things in ways that are so like emotionally and spiritually impressive, if that makes sense.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Yeah, no, it's interesting. I mean, we've known each other for a really long time, really long time.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
It was, it was very, um, I mean, I'm crying, but it happened to you.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
So I mean, just like, I think to explain, right. That the, uh, I had gone to temple, I think it was Yom Kippur. I'd gone to temple with some of my relatives here in New York and I wasn't a member of the congregation. And so the rabbi had used me as a negative example of something in his life. in his speech.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
And it was, and it's interesting because I feel myself now, because I remember the moment of just, I just shut down. Like I just, I become so used to being publicly shamed in different ways. And so I think that it was jarring because it was an unexpected place. I just feel I can, it's like a cement wall just sort of comes down like a gate, you know? So you're so sweet.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
So I like to ask everybody at the end if there is anything that you are working on reclaiming right now. And it doesn't have to necessarily be an emotional thing. It could be anything that you have lost or had stolen that you're trying to get back. So it could be a memory or an object or, you know, or an experience. Yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky is hosted and executive produced by me, Monica Lewinsky. Production services by WTF Media Studios. Our theme song is by Ben Benjamin and our music supervisor is Scott Velasquez. Our story producer is Elna Baker and our senior producer is Megan Donis. For Wondery, Eliza Mills is the development producer. Our managing producer is Taylor Sniffen.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Nick Ryan is our senior managing producer. Senior producers are Candice Manriquez-Wren and Emily Feldbrink. And executive producers are Dave Easton, Erin O'Flaherty, and Marshall Louis.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Wow. And he also wrote 16 Candles based on, is it like just seeing your headshot?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
And while I've known Molly for 25 years, I had never actually talked to her about being catapulted into fame at such a young age. And so as someone who became well-known overnight unintentionally, I was interested to talk to Molly about how she navigated becoming a superstar after acting in a string of coming-of-age films.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
um he said the girl that i wrote this about and so we met and um yeah and it's an extraordinary story yeah i mean it's pretty wild and did you know that at the time like going into the film were you aware of that of just sort of the impact that you had on someone to as a muse like to be that young and you inspired this entire film
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Like strange experiences. still complimentary or strange, weird, creepy in any way?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
It's interesting to become, I found for me in my experiences to sort of reach an age that other people were at when they were doing certain things and you just think, in a million fucking years, I would never like, I wouldn't, I wouldn't want to have a relationship with a 24 year old or 22 year old, you know, or, you know, it's sort of that idea of writing something.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
And, and you think about the things that are in 16 candles. And when you look at it as an adult through the prism of someone staring at your photo in 16 Yeah. So, I mean, look, I know he's such an important person in your life.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Anyway, I hope you find something to connect to in our conversation, and thanks for joining us on Reclaiming. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Audible. Visit audible.com slash reclaiming to find your next listen. Thank you to our sponsor, Reformation. Visit reformation.com to see why they're my go-to for stylish and sustainable fashion. Thank you so much for doing this. Welcome to Reclining.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Knowing we were chatting, I was thinking about when we met and how it had actually only been a year since I had become a public person. And my experience had been so weird of... Going to bed one night with only a few thousand people ever having met me or knowing me and then waking up and it's, you know, I'm all of a sudden a public person.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
And so this entry into public life was really different than most people's, but you were so young. And so I just... When did you realize you were famous? And, like, did you? And what did that mean to you? And did you know of other famous people and then connected that you were one of them? Or did you, you know—
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
This was, I think, when I was a teenager, when I started to make the John Hughes movies. Wow. Was there one, like, an incident or a moment that you sort of felt... Oh, I now feel that fear.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Molly Ringwald
Yeah. Well, and also it's always been interesting to me from my experiences of thinking about like that we say taking a picture and because people are taking something from you. And a lot of times with paparazzi, it's without your consent, you know, so that you're somehow – a free commodity for people because you become a public person. Yeah. I can't believe actually that you were three.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky early and ad free right now. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts, or you can listen for free wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, hi. Monica here. For today's episode, I spoke with my badass friend, Kara Swisher.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
I want to start out talking about just sort of setting the stage for how we became friends. So I think we first connected on Twitter and then through our mutual friend, Brooke Hammerling, a bit more. Then you kindly were interviewed for a documentary on public shaming cancel culture. Yes, for that great documentary you did. Thank you, that I exec produced.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
I think if they probably have an emotional charge or a trauma to them, they're probably still in there somewhere.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
I don't want to derail us too much, but I had a really unique experience when we were filming a documentary for the 20-year anniversary. 20-year anniversary of the impeachment, and the director of the doc had FOIAed some video. Oh, I love you. And so they had found this video from when my family and I had gone to a radio address.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
And we still didn't meet in person because of COVID then. And then the first time we actually met in person was when you interviewed me for Sway. My favorite interview.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
And so I had a very clear memory of that day, and then they asked me to watch the footage. And I realized in that gap between hearing about the footage and watching it that I thought, what am I going to do? What the fuck if it's not how I remembered it? It's not, right? But it was. It was. Okay, well, you have a good memory then.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
But it was just so interesting because that's such an unusual experience, right, to hold a memory. But now we have digital memories of everything now.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
And it's good. It's healthy. I mean, do you think some of that comes from what you experienced with your dad's passing?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Uh-huh. Not fine, but... And does some of that come from... Because I know that there was then that point where your mom got remarried, right? Yes, a terrible person. Right. And so he... Still not dead, unfortunately. Oh, he's not? No. Okay. He's tried to reach me. And is he... Are he and your mom still married? No, no, no, no, no. Okay. No, they broke up.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Oh, thanks, Kara. That was, it was special. It was. It was special. I mean, it's funny because I was thinking about how we did it in that music studio.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
I understand falling in love with a narcissist. Yes, you do. Exactly. Right. What do you do?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
How did you know with your stepdad to trust yourself and your sense of self instead of what most young people do, which is absorb the negativity that an adult is giving to them?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
And I got it right away. Thanks so much to Audible, our presenting sponsor. This year, why not let Audible expand your life by listening? Explore over 1 million audiobooks, podcasts, and exclusive Audible originals that'll inspire and motivate you. Just open the app and tap into your well-being with advice and insight from leading influencers, experts, and professionals.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
You'll find titles that enrich your life, relax you, and the ones I like best, titles that make you laugh. Whatever your focus or interest, there's a listen for it on Audible. Ultimately, it's all about starting good habits. Making a positive change is the best goal you can make for yourself and Audible can help. There's so much opportunity and more to imagine when you listen.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Let Audible help you reach the goals you set for yourself. Start listening today when you sign up for a free 30-day trial at audible.com slash reclaiming. Thanks so much to our sponsor, Reformation. I want to take a second to talk about one of my favorite clothing brands, Reformation. You've probably seen Reformation on Instagram or at a wedding. They make the best guesting dresses.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
But if you're like me, you may have thought, that's all they do. Well, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Last year, they worked with Yours Truly and Vote.org on a campaign to empower voters to take part in the democratic process and show off their workwear. From doing the campaign and getting to know the brand even better, I love their sweaters, blouses, workwear, shoes, and bags.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
I know. Because we did it in the morning, and I'm sure they were recording all night. But I realized, too, I was thinking about that it actually might have been a good thing because— Because you were high. Yeah, and it calmed me down, and I was so nervous. I was really nervous. I was terrified to be interviewed by you.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
But most important, I love how confident I feel in their stuff. Plus, it really holds up since they make everything with super high-quality, sustainable materials. Reformation is also a brand that uses their growing platform to do good in the world, and especially in the sustainable fashion space. As they say, being naked is the number one most sustainable option. Reformation is number two.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
If you're looking for clothes you want to feel great in and feel better about, head to Reformation.com. I think I read a quote, I'm going to butcher it, but the gist of it being kind of like when you've lost a parent at such a young age, like you can't give any fucks anymore. You can't. There are no fucks to give anymore because you have the time.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Yeah, even though I knew you were kind, but because you're so exacting and intuitive— And I felt like if anybody was going to smell my imposter syndrome, it was going to be you. You're not an imposter is the thing. I know, but— If you were, it would be harder. I know, but it's that— I think I'm an authentic person, but trying to find myself out there as an adult in different ways has been hard.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
It was interesting. I read somewhere this, just this sentence or statement, whatever, about that we never know when our last breath is. We don't. We don't. And I just thought that sort of reframed.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
I mean, is it in a way, is it? jujitsu-ing, like how people experience death.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
I remember I was asking you if you knew anybody single at some point. You were like, here's the deal. If you end up with someone I set you up with and they have a plane, I get to ride on the plane whenever I want. I was like, that is a totally fair deal. Yeah.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
He sent you an email, right? Yeah. What was the subject?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Yeah. I've only met him once, but I was seated next to him at the Vanity Fair Oscar dinner one year. So this was pre-pandemic. Yep. I remember that one. Yeah. He was single then.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
No, no. This must have been 2018. I remember. And so it was so interesting because he answered every question I asked him. Yeah, he used to be that way. But he didn't... He didn't ask me any questions and it's like a really long dinner. Yeah. So I basically took to just pretending he asked me the question I asked him back and then I answered. Oh, wow.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Because I was like, I don't know how to have a conversation this way. So, I mean, I had asked him about like if he hadn't become Elon Musk and Tesla and all that, what would he have wanted to be? And so he said a science fiction writer. Yeah, he loves science fiction. Yeah. So he said he used to write it when he was younger. He did.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Do you feel like you sort of got like a Jedi school, went to a Jedi school for these kinds of things? Elon Musk's and they got their next.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Yeah. Yeah. One of the things I think that surprised me in reading your book is that I now knew you, so I knew you to be kind, but there was sort of a mushy part to you as a parent, which was a little surprising to me, I think. Like, I knew you loved your kids, but there's a real...
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Lesbians are good at that. I froze my eggs. Oh, you did? Yeah. And my doctor had me do... And I did around... We used some of the eggs and made embryos. And that whole process of buying jizz on the internet is... Yeah, at the time, I did it the old-fashioned way. It's so weird.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
What happens now if he hears the... I don't think he knows that. Okay. I think that's an experiment to do. Like to watch Law and Order with him and see if he twitches or something.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Yeah. You talked a bit in the book too about how your experiences, sorry, I keep going back to when you were younger, but it's super fascinating to me, even though you were five and I was 24. But this idea of disruption in those traumatic events that put you on a different path.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Yeah. You have a tattoo, right? I have several. Okay. I was so surprised. I did not peg you as a tattoo.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Right. And you were, like, the directions you were initially thinking about, was it foreign service? Yeah. Yeah. But then you went into journalism. Yes.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
How did that devastating loss when you were so young end up becoming something that was like a superpower for you?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
You probably know her as a tech journalist, an author, and host of both Pivot with Scott Galloway and On with Kara Swisher. So I've always known Kara to be smart as fuck, direct and kind, but I didn't expect her to reveal kind of such a soft side that she did in our conversation. And truthfully, it made me love her even more. So anyway, I hope you find something to connect with in our chat.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
When I read that bit in the Washington Post, it was like I just wanted to pick up little Kara and put you on my lap and give you some cuddles.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Yeah. Do you think he would have ended up as the same person?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
This reminds me of, so I had this funny experience reading your book, which is I like to go out to dinner by myself sometimes and read. And I laughed out loud so, it was so loud that I had to apologize to the people next to me. Never apologize. And it was for laughing. I know, but you know, other people are, I was at bungalows.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
And so it was like, you know, and you were talking about your prick to productivity. Productivity ratio, yeah. Okay, you explain it because you'll do it better.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
With all the discussion about men and the men in technology in Silicon Valley, what do you think... the tech world and in particular social media would look like if we had had... Women. If it had been run by women.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
What is something that you have lost that you would like to find or reclaim or recreate? And it could be a physical object, a place, or a part of your identity. Oh, it would have to be my dad.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky is hosted and executive produced by me, Monica Lewinsky. Production services by WTF Media Studios. Our theme song is by Ben Benjamin and our music supervisor is Scott Velasquez. Our story producer is Elna Baker and our senior producer is Megan Donis. For Wondery, Eliza Mills is the development producer. Our managing producer is Taylor Sniffen.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Nick Ryan is our senior managing producer. Senior producers are Candice Manriquez-Wren and Emily Feldbrake. And executive producers are Dave Easton, Erin O'Flaherty, and Marshall Louis.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Yeah. Well, one of the things that I admire so much about you is that you've just you have sort of a confidence and self-possession in a way. And I think the best example of that is what I think of as the toast story. Will you tell it?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
And thanks for joining us on Reclaiming. So let's get into it. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Audible. Visit audible.com slash reclaiming to find your next listen. Thank you to our sponsor, Reformation. Visit reformation.com to see why they're my go-to for stylish and sustainable fashion. Kara Swisher, welcome to Reclaim. Thank you. Thank you.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
I know. Yeah, yeah. That's your weakness. Yes, exactly, exactly. Well, you definitely, you have lots of superpowers. And I think one of the other things that's so interesting about you is that you're sort of this modern day Cassandra, right? you know, for what's happening in technology. I'm so sorry to be right. Yeah, exactly.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
But I think it was like in the 90s, you predicted sort of the digitization of media, right? You had a saying of something. Everything that can be digitized will be digitized. Yeah, exactly. And then you told Mark Zuckerberg that Facebook, right, that there was like Facebook could be used as a propaganda machine. Yes.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
He's playing a—what do they say? It's like chess on 12 levels?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
So we're in this what the fuck moment now. Can you give me two or three predictions of what you see coming down the pike now that Trump's president?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
For anyone who doesn't know you, can you give them context?
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
You know, what I sort of wonder just because— As you mentioned before when we were talking just briefly of I've done a fair amount of work in the anti-bullying space. Yeah. And so I'm so disheartened at this moment and at the same time feel like, okay, if the kind of work we can do helps one kid. Sure. Right? Mm-hmm.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
Very good parts of it. But mostly it's negative. Right. I mean, do you have thoughts yet about what we can do to preserve it, to bring back? Well, it didn't come back. You're saying bring back what? It was never good. Why? No, I think there was a sense—I think there was always the potential for— Community. Right.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
And so—and I also think not only community, but I think that there's, you know, there's a sense of empathy in a way that can be fostered by seeing and understanding other cultures, by hearing more stories. That's correct.
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Kara Swisher
But it's rare, like the ice bucket challenge, I think, was something that, you know, for every one of those, there's 10 really terrible examples. One of the things I wanted to ask you about was around these early experiences you had in your family. And you wrote this really incredible article in 1989 for the Washington Post. And there's this quote from there.
Snapped: Women Who Murder
BONUS: De'Asia Page and Jared Kemp (Snapped: Killer Couples)
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Snapped: Women Who Murder
BONUS: De'Asia Page and Jared Kemp (Snapped: Killer Couples)
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Snapped: Women Who Murder
BONUS: De'Asia Page and Jared Kemp (Snapped: Killer Couples)
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Snapped: Women Who Murder
BONUS: Kristi Koslow and Brian Salter (Snapped: Killer Couples)
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Snapped: Women Who Murder
BONUS: Kristi Koslow and Brian Salter (Snapped: Killer Couples)
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
Snapped: Women Who Murder
Aria Armstead
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Snapped: Women Who Murder
Aria Armstead
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Snapped: Women Who Murder
Aria Armstead
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Snapped: Women Who Murder
Judy Naylor
Finally, maybe this would lead rich and powerful people to acknowledge the barbaric nature of our health care system.
Snapped: Women Who Murder
Judy Naylor
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
The Megyn Kelly Show
Epstein Files Debacle, and Trump Spars with Zelensky in Oval Office, with Emily Jashinsky and Red Scare Hosts | Ep. 1016
I think that the right way to handle a situation like that would have been to probably say it was, you know, nobody's business and to resign, you know, or to find a way to find a way of staying in office that was not lying and not throwing a young person who was just starting out in the world under the bus. And at the same time, I'm hearing myself say that. And it's like, yeah,
The Megyn Kelly Show
Epstein Files Debacle, and Trump Spars with Zelensky in Oval Office, with Emily Jashinsky and Red Scare Hosts | Ep. 1016
Okay, but we're also talking about the most powerful office in the world, you know? So I don't want to be naive either.
Watch What Crappens
#2777 RHOBH S1417 Part Two: Bird Brained Carnies
Follow Even the Royals on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Even the Royals early and ad-free by joining Wondery Plus.
Watch What Crappens
#2777 RHOBH S1417 Part Two: Bird Brained Carnies
Have you ever wondered how a circus performer could become the most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire?
Watch What Crappens
#2777 RHOBH S1417 Part Two: Bird Brained Carnies
Before she ruled an empire, Theodora was a teen sensation in circus shows featuring dancing bears, burlesque performers, and blood-soaked chariot races. But when her star came crashing down, she clawed her way from rock bottom to the very top, using everything from comedy to espionage to get there.
Watch What Crappens
#2743 RHOBH S1413 Part Two: Caviar Taste on a Doritos Budget
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2743 RHOBH S1413 Part Two: Caviar Taste on a Doritos Budget
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2743 RHOBH S1413 Part Two: Caviar Taste on a Doritos Budget
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2743 RHOBH S1413 Part Two: Caviar Taste on a Doritos Budget
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2742 RHOBH S1413 Part One: Caviar Taste on a Doritos Budget
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2742 RHOBH S1413 Part One: Caviar Taste on a Doritos Budget
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2742 RHOBH S1413 Part One: Caviar Taste on a Doritos Budget
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2742 RHOBH S1413 Part One: Caviar Taste on a Doritos Budget
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2735 RHOBH S1412 Stars and Gripes Forever
Yeah. Here comes one right now. At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2735 RHOBH S1412 Stars and Gripes Forever
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2735 RHOBH S1412 Stars and Gripes Forever
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2735 RHOBH S1412 Stars and Gripes Forever
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2726 RHOBH S1411 Part Two: Reba McEnTerror
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2726 RHOBH S1411 Part Two: Reba McEnTerror
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2726 RHOBH S1411 Part Two: Reba McEnTerror
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2726 RHOBH S1411 Part Two: Reba McEnTerror
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2725 RHOBH S1411 Part One: Reba McEnTerror
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2725 RHOBH S1411 Part One: Reba McEnTerror
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2725 RHOBH S1411 Part One: Reba McEnTerror
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2725 RHOBH S1411 Part One: Reba McEnTerror
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2751 RHOBH S1414 Part Two: Runway or Another I’m Gonna Get You Get You Get You Get You
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2751 RHOBH S1414 Part Two: Runway or Another I’m Gonna Get You Get You Get You Get You
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2751 RHOBH S1414 Part Two: Runway or Another I’m Gonna Get You Get You Get You Get You
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2751 RHOBH S1414 Part Two: Runway or Another I’m Gonna Get You Get You Get You Get You
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2750 RHOBH S1414 Part One: Runway or Another I’m Gonna Get You Get You Get You Get You
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2750 RHOBH S1414 Part One: Runway or Another I’m Gonna Get You Get You Get You Get You
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2750 RHOBH S1414 Part One: Runway or Another I’m Gonna Get You Get You Get You Get You
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2750 RHOBH S1414 Part One: Runway or Another I’m Gonna Get You Get You Get You Get You
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Watch What Crappens
#2750 RHOBH S1414 Part One: Runway or Another I’m Gonna Get You Get You Get You Get You
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2749 Crappy Hour 3/3/35: Venita’s Does Timelines, Karen Huger Does Time
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2749 Crappy Hour 3/3/35: Venita’s Does Timelines, Karen Huger Does Time
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2749 Crappy Hour 3/3/35: Venita’s Does Timelines, Karen Huger Does Time
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2749 Crappy Hour 3/3/35: Venita’s Does Timelines, Karen Huger Does Time
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2748 Southern Hospitality S03E09: Kitty Cornered
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2748 Southern Hospitality S03E09: Kitty Cornered
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2748 Southern Hospitality S03E09: Kitty Cornered
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2748 Southern Hospitality S03E09: Kitty Cornered
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2741 Below Deck Down Under S03E04 Part Two: No Excuses, Brah
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2741 Below Deck Down Under S03E04 Part Two: No Excuses, Brah
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2741 Below Deck Down Under S03E04 Part Two: No Excuses, Brah
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2741 Below Deck Down Under S03E04 Part Two: No Excuses, Brah
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2740 Below Deck Down Under S03E04 Part One: No Excuses, Brah
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Watch What Crappens
#2768 Below Deck Down Under S03E07: Letters From a Go-Go Poet
Have you ever wondered how a circus performer could become the most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire?
Watch What Crappens
#2768 Below Deck Down Under S03E07: Letters From a Go-Go Poet
Before she ruled an empire, Theodora was a teen sensation in circus shows featuring dancing bears, burlesque performers, and blood-soaked chariot races. But when her star came crashing down, she clawed her way from rock bottom to the very top, using everything from comedy to espionage to get there.
Watch What Crappens
#2768 Below Deck Down Under S03E07: Letters From a Go-Go Poet
Follow Even the Royals on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Even the Royals early and ad-free by joining Wondery+.
Watch What Crappens
#2768 Below Deck Down Under S03E07: Letters From a Go-Go Poet
And I'm Monica Padman.
Watch What Crappens
#2767 Crappy Hour 3/17/25: Dorit V Debts, Jax V Cocaine, Carl V Literature, Bravoleb Pods
Have you ever wondered how a circus performer could become the most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire?
Watch What Crappens
#2767 Crappy Hour 3/17/25: Dorit V Debts, Jax V Cocaine, Carl V Literature, Bravoleb Pods
Before she ruled an empire, Theodora was a teen sensation in circus shows featuring dancing bears, burlesque performers, and blood-soaked chariot races. But when her star came crashing down, she clawed her way from rock bottom to the very top, using everything from comedy to espionage to get there.
Watch What Crappens
#2767 Crappy Hour 3/17/25: Dorit V Debts, Jax V Cocaine, Carl V Literature, Bravoleb Pods
Follow Even the Royals on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Even the Royals early and ad-free by joining Wondery+.
Watch What Crappens
#2767 Crappy Hour 3/17/25: Dorit V Debts, Jax V Cocaine, Carl V Literature, Bravoleb Pods
And I'm Monica Padman.
Watch What Crappens
#2766 RHOA S16E02 Part Two: Grilling the Hot Dog Man
Have you ever wondered how a circus performer could become the most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire?
Watch What Crappens
#2766 RHOA S16E02 Part Two: Grilling the Hot Dog Man
Before she ruled an empire, Theodora was a teen sensation in circus shows featuring dancing bears, burlesque performers, and blood-soaked chariot races. But when her star came crashing down, she clawed her way from rock bottom to the very top, using everything from comedy to espionage to get there.
Watch What Crappens
#2766 RHOA S16E02 Part Two: Grilling the Hot Dog Man
Follow Even the Royals on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Even the Royals early and ad-free by joining Wondery+.
Watch What Crappens
#2766 RHOA S16E02 Part Two: Grilling the Hot Dog Man
And you're writing self-help books to teach other men how to be rich. Right.
Watch What Crappens
#2765 RHOA S16E02 Part One: Grilling the Hot Dog Man
Have you ever wondered how a circus performer could become the most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire?
Watch What Crappens
#2765 RHOA S16E02 Part One: Grilling the Hot Dog Man
Before she ruled an empire, Theodora was a teen sensation in circus shows featuring dancing bears, burlesque performers, and blood-soaked chariot races. But when her star came crashing down, she clawed her way from rock bottom to the very top, using everything from comedy to espionage to get there.
Watch What Crappens
#2765 RHOA S16E02 Part One: Grilling the Hot Dog Man
Follow Even the Royals on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Even the Royals early and ad-free by joining Wondery+.
Watch What Crappens
#2733 Below Deck Down Under S03E03: Sous You, Sous Me
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2733 Below Deck Down Under S03E03: Sous You, Sous Me
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2733 Below Deck Down Under S03E03: Sous You, Sous Me
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2733 Below Deck Down Under S03E03: Sous You, Sous Me
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2794 Below Deck Down Under S03E10 Part One: Cuddle Chaos
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2794 Below Deck Down Under S03E10 Part One: Cuddle Chaos
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2794 Below Deck Down Under S03E10 Part One: Cuddle Chaos
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2747 Below Deck Down Under S03E05: Leaky Blunders
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2747 Below Deck Down Under S03E05: Leaky Blunders
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2747 Below Deck Down Under S03E05: Leaky Blunders
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2747 Below Deck Down Under S03E05: Leaky Blunders
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2744 Summer House S09E03: UnDiplo-matic Relations
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2744 Summer House S09E03: UnDiplo-matic Relations
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2744 Summer House S09E03: UnDiplo-matic Relations
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2744 Summer House S09E03: UnDiplo-matic Relations
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2771 Summer House S906: Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Loverboy
And I'm Monica Padman.
Watch What Crappens
#2771 Summer House S906: Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Loverboy
Have you ever wondered how a circus performer could become the most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire?
Watch What Crappens
#2771 Summer House S906: Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Loverboy
Before she ruled an empire, Theodora was a teen sensation in circus shows featuring dancing bears, burlesque performers, and blood-soaked chariot races. But when her star came crashing down, she clawed her way from rock bottom to the very top, using everything from comedy to espionage to get there.
Watch What Crappens
#2771 Summer House S906: Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Loverboy
Follow Even the Royals on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Even the Royals early and ad-free by joining Wondery+.
Watch What Crappens
#2770 Denise Richards and her Wild Things S0105: You Put My Love On Top (Chef)
Follow Even the Royals on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Even the Royals early and ad-free by joining Wondery+.
Watch What Crappens
#2770 Denise Richards and her Wild Things S0105: You Put My Love On Top (Chef)
And I'm Monica Padman.
Watch What Crappens
#2770 Denise Richards and her Wild Things S0105: You Put My Love On Top (Chef)
Have you ever wondered how a circus performer could become the most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire?
Watch What Crappens
#2770 Denise Richards and her Wild Things S0105: You Put My Love On Top (Chef)
Before she ruled an empire, Theodora was a teen sensation in circus shows featuring dancing bears, burlesque performers, and blood-soaked chariot races. But when her star came crashing down, she clawed her way from rock bottom to the very top, using everything from comedy to espionage to get there.
Watch What Crappens
#2736 Summer House S09E02: Broken Hearts and Middle Parts
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2736 Summer House S09E02: Broken Hearts and Middle Parts
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2736 Summer House S09E02: Broken Hearts and Middle Parts
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2736 Summer House S09E02: Broken Hearts and Middle Parts
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2727 Summer House S09E01: Taco Contract in the Oven
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2727 Summer House S09E01: Taco Contract in the Oven
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2727 Summer House S09E01: Taco Contract in the Oven
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2727 Summer House S09E01: Taco Contract in the Oven
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2753 Summer House S09E4 Part One: The Hannah That Rocks The Cradle
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2753 Summer House S09E4 Part One: The Hannah That Rocks The Cradle
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2753 Summer House S09E4 Part One: The Hannah That Rocks The Cradle
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2753 Summer House S09E4 Part One: The Hannah That Rocks The Cradle
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2752 Denise Richards and her Wild Things S0101-02:Rants and Raves
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2752 Denise Richards and her Wild Things S0101-02:Rants and Raves
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2752 Denise Richards and her Wild Things S0101-02:Rants and Raves
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2752 Denise Richards and her Wild Things S0101-02:Rants and Raves
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2772 Southern Charm S10E15: Soirée For Your Loss - Live in Charlotte
And I'm Monica Padman.
Watch What Crappens
#2772 Southern Charm S10E15: Soirée For Your Loss - Live in Charlotte
Have you ever wondered how a circus performer could become the most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire?
Watch What Crappens
#2772 Southern Charm S10E15: Soirée For Your Loss - Live in Charlotte
Before she ruled an empire, Theodora was a teen sensation in circus shows featuring dancing bears, burlesque performers, and blood-soaked chariot races. But when her star came crashing down, she clawed her way from rock bottom to the very top, using everything from comedy to espionage to get there.
Watch What Crappens
#2772 Southern Charm S10E15: Soirée For Your Loss - Live in Charlotte
Follow Even the Royals on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Even the Royals early and ad-free by joining Wondery+.
Watch What Crappens
#2764 Southern Charm S10 E14 Live in Minneapolis: Barber of Say-villain
And I'm Monica Padman.
Watch What Crappens
#2764 Southern Charm S10 E14 Live in Minneapolis: Barber of Say-villain
Have you ever wondered how a circus performer could become the most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire?
Watch What Crappens
#2764 Southern Charm S10 E14 Live in Minneapolis: Barber of Say-villain
Before she ruled an empire, Theodora was a teen sensation in circus shows featuring dancing bears, burlesque performers, and blood-soaked chariot races. But when her star came crashing down, she clawed her way from rock bottom to the very top, using everything from comedy to espionage to get there.
Watch What Crappens
#2764 Southern Charm S10 E14 Live in Minneapolis: Barber of Say-villain
Follow Even the Royals on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Even the Royals early and ad-free by joining Wondery+.
Watch What Crappens
#2729 2025 Golden Crappies Act One
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2729 2025 Golden Crappies Act One
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2729 2025 Golden Crappies Act One
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2729 2025 Golden Crappies Act One
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2757 RHOA S16E01 Part Two: Pretty As a Peach
At 24, I lost my narrative or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2757 RHOA S16E01 Part Two: Pretty As a Peach
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2757 RHOA S16E01 Part Two: Pretty As a Peach
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2757 RHOA S16E01 Part Two: Pretty As a Peach
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2756 RHOA S16E01 Part One: Pretty As a Peach
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2756 RHOA S16E01 Part One: Pretty As a Peach
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2756 RHOA S16E01 Part One: Pretty As a Peach
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2756 RHOA S16E01 Part One: Pretty As a Peach
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2723 Southern Hospitality S03E06: A Graceless Debut
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2723 Southern Hospitality S03E06: A Graceless Debut
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2723 Southern Hospitality S03E06: A Graceless Debut
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2723 Southern Hospitality S03E06: A Graceless Debut
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2793 RHOA S16E05 Part Two: Out of this Twirled
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2793 RHOA S16E05 Part Two: Out of this Twirled
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2793 RHOA S16E05 Part Two: Out of this Twirled
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2792 RHOA S16E05 Part One: Out of this Twirled
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2792 RHOA S16E05 Part One: Out of this Twirled
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2792 RHOA S16E05 Part One: Out of this Twirled
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2746 RHOP S9E20 Reunion 3: Rent a Poor
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2746 RHOP S9E20 Reunion 3: Rent a Poor
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2746 RHOP S9E20 Reunion 3: Rent a Poor
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2746 RHOP S9E20 Reunion 3: Rent a Poor
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2745 Southern Charm S10E12 Garsh Expectations on Shudder Island
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2745 Southern Charm S10E12 Garsh Expectations on Shudder Island
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2745 Southern Charm S10E12 Garsh Expectations on Shudder Island
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2745 Southern Charm S10E12 Garsh Expectations on Shudder Island
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2737 Southern Charm S10E11 Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)
At 24, I lost my narrative or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2737 Southern Charm S10E11 Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2737 Southern Charm S10E11 Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2737 Southern Charm S10E11 Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2797 RHOBH Live in Boston: Meme Streets of Bel Air
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2797 RHOBH Live in Boston: Meme Streets of Bel Air
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names, about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2797 RHOBH Live in Boston: Meme Streets of Bel Air
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2755 Southern Charm S10E13: Dunce On This Island
At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again.
Watch What Crappens
#2755 Southern Charm S10E13: Dunce On This Island
So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks, both recognizable and unrecognizable names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of Reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up. They connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful.
Watch What Crappens
#2755 Southern Charm S10E13: Dunce On This Island
Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts.
Watch What Crappens
#2755 Southern Charm S10E13: Dunce On This Island
I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky wherever you get your podcasts.