Hysteria

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco invite Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to cover the House Speakership mess and the Equal Rights Amendment in news. Then, Aparna Nancherla joins to talk about moving through the world as an introverted comedian. Finally, Sani Petty: stop growing alfalfa in Arizona, and witches, get it together! For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click  here . For a transcri...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco dive into the latest news: Sen. Tommy Tuberville doesn’t want the military to have abortion access; the House will soon vote on its new Speaker; RFK Jr. is running as an independent; and Ohio needs your votes. Then, Rosie Grant (@ghostlyarchive) joins to talk about baking recipes printed on gravestones — and eating them in cemeteries! Finally, Sani-Petty (pharmaci...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco cover the news with Crooked’s VP of Politics, Shaniqua McClendon, diving into the Kevin McCarthy shutdown and ousting ordeal, Banned Books Week, and the Supreme Court returning to session. Then, California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom came on to discuss the work she does for gender equality and children. Finally, Sani-Petty (shoutout, Laphonza Butler! Ka...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco answer the following questions in this week’s news: Why is business reporting so corporate-centric? Are Alabama’s Congressional district maps still racist? Why do women pay billions more for healthcare compared to men? Then, Tram Nguyen of New Virginia Majority joins to discuss Virginia’s November election and its high stakes for abortion, 2024, and more. Next, Al...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco dive into the Russell Brand bullshit, the GOP’s obsession with Vice President Harris, and more in news. Minnesota state Senator Lindsey Port then joins to talk about the status of progressivism in her state, from getting people’s records expunged for silly cannabis crimes to starting her state’s Reproductive Freedom Caucus. Next, Anna Drezen (creator of Praise Pet...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco get into John Kennedy’s horny speech at a Senate hearing, the United Auto Workers union, the impending end of federal child care funding from the pandemic and the Virginia legislature race. Then, Michaela Watkins and Megan Gailey join to discuss the Danny Masterson sentencing, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher’s character letters, and the church of Scientology. Plus,...

Today as a special treat, we’re sharing an episode of Choice Words with Samantha Bee from Lemonada featuring our very own Alyssa Mastromonaco!   Each week on Choice Words, Samantha Bee sits down with people she admires to examine the biggest choices they’ve made in their lives and the ripple effects those decisions have had. Sam’s made a lot of choices, too. She may have to interview herself about...

Alyssa guest hosts on Pod Save America and speaks with Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono about recovery efforts in Maui, and what we can do to help Hawaiians as they recover and rebuild. Listen to Pod Save America wherever you get your podcasts

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco give the latest round of abortion news, from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court race, Ohio Issue 1 fuckery, and Michigan’s fight to undo its current abortion regulations. Then Shannon Watts stops by to discuss the latest episodes of violence, and white women’s role in the fight for gun safety. Plus, Julissa Arce and comedian Zarna Garg  join to explore how leaving the...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco use their news witch powers to make predictions about the first 2024 Republican presidential primary debate (since we recorded this episode before it happened) before diving into all the places that loathe (Indiana, we’re looking at you) and love (Illinois, thank you for this) abortion in news. Then, University of Oxford professor Jenni Nuttall comes on to talk ab...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco dive into the latest news: racist, sexist, criminal former President Trump got a spicy new indictment from Georgia; menstrual hygiene products are only starting to be tested with blood…now?!; and Hawai'i' needs money. Next, TikTok’s favorite forager Alexis Nikole comes on to talk about her relationship with nature, how her practice has changed over time, and the f...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco celebrate the results of Ohio’s special election — which is fantastic news for the future of reproductive rights in the Buckeye State — in news. Then, journalist TJ Raphael joins to discuss her latest podcast, COVER UP: THE PILL PLOT, a crazy story about smuggling abortion pills into the U.S. in the 90s. Finally, we talk Ron DeSantis’ crumbling presidential campai...

A sneak peek of the first book from Crooked Media Reads, Mobility, by Lydia Kiesling. Mobility is a gripping coming-of-age story about navigating a world of corporate greed that's both laugh-out-loud funny and politically incisive. The novel tracks themes of class, power, politics, and desire throughout the life of its compelling main character, Bunny Glenn.  Vulture called Bunny Glenn “a complica...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco are together, in person, in Los Angeles (!) and mock the latest Trump indictment before diving into news coming from the Midwest, from Ohio’s special election and Wisconsin’s Judge-elect Janet Protasiewicz to backstabbing Rep. Tricia Cotham’s and concerning “prenatal care deserts” in South Dakota. Then, Evan Kleinman of KCRW’s Good Food comes on to talk about her...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco cover the possibility of a new Trump indictment, the Carlee Russell case, OBGYNs heading to Texas, and Barbie’s record-breaking opening weekend. Then, Julissa Arce and Naomi Ekperigin join to talk birthdays: getting older, watching parents and babies age, and proving to people that we’re thriving — we promise! — even when we have gray hair. Finally, Sani-Petty (Sc...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco rave about the FIFA Women’s World Cup before discussing No Labels, the Long Island Serial Killer, and the latest abortion news in Iowa, Ohio, and beyond. Then, What a Day’s Juanita Tolliver joins to get nostalgic and talk Barbie culture — feminism, race in dolls, body image, the works — in anticipation of the summer’s hottest film. Finally, some Sani-Petty, from F...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco cover quite the range of news, from important elections in Ohio that will decide the fate of abortion in the state, to the Zuckerberg / Threads versus Musk / Twitter dick-measuring contest. Then, Kara Klenk and special guest Jamie Loftus — who has copious hot dog knowledge thanks to her debut book, Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs — join the panel to talk a...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco cover the latest news — SCOTUS decisions are slowly coming in, and democracy shockingly hasn’t disintegrated yet, plus Trump is still an idiot — before interviewing Senator Amy Klobuchar about her new memoir, The Joy of Politics. Then, to close out Pride Month, associate producer Fiona Pestana joins to discuss the rise of anti-trans legislation over the past year....

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco cover the latest: Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito doesn’t understand what the big deal is about accepting a free luxury vacation from a billionaire megadonor and not reporting it, SCOTUS is finishing up their session, and self-described misogynist and incel influencer Andrew Tate gets indicted. Then, Monica Potts joins to discuss her new book about women in rur...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco celebrate Donny Trump’s birthday by covering his second indictment and mocking the ugly bathroom where he hid classified federal documents. Plus, why is everyone at the Young Women’s Leadership Conference full of…old and irrelevant conservative women gaslighting people into having babies? Then, Tien Tran and Jill Gutowitz come on to talk age-gap relationships: whe...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco dive into the latest union news and GOP nonsense — Nikki Haley and Harlan Crow, what are you doing? Then, Rep. Becca Balint joins to talk about fighting for queer rights in Congress and singing Springsteen during karaoke. Next, Juanita Toliver, host of Crooked’s What A Day podcast, and Shaniqua McClendon, Crooked’s VP of Politics, join to talk about political spou...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco dive into the latest news: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was bipartisanly impeached; Minnesota gets paid family and medical leave — and legalized weed; and Waystar-Royco merged with GoJo (we love you forever, Succession). Samantha Bee then comes on to discuss women in late night, stealing cars, and her new podcast, Choice Words. Next, we invite Dr. Chanda Pres...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco are joined by Pod Save the U.K.’s Coco Khan to answer the question: which country is more of a dumpster fire, the U.S. or the U.K.? In the U.S. corner: E. Jean Carroll vs. Trump (again); the LA Dodgers inviting, disinviting, and reinviting drag queen nuns to Pride Night; and more GOP boys entering the 2024 race. In the U.K. corner: misogyny king Andrew Tate, a pol...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco celebrate their 250th episode (!!!) by answering some listener questions peppered throughout the show! In news, we cover the abortion showdown in North Carolina, Philadelphia one step closer to electing its first female mayor — after electing 99 male mayors prior — and a new menopause drug. Then, Jena Friedman and Megan Gailey join to talk all things culture war,...

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco cover a whole lot of creepy men — Trump is guilty in the E. Jean Carroll case! Republicans want to rid of no fault divorce! Texas Rep. Bryan Slaton and the grooming that is coming from inside the house! — and the importance of mammograms. Then, Crooked’s VP of Politics Shaniqua McClendon joins to talk about second chances, inspired by the article du jour: the New...