Banging It Out with Elke Thoms

After finding out the guy she was dating in college hooked up with her sorority sister, Sex Educator and Host of Rat Girls Podcast Abigail Jensen wanted to get her hair dyed with purple tips à la Kylie Jenner's 2014 green hair look. Unfortunately, her hairstylist said this would be a challenge for her and she was correct because she dyed it half gray. For the 2025 season finale of Banging It...

Comedian and filmmaker Josh Edelman fought back against losing his hair by shaving his head at the end of his upcoming comedy special, but is now letting what's left grow back. Despite acknowledging that he looks cooler with a shaved head, he's still hanging on. Elke and Josh debate the virtues of hair that grows like vines versus sheds glitter, and Josh recalls the time a girl he wanted...

Comedian, actor, and writer Rachel Mathieu dyed her hair blonde at 18 after a break-up that sent her into crisis. In part two of this two-part episode, Elke and Rachel dive into amicable breakups vs. not-amicable breakups, Elke's post-breakup actions that were not giving the main character energy she thought they were, and whether they'd rath-HAIR have hair that allows them to fly or tur...

Comedian, actor, and writer Rachel Mathieu dyed her hair blonde at 18 after a break-up that sent her into crisis. In part one of this two-part episode, Elke and Rachel discuss their long-distance relationships, finding yourself in college (or at least finding your hair dye), and the rebrand from "dirty blonde" to "old money blonde." FOLLOW RACHEL MATHIEU Instagram: @rachel__mat...

Some women are born with great hair, some achieve great hair, and some have great hair thrust upon them. Actor JJ Obee had a hair makeover done initially against her will, but now it might be… growing on her. On today's episode, JJ and Elke pull back the layers on JJ's bang piece, discuss their feelings around hair and makeup in their personal and professional lives, and finally answer t...

Comic, actor and cartoonist Mary Gallagher got a bad perm and then decided to trim the sides because her grandfather said she should always show her ears. She then reached her final form of the 1980’s—The Mary Mullet Perm. Elke and Mary chat about Mary's new empty nest, finding your voice in comedy, and one of Mary's most infamous high school nicknames (which involves The Beatles and a v...

Singer-songwriter and actress Kara Connolly dyed her hair bold, copper red to take back her power after years of entertainment industry mistreatment and feeling typecast and misunderstood. In part two of their two-part episode, Elke and Kara discuss Kara's love of love of cultivating a new vibe for each album, being vulnerable on stage (but not too soon), and the hairstyle Kara's therapi...

Singer-songwriter and actress Kara Connolly dyed her hair bold, copper red to take back her power after years of entertainment industry mistreatment and feeling typecast and misunderstood. In part one of their two-part episode, Elke and Kara discuss stepping outside of stereotypes (with the help of some hair dye), going through the audition ringer, and the behind-the-scenes of being creatives. FOL...

Actor, writer, director, and entrepreneur Jesse Arrow grew a villainous handlebar mustache in his 20's after he discovered he was finally capable of growing facial hair. Long before Elke and Jesse were together, Jesse sought to rebel against hitting puberty late and his days as a valet, and boy did he ever. Elke and Jesse sit down to uncover this specific phase in Jesse's life and how gr...

Actor Marissa Madsen announced that she was a cool, mysterious, IDGAF adult in college by getting an emo-chic haircut, despite its impact on her aerodynamics while running varsity cross-country. Elke and Marissa discuss how her dramatic hair change did more than just win the disapproval of her mom--it helped her move to her real heart's desire, acting. They also chat cats in birthday hats, be...

The tables turn as host Elke Thoms takes a spin in the guest chair. Elke reveals the origin story of her bangs, which involves stand-up, a breakup, and Prince. Our previous episode's guest, comedian Renée Percy, sticks around to uncover how this podcast all started with a haircut in 2016.  FOLLOW RENÉE PERCY Instagram: @reneepercycomedian TikTok: @reneepercy Renée is a comedian, actor, and wr...

Comedian Renée Percy was sent to summer camp at age 9 with all her hair chopped off (thanks mom) and hasn't cut it short since. As always, what starts as a lighthearted podcast episode quickly devolves to deep-rooted trauma like "do I even like my face?" Elke and Renée discuss their camp coming-of-age experiences, how they dress on stage, and whether their current or childhood bedro...

Comedian, Writer, and co-host of The Dating Detectives podcast Hanna Anderson dyed her hair red last December, and she can't tell if she did it to feel independent from her mother or because it looked hot on Dua Lipa. Maybe both? Elke and Hanna delve into the naunces of these equally reasonable motives, as well as the perils of dying hair at home, workshopping stand-up material in front of fr...

Comedian Seth Lawrence is a stay-at-home dad by day, raising four kids and (briefly) a ponytail. When the going got tough and he had toddlers at home, it came down to time for a haircut or time for stand-up. Seth chose stand-up. Seth and Elke discuss the ideal work/life balance and their current lack thereofs, Elke's first Catholic confession, and Seth's wife's breaking point when i...

Actress/Comedian Emma Smith Watts is the stereotype that catapulted this podcast into existence: she got bangs after a breakup. Emma and Elke discuss blondes vs. redheads, childhood fringe cuts, and how they both went through a long-distance breakup the exact same year. One of them copied their mom's bangs, the other's mom copied hers (keep up, please). Somehow, they've both been to...

Actor Grant Terzakis cut his long shaggy hair at 13, fueled by wanting to fit in with his classmates. Now, at 31, he's growing it out again. After a comment in middle school led to the death of Grant's footballer mop, Grant kept things short and tidy until 31, when he found himself in a role playing a 13-year-old boy. Now he's shed his lifelong anxiety and regrown his original look....

Comedian Genesis Sol cut herself bangs in the pandemic, and let's just say it's a good thing she didn't have to see too many people. A lot of folks made questionable DIY hair choices during this uncertain time, but Genesis's was so bad, she got featured on the Tamron Hall Show. In an interview with celebrity hairstylist Brad Mondo, they attempted CPR on Genesis's bangs. Me...

Model Nemesis Ruiz had adventurous hair in her childhood, but today keeps it anything but adventurous. After a run-in with a pair of scissors at age 5 followed by occasional barbaring from her family, Nemesis challenges whether the theme of this pod is relevant to everyone as she enjoys not changing her hair ever. Well, she did part it on the side once. Elke did that too (to look like Conan O&apos...

Musician Leo Forest bleached his hair platinum after a less-than-ideal breakup. Artist, producer, and songwriter Leo realized that if you're going to change the way your mind thinks, maybe you should attempt to change your brain by shooting chemicals into your head. Can your long-distance breakup woes be cured by bleach? Elke finds out. The tables turn as Leo has his own "Would You Rath-...

Welcome to the very first episode of BANGING IT OUT! Your host, comedian Elke Thoms, uncovers how our first guest, comedian Katie K, dyed her hair pink and purple when she was in fact depressed and anxious. This prompted her friends to reach out and ask if she was okay. She was not. Thank goodness for therapists that don't create abandonment issues. Also, introducing our first installment of...