Choice Words with Samantha Bee

Latest Episodes:

Choices We Made: Outraged or Engaged? (with Patton Oswalt) Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Actor and comedian Patton Oswalt joins Sam to catch up where they left off during the first Trump administration and how they simply can’t believe we’re doing round two of this shit. They discuss how there’s money in outrage and how it drives engagement, and how news channels take advantage of your cortisol levels to keep you engaged with constant alerts of BREAKING NEWS. Patton explains why he no longer interacts with people on X but still can’t leave his followers behind, and why they both now mostly use social media to self-soothe, while others are left to raw-dog their boredom. They talk about the need for young nerds to go into politics and what Trump would be doing if Sam was still on TV. A girl can dream! Check out Patton’s new special, Black Coffee and Ice Water, available on Audible.

Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

See ⁠omnystudio.com/listener⁠ for privacy information.

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Choices We Made: Magazine Makeup Artist or Cosmetics CEO? (with Bobbi Brown) Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Bobbi Brown, Founder of Jones Road Beauty, joins Sam fresh off the plane from Paris to discuss her new book, Still Bobbi, and to explore her career trajectory from behind-the-scenes makeup artist to two-time cosmetic company CEO. Bobbi talks about how some of her most important choices were choosing men—both her husband, who she knew within weeks was “the one” and Leonard Lauder, who she decided to sell her eponymous makeup brand to when it wasn’t even for sale. They talk about the importance of knowing who you are and when to stop trying out other personas, why at their age it’s necessary to prioritize being able to lift your own suitcase, and the common sense of “no-makeup makeup.” Bobbi tells Sam she is a life-long “non-agonizer” and how her big regret in life not getting a photo with Tammy Faye Baker when she had the chance, and how in her 60s she’s become an accidental Tik Tok influencer.

Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

See ⁠omnystudio.com/listener⁠ for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choices We Made: Joy or Happiness? (with Kate Bowler) Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

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 taking wisdom from Taylor Swift, an aversion to gardening, and the need to sometimes take a walk around the block for a quick cry.

Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choices We Made: Gina or Gheena? (with Gina Gershon) Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

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 shocked to hear about how Gina turned down Prince because he wanted to call her Gheena instead of Gina, and what it was like coming of age in the Valley in the age of porn. Plus, they bond over being at the age where they need to write parts for themselves because if you’re not happy with the parts being offered, and the beauty of voice memos.

Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

See ⁠omnystudio.com/listener⁠ for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choices We Made: Bruce Springsteen or Kid Rock? (with Aasif Mandvi) Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

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 be like if Aasif was still the Senior Middle East Correspondent. They share their concern that AI actors are going to replace extras and actors just starting out, how journalists need to be willing to risk everything to ask the right questions, and how there are no politicians to look up to anymore.

Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

See ⁠omnystudio.com/listener⁠ for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choices We Made: 1929 or 2026? (with Andrew Ross Sorkin) Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Financial journalist and author of the new book 1929, Andrew Ross Sorkin, joins Sam to talk about the parallels between 1929 and now and, and how while history does repeat itself, there are some comparisons that don’t work. Sam explains Soul Cycle vs. Peloton, they rehash the Gamestop frenzy, why the lottery is a “tax on the stupid,” and get rich quick schemes. They unpack what Venezuela means for the American economy, and Sam begs Andrew to make a period piece out of his new book even though it would break the bank.

Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

See ⁠omnystudio.com/listener⁠ for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choices We Made: Cookbook Author or Restaurant Chef? (with Padma Lakshmi) Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

Television host and cookbook author Padma Lakshmi joins Sam to talk about her new show, America’s Culinary Cup and how she’s a triple threat on it serving as creator, executive producer, and host. She reveals if she brought anyone from Top Chef with her, why it is important to set the contestants up for success, and why we crave shows where we can witness expertise. Padma talks about ten years of working with the ACLU, why her book is the antidote to Stephen Miller, and what it will take for food consumers to understand the effects of immigration raids on the food ecosystem. They commiserate on the problems of food waste and “day old” food laws, the newly inverted food pyramid, and engaging in estrogen wars with your teenage daughters. Plus they delve into why Padma really doesn’t think of herself as a chef, her comedy career and why there’s nothing better than a live audience.

Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

See ⁠omnystudio.com/listener⁠ for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choices We Made: TV or Radio? (with Christa Miller) Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

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 down. She talks about her real life therapist being the inspiration for Shrinking and how she used to have a hard time making decisions until he helped her learn that the act of making the decision is the important part, not the outcome. Sam and Christa agree you really are only ever as happy as your unhappiest child, and they do some shared mom-gushing over Christa’s daughter, musician Charlotte Lawrence. Christa amazes Sam by talking about being Susan Saint James’ niece, growing up in NYC the daughter of a super model, and how in high school she would DJ at clubs after the real DJ was done for the night.

Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

See ⁠omnystudio.com/listener⁠ for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choices We Made: Lawyer or Journalist? (with Jodi Kantor) Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

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 about why the American college system makes it so hard to take risks, the fog of technology, and the importance of focusing on craft if you can. They agree their kids will never take career advice from them and can only hear wisdom if it comes from Tik Tok, and why it would be best for everyone to find a career where they’re happy in ten minute increments.

Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choices We Made: Secular Saint or Church Guitarist? (with George Saunders) Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

Author George Saunders joins Sam to talk about his new book Vigil and why people are so obsessed with turning him into a secular saint (and his childhood role of church guitarist). George explains that even though he’s not on social media he still finds ways to doom scroll, how the current government could have learned empathy if they bothered to read a few books, and how he found inspiration for Vigil without sounding too preachy. They talk about the importance of “vomit drafts” and the process of revisions, how his writing approach is about minimizing his anxiety, the choice to turn on or off some of the voices in your head, early rejection from The New Yorker, and choosing not to get killed just to be a great writer. They explain how they both put their choices up against the deathbed test, and how being compassionate doesn’t always mean being nice.

Keep up with Samantha Bee @realsambee on Instagram and X. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

See ⁠omnystudio.com/listener⁠ for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices