It's Open with Ilana Glazer

On this episode of It’s Open, Ilana sits down with friend and colleague Jay Jurden — a powerhouse, rising star comic whose first comedy album JAY JURDEN, Y’ALL debuted at #1 on iTunes, his debut stand-up special YES MA’AM is streaming on HULU, and you can catch him around the country on his NOTHING SPECIAL tour or at his London debut in August. Jay and Ilana dig into the fraught cultural landscape...

Join us today to get hyped on Gen-Z leadership because it rocks. We sit down with the spectacular Elise Joshi, a progressive political organizer, climate activist & journalist who has been lighting up digital media with clear, hard-hitting content since she was 17. Elise discusses how—growing up during COVID, California’s wild fires, and the emergent climate crisis—she learned to question auth...

Today, Ilana was thrilled to meet and talk with actor, comedian, singer John C. Reilly. For decades, and through his unique expression of sincerity and comedy, John’s performances have shaped the impact of American movie classics—like Chicago, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Step Brothers. Ilana and John discuss his current and recent projects: a one-man-plus-band musical performance MR. ROMANTIC and...

Today Ilana sits down with the award-winning actor and cultural leader for queer rights, self-discovery, and truth: Elliot Page. Ilana and Elliot cover his new documentary SECOND NATURE, about queerness in the animal kingdom, the book Sex at Dawn, which was influential in both of their sexual developments, and the feeling of being in love 😍. In this generous and open discussion, Elliot describes...

Today Ilana sits down with Reshma Saujani, best known as the founder of Girls Who Code. Reshma’s an entrepreneur, social leader, and activist fighting to reshape the economic landscape for American mothers. llana and Reshma get right down to it, looking at depravity in America today, the enduring construct of “race,” and the manufactured rage-baiting that attempts to separate different groups of w...

This week on It’s Open, Ilana sits down with Jacob Tierney. Best known as the writer and director of Heated Rivalry— the TV adaptation of Rachel Reid’s hockey romance that positively rocked the culture in 2025— Jacob is a staple in Canadian television. He created the beloved series Letterkenny and its spin off Shorsey, and now Jacob discusses his personal career journey from Canadian child-actor t...

Matt Bernstein (aka @mattxiv) is a force to be reckoned with. A 27-year-old, progressive political commentator who has cultivated a 2M+ following by combining clear-eyed, heartfelt, sharp-witted cultural discourse with gorgeous glam and a calm, confident delivery. His video podcast, A Bit Fruity with Matt Bernstein, has become a touchstone in the digital landscape as a rational, ethical, and hilar...

It’s Open partners with More Perfect Union, the ground breaking and progressive non-profit news organization, to highlight the vital local coverage that is helping Americans stay informed and stay connected. Join us as MPU spotlights—and Ilana reacts to—the toxic fallout from mass data center installations nationwide. And then witness the wave of nonpartisan action welling across American towns RI...

Ilana’s dream comes true as she interviews the U.S. Congresswoman from New York, the luminous progressive brawler, the one-and-only… Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. AOC shares about her personal experience growing up Puerto Rican American in the Bronx and Westchester, New York. She unfolds the myth of capitalism, the unyielding profit monsters that uphold it, and its tragic reinforcement of our lesser i...

Today Ilana sits down with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a PhD marine biologist, leading climate conservationist and policy expert, and author of WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT, which Rolling Stone calls “The most helpful book on the planet right now for… anyone concerned with Earth’s rising temperatures”. Ayana and Ilana discuss the alarming scarcity (but desperate need for) climate crisis messaging in p...

This week Ilana chats with world famous actor (*and college economics major*) Ben McKenzie. Ben is best known for his starring roles on the beloved TV dramas The O.C., Southland, and Gotham, but visits It’s Open to discuss his new documentary film EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU FOR MONEY and best-selling book EASY MONEY, both take a critical look at the dubious contemporary craze for crypto currencies a...

Ilana takes us on a coming-of-age journey through the eyes her pelvic floor. In a very personal episode, Ilana shares about her chronic pain from ages 4 to 24, placing this experience into the context of the patriarchal culture of the 90’s and 2000’s, and how her discovery of the appropriate diagnosis and treatment combined with the creation of Broad City as a creative vessel helped her to finally...

This week on It’s Open, meet Amanda Litman, the co-founder and president of RUN FOR SOMETHING, a progressive political organization serving as the largest public office candidate training pipeline in U.S. politics. Since 2016, Amanda’s organization has helped to elect over 1,650 Millennials and Gen Z to state and local office across 49 states and have signed up LITERALLY 250,000 PEOPLE to run for...

Ilana connects with creator, writer, actor, director (and LA-based Brooklynite) Zoe Lister Jones. Zoe is a creative star that pushes the envelope for women-lead film & TV production crews and is bringing female sexuality to the screen in a fresh and expansive way in her films BAND-AID and HOW IT ENDS and the series SLIP. On It’s Open, Zoe and Ilana share about their own sexual awakenings in th...

Ilana meets the Irish stand-up comedy and podcast sensation Joanne McNally for the first time and they hit it off! These two colleagues (turned fast friends) trade notes on the standup experience, which for Joanne spans tiny underground clubs to the sold out 3Arena in Ireland this December. Joanne discusses the hit podcast she cohosts My Therapist Ghosted Me, her new live show Pinotphile, and how...

Rania Batrice is a high-profile progressive political strategist and activist who has worked on numerous major campaigns, including those for Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders. Rania discusses the enduring dynamics of being a Texas-born Palestinian American, and how this identity has shaped her career fighting for Palestinian rights, climate change action, gun violence prevention, and women's r...

On this week’s solo episode of It’s Open, Ilana reviews some recent headlines on advancing technologies against the people’s will for all types of surveillance 🤮 She calls for the It’s Open community to kick off neighborly discussions by naming authoritarianism in order to de-normalize it, and to underline the risks around, as well as great promise of, our 2026 midterm elections in November. This...

Meet Eliot Glazer, the multi-hyphenate comedian who writes, acts, sings, and is an uncle and brother (Ilana’s)! Join Ilana and Eliot as they discuss their childhood on Long Island, the ever evolving sibling relationship, nuances within the gay community, and Eliot’s work including his forthcoming book of essays, THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD GAY hitting shelves on August 11, 2026 and a...

This episode, Ilana is flying truly solo, filming alone because another blizzard blew through NYC! She talks about Zohran’s stellar leadership in the face of more climate anomalies, loving Florida despite its reputation, and shares the plan for Moms & Neighbors for Safe & Fair Midterm Elections 2026 — a super-charged coalition of already existing organizations that will sign up moms &...

Meet ACLU attorney Chase Strangio, who made history in 2024 as the first openly trans person to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. Ilana and Chase discuss his litigation in high-profile LGBTQ+ cases, the power of public opinion to preempt changes to human rights policy, and why queer people are the most free and the most fun! Enjoying It’s Open with Ilana Glazer? The best way to support the pod...

Meet Peggy Flanagan, the inspiring Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota and current Democratic Primary candidate for the 2026 U.S. Senate. Join Ilana and the Lt. Gov as they discuss and process the continued violence and tragedies that have plagued Minneapolis and many other cities across the United States. We hear about the incredible moms of Minnesota organizing on the ground to protect families in...

Ilana sits down with Kareem Rahma, creator and star of the social media sensation Subway Takes and the breakout show Keep The Meter Running. The two discuss Kareem’s multicultural upbringing and adventures across Egypt, Minnesota, and New York City, his pivot from being a business bro to manifesting his success as a comedian, how we must uplift the youth and their incredible ideas, and his love af...

In this solo episode of IT’S OPEN, Ilana breaks down her first encounter with “people who ski.” Omg. Then, more soberly, we reckon with the rampant and devastating ICE killings & continued violence and human rights violations in Minnesota, and plant the seeds for an emerging campaign to organize moms & neighbors nationwide to ensure fair and safe midterm elections in November 2026. Enjoyin...

Jinkx Monsoon, the Broadway sensation, magnanimous actress, and most decorated queen in RuPaul’s Drag Race history, weaves a tapestry of wisdom and pure joy in this episode of It’s Open. Join Ilana and Jinkx as they discuss growing up queer and religious, the power and appeal of modern witchcraft, and Jinkx’s illustrious ascension to stardom. Enjoying It’s Open with Ilana Glazer? The best way to s...

Meet Gen Z elected official Chi Ossé, New York City’s youngest council member ever. At the intersection of culture and politics, Chi and Ilana discuss passing policy that benefits working-class people, honoring the legacy of Shirley Chisholm, and the best bagel order in Brooklyn. Enjoying It’s Open with Ilana Glazer? The best way to support the pod is also the easiest: Subscribe! It tells the plat...