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Choice Words with Samantha Bee

Choice Words with Samantha Bee

Lemonada Media 252 Episodes Jun 18, 2026

Choice Words with Samantha Bee is a podcast where the host interviews people she admires about the pivotal choices they've made in their lives. Each episode explores the ripple effects of those decisions, from a journalist's career-defining story to a politician's controversial vote or a musician's spontaneous lyric. The show also touches on Sam's own choices, including the decision to start this podcast.

Episodes

Choices We Made: Shamed or Shameless? (with Jennifer Welch) Jun 18, 2026 3637 Jennifer Welch, host of the podcast “I’ve Had It”  joins Sam to talk about taking a midlife gap year in Manhattan and how the country is led by people with no shame, and you just can’t shame the shameless. They talk about how she navigates the daily shitstorm (by starting her day at 5am with four shots of espresso), staying on Twitter despite the Elon Musk factor, how growing up atheist in Oklahom
Choices We Made: Moscow or ‘Merica? (with David Remnick) Jun 11, 2026 3379 The New Yorker editor David Remnick joins Sam to talk about if The New Yorker is the “slow food movement” of news and how today’s current events remind him of living in Moscow at the end of the Soviet Union. They talk about how the industry changed when Jeff Bezos bought the Washington Post and why his ownership is different in the second Trump administration than in the first, and how David is cu
Choices We Made: Earth or Space? (with Kal Penn) Jun 4, 2026 3257 Actor and former Obama White House staffer Kal Penn joins Sam to talk about how he doesn’t make calculated decisions and hates when people suggest he makes a decision tree. They unpack the hope of last week’s elections and his serendipitous decades-long connection to Zohran Mamdani. He explains how every job he’s ever said yes to has turned into subsequent exciting opportunities that have all been
North South or East West? (with Senator Murphy) May 28, 2026 2101 Senator Chris Murphy joins Sam to talk about keeping plants alive and why he’s been walking across the state of Connecticut for ten years, now with titanium screws in his knees!They discuss his new book, Crisis of the Common Good and debate whether it is a sequel to Heated Rivalry (he is adamant it isn’t). Senator Murphy explains why Americans are lonelier than they’ve ever been, and why President
Joy or Happiness? (with Kate Bowler) May 21, 2026 3503 Professor, author, and podcast host Kate Bowler joins Sam to talk about her new book Joyful Anyway, and what the difference between joy and happiness really is. They talk about why happiness is circumstantial but joy is big and bright and hits your reward system. They talk about the Prosperity Gospel, Christian amusement parks, and what on earth the Pope must be feeling right now. They talk about
House or Home? (with Lisa Ann Walter) May 14, 2026 2548 Actress and comedian Lisa Ann Walter joins Sam to talk about becoming the “man of the house” when she was ten and what it means to finally have a “Nancy Meyers kitchen” of her own. They talk about what led her to be involved in the various LA unions, growing up without a female comedy role model, and why the skill of being able to talk to anyone is an amazing sense of security. They discuss the di
Choices We Made: TV or Radio? (with Christa Miller) May 7, 2026 3059 Actor Christa Miller joins Sam to talk about the new season of Shrinking and her other role where she serves as music supervisor. Christa talks about how she loves giving new artists their big break on TV and how TV really is the new radio. They talk about the never-ending seasons of 90s sitcoms, choosing spending time with her kids over certain jobs and why it’s always risky to turn something dow
DC or Everywhere Else? (with Ana Navarro) Apr 30, 2026 2978 Ana Navarro, co-host of The View and host of the new podcast Bleep!, joins Sam to talk about how she’s been boycotting DC for almost two years and what might finally bring her back there. They bond over how Donald Trump has aged them (their necks specifically), and Sam marvels at Ana’s insane schedule. Ana talks about how the restrictions of network TV and her urgent need to swear led her to start
Lawyer or Journalist? (with Jodi Kantor) Apr 23, 2026 3105 Journalist Jodi Kantor joins Sam to talk about her new book, How To Start, and how, much to the chagrin of her parents, she dropped out of Harvard Law to go into a career in Journalism. They talk about why it is so uniquely hard to find a job out of college these days, and how even if you’re not a recent grad, AI is destroying the interview process and the need for entry-level jobs. They talk abou
Scarcity or Abundance? (with Jennie Garth) Apr 16, 2026 3271 Actress Jennie Garth joins Sam to talk about her new book I Choose Me, and how to balance scarcity and abundance mindsets. They talk about the concept of choosing yourself and how Jennie first uttered those words on 90210 over 30 years ago (and how she’s rewatching it for the first time now). They talk about  what to do when your kids get older and won’t need you as much anymore, walking into room
Bruce Springsteen or Kid Rock? (with Aasif Mandvi) Apr 9, 2026 3402 Aasif Mandvi joins Sam for a major Daily Show catch up, and to talk about juggling his return to Broadway in Fallen Angels with his new TV show The Miniature Wife. They bond over the perfection of theater shows with no intermissions, but disagree about when they first met each other. They talk about meeting Bruce Springsteen at The Daily Show, how Kid Rock used to be a huge fan, and what it would
Gina or Gheena? (with Gina Gershon) Apr 2, 2026 3256 Actress and author Gina Gershon joins Sam to talk about her new book AlphaPussy which leads to discussing their shared love of audiobooks, allowing cats to choose their owners, and the wild women who have shaped her life. They talk about making decisions from your brain or from your body, the unconventionality of her career, learning to be tough, and the importance of “fuck you” money. Sam is shoc

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