Extended Scenes
A podcast about redefining success in the second half of life. Hosted by Jennifer Romolini.
Episodes
"A belief in the everydayness of the work" — with Kashana Cauley
My guest this week is Kashana Cauley. Kashana is a former anti-trust lawyer who went on to become a Twitter star, a television writer and now a novelist. She’s the author of THE PAYBACK, which came out earlier this year ,and THE SURVIVALISTS, which was published in 2023. Kashana has also written for shows like The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and is a former contributing writer for the New Yo
The Instagram of it All — with Alexandra Auder
My guest this week is Alexandra Auder Alex is a writer and actress and a sometime yoga instructor who was born in New York City’s Chelsea Hotel (her mother was Warhol Superstar Viva). She came of age in Manhattan’s downtown art scene which she writes about beautifully in the critically acclaimed memoir, Don’t Call Me Home. As an actress, she’s been featured in HBO’s High Maintenance and has
Mid-life chaos clowns — with Kimberly Harrington!
My guest this week is Kimberly Harrington. Kimberly is the author of BUT YOU SEEMED SO HAPPY, about her separation and subsequent divorce, and AMATEUR HOUR about parenting. Her work is also included in the collection KEEP SCROLLING TILL YOU FEEL SOMETHING: TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF HUMOR FROM MCSWEENEY’S INTERNET TENDENCY. Kimberly's a long-time copywriter and creative director whose clients have i
Porn like you've never considered it — with Molly Lambert
My guest this week is the the writer, television producer and podcast creator and host Molly Lambert. Molly’s written for a ton of places including the New York Times and Pitchfork. She’s the author of the book Double Acts in Pop, about duos in pop music, which came out earlier this year. And she wrote, produced and hosted the 2022 podcast "HeidiWorld" about the life of madam Heidi FleissMoll
"Success is survival" — with Alex Pappademas
My guest this week is the pop culture writer, editor and critic Alex Pappademas. Alex is the author of two books, "Keanu Reeves: Most Triumphant" and "Quantum Criminals," about the songs of Steely Dan, which he wrote in collaboration with the artist Joan LeMay. The two have a second book about the Grateful Dead coming out next year. Alex is currently the Culture Director at GQ and also happe
Wait, could AI help with ADHD (or even brain fog)?
I'm skeptical! This week I'm talking to sleep expert, ADHD advocate and productivity strategist, Lindsay Scola. Lindsay spent 20 years experiencing sleep attacks, hallucinations and serious anxiety, only to have doctors chalk it up to a "busy work schedule." She had an intensely ambitious career, working for the Obamas, and then for the Emmys, all while suffering from both undiagnosed narcolepsy a
"We just can't know what's going to happen" — with Catherine Connors
My guest this week is Catherine Connors. Catherine has had one of those careers and lives that broke all the rules. She started as an academic and a political scientist before becoming one of the first big-time mommy bloggers in the aughts with the blog, Her Bad Mother. From there, she was a high-level executive at Disney, a start-up founder (with Beyoncé as an investor!) and now teaches storytell
Straight talk about the book business — with editor Kate Napolitano!
Have you ever wondered what a book editor does? How they make the decisions about whether or not to buy and publish the books they do? What they actually think of your book proposal? Why — especially if you're a writer — the publishing industry seems so inherently f*cked? My guest this week is the powerhouse editor Kate Napolitano. Kate is the editorial director of nonfiction books at Atria Books
Why 'intentional amateurism' could change your life — with Karen Walrond!
This week I'm talking to Karen Walrond. Karen is an award-winning author, a leadership and activism coach, a speaker a former high-level lawyer and all around brilliant/wise/inspiring/cool person to know. Her latest book, which comes out this week, IN DEFENSE OF DABBLING and is all about "intentional amateurism" and discovering a sense of devotion, purpose and even joy through what interests
A light at the end of this tunnel? — with Amanda Litman
My guest this week is Amanda Litman. Amanda is the co-founder and president of Run for Something, an organization which recruits and supports young, diverse progressive leaders running for down-ballot office. Since launching in 2017, Run for Something has elected more than 1500 leaders across nearly all 50 states, mostly women and people of color. Amanda is also a writer who runs a popular Substac
"Dipsh*t Cape" — with Emily Flake!
I;m joined today by the always delightful Emily Flake! Emily is a cartoonist for The New Yorker, where she started publishing her work in 2008. She’s also a comic and a teacher and a writer and an illustrator and she runs the artist residency program St.Nell's. We're discussing the grief of aging, navigating generational shifts, the perceived end of fuckability, financial survival when you don’t h
The social contract is changing, how can we meet the moment? — with Kristen Lisanti!
This week I'm talking with thinker, leader, coach and mindfulness teacher Kristen Lisanti about how to have healthy conflict at this moment, invitations vs accusations, the price of community, resilience in relationships and how to be present for this moment, even when it's hard.If you want to find more of Kristen's work, head to: kristenlisanti.com.To support the show, listen to ad-free episodes
It's OK to not feel OK — with Ashley C. Ford
This week, I’m talking to Ashley C. Ford. Ashley is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, SOMEBODY’S DAUGHTER. She’s also an essayist, a podcast host, a speaker and an educator. This conversation touches on some of my favorite topics, including the "idea" of success vs. what it really feels like on the inside, following a path that's right for you and not what others expect of you,
But Didn't We Have Fun? — with Glynnis MacNicol!
This week, I’m talking to Glynnis MacNicol, a longtime New York City journalist, author of the memoir "No One Tells You This" and the creator and host of the podcast Wilder. You probably know Glynnis from widely-acclaimed memoir "I’m Mostly Hear to Enjoy Myself" which came out last year.In her work, Glynnis explores freedom and making unconventional choices, the pleasure of knowing and a
It doesn't have to suck — with Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh!
My guest this week is Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh. Wynter is a sought-after independent digital media strategist who’s responsible for the social media campaigns of many famous people you know. She's also an extremely online Gen Xer who's finding a lot of joy and contentment in what she does. This episode is about breaking rules, getting comfortable with precarity, knowing and accepting what you're
Life on the Other Side of Burnout — with Emma Gannon!
This week I'm talking to popular Substack writer and novelist Emma Gannon about life on the other side of debilitating burnout, confronting who you actually are outside the performance of an ambitious persona, learning to feel more connected to yourself and make more authentic-to-you career and persoanl decisions and the "magical" right-sized success that often comes from all of it. You can find E
The Ego Dream of it All — with A. J. Daulerio!
This week, I'm joined by writer A. J. Daulerio. A. J. is the former editor of websites like Gawker and Deadspin and he founded and now runs The Small Bow, a newsletter and podcast about addiction and recovery. We're talking all about perfectionism, validation seeking, shame, self diminishment, f*cked up ego math surrounding success and trying (and failing) to find balance with our work. You can fi
Redefining success (and failure!) — with Anne Helen Petersen
My guest this week is the brilliant writer, podcaster and culture critic Anne Helen Petersen. You probably know Anne from her wildly successful newsletter "Culture Study." Or from one of her many books, including "Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation." Anne also has a Ph.D. in media studies and was a senior culture writer at BuzzFeed News. In this conversation, we're
The Joy of Realistic Expectations — with Samantha Irby!
This week's guest is the inimitable essayist and television writer Samantha Irby! Sam and I are exploring right-sizing success, setting realistic expectations for your career, coming to terms with professional failure and disappointment and the moments when you really feel like you've made it.You can find Samantha Irby at: bitchesgottaeat.substack.comTo support the show, listen to ad-free episodes
When Gen X haters grow up — with Angela Garbes!
My first (!) guest is the writer and thinker Angela Garbes and we're exploring what it is to be a lifelong GenX hater living in opposition to the world, the evolution of ambition and redefining success for yourself over time, slowing down and finally feeling like you have enough, healing that 'bad kid' identity and (at last!) learning to live, connect and be seen as our authentic selves.You can fi
