Social Anxiety Variety Hour

In this unedited and somewhat bananas episode, Sara welcomes friend, fellow comedian, overworked hospital employee and podcaster Mike Mercadal to the podcast to freak out about Wonder Woman 1984. They discuss the good stuff, the not-as-good stuff, stereotypes, politics, why we care so much about comic book movies, absolving Patty Jenkins of blame (WE BELIEVE IN YOU PJ!), Dave Filoni as Italian-Ame...

Sara wraps up the year with an episode about recovery, loss, and love, with a special remembrance of comedian Catie Lazarus (1976-2020). This episode concludes with a breathwork exercise. Support this podcast and receive the weekly newsletter SARATONIN by giving $1 a month or more via Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa.

The Reverend Galen Guengerich, author of "The Way of Gratitude" and senior minister at All Souls Church in NYC, joins Sara to discuss his conversion from Conservative Mennonite youth to progressive Unitarian Universalist pastor, his changed role during the coronavirus pandemic, and his vision of a new spirituality for seekers, questioners, and religious rebels. You can purchase the book at your lo...

A mini episode with breathing exercises designed to help you refocus after a big event (like, you know, an election), a giant rush of emotion, or just a long day. Please support this podcast and Sara's other projects for as little as $1 a month at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa (you'll get a weekly newsletter too.) For more on breathwork and meditation, check out work by Sharon Salzberg, Thich Nhat Han...

Sara takes you through a series of relaxation exercises designed to help on and immediately after Election Day 2020 (and, honestly, kinda whenever you're flipping out). Break glass in case of emergency and use this episode! Thank you to Patreon supporters at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Please support RAICES Texas.

Sara just moved 2800 miles, so here's a mini episode featuring an essay about love and history, plus some relaxation exercises for you. Support this podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Thank you to all current Patreon subscribers.

Scientist, student and #BlackBirdersWeek cofounder Chelsea Connor is back for a second interview. This time she and Sara discuss mental health, cutting off verbally abusive family and friends, why you should just wear a frigging mask, and more. Sara does some relaxing breathwork exercises at the end of the episode. Support Chelsea at Patreon.com/ChelseaArts and support this podcast at Patreon.com/...

Here's the actual, full-length interview with Sam Bailey (Dear White People, Brown Girls, You're So Talented), a critically acclaimed writer, producer, director, once (and maybe future) actress, theatre veteran, and very cool human. She talks to Sara about her incredible career, the Black Lives Matter movement, creativity during the time of coronavirus, what it's like to often be the only Black wo...

Monique Moses is a Canadian actress, improviser and teacher who co-stars in Netflix's "Astronomy Club," one of Sara's favorite shows of the past 25 years (no, seriously - Sara compares it to "The State," "The Kids in the Hall," and for no reason at all, "My So-Called Life.") Monique is a longtime cast member of the titular sketch team, and she and Sara discuss comedy, acting, Canadian pop culture,...

In the Season 1 finale of the only mental health podcast hosted by an author/comedian and executive produced by a demon queen cat named Polly, Sara Benincasa talks to Amanda Yates Garcia, a.k.a. The Oracle of Los Angeles ! Amanda hosts the tarot podcast "Between the Worlds," which she co-created with artist and producer Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs. Amanda is a dancer, essayist, activist, professiona...

Meet Chelsea Connor, a young Black scientist and one of the cofounders of #BlackBirdersWeek. Chelsea is from Dominica (Sara pronounces it wrong right off the bat - it's an island country in the Caribbean), and she opens up about experiencing racism at school in the States, dealing with stress and learning differences while pursuing a rigorous academic program, and being a scientist as well as an a...

Young scientist Armand Cann talks to Sara about his work in biology, his love for wilderness, the importance of connecting with other young Black scientists online as a method of self-care, his experience of racism in the field, the trauma of harassment by racist police, and the magic of J.R.R. Tolkien, Octavia Butler, and other great authors. Check out the #blackbirdersweek hashtag to meet more s...

Sidney Woodruff, 25, does her doctoral studies at UC Davis and conducts research in Yosemite National Park. She talks to Sara about being a young, Black, queer scientist; how she's received as a minority in a lot of professional spaces; the harassment of Black wildlife conservationists; and the vitality of real self-care and checking in on friends and peers. At the end, Sara guides the audience in...

Sara talks to her longtime friend Giulia Rozzi, a comedian, writer, actress, director and first-generation American. They talk about how sociology influences Giulia's comedy, socially distant protesting while pregnant, summoning Italian lady energy when criticizing racist police (when Karen becomes Karina), whiteness as a construct, and continuing to learn (and unlearn). Also, Sara takes you throu...

Conner Habib is a former porn star and sex workers' rights advocate. He's also a Syrian-American kid from rural-ish Pennsylvania. Now a doctoral candidate, Conner talks to Sara from his flat in Ireland about everything from fairy stories to the sex lives of koala to whether or not Canadians are, in fact, real. They also discuss white supremacy and the police. You can support this podcast at Patreo...

In this short episode, Sara shares some resources by people way smarter than her. She also talks about learning and unlearning racism, trying to be decent, admitting your flaws, working on your own stuff on your OWN time, and the value of listening. "If you need black people to be victims in order to love them, there is something wrong with you." Please donate to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educat...

"Billions" co-creator and showrunner Brian Koppelman talks to Sara about a creative life, being of service during quarantine, staying grounded, and the magic of "The Artist's Way." You can support this podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa .

Sara interviews hair and makeup artist Val Harvey, her friend of many years. They talk about religion, racism, flouting societal norms and parental expectations, death, cults, sexism and other light topics. At some point, they do in fact discuss makeup and skincare. Check out Val and her many wonderful beauty adventures on Instagram at MohawkMakeup.

Sara talks to Emily's List president Stephanie Schriock about electing talented, hardworking, pro-choice Democrat women to offices from the school board up to the White House. They also discuss the fine state of Montana, how you shouldn't go bonkers on the sugar and caffeine even/especially when you're stressed (they've both done this! A lot!) and much more. Check out Emily's List today, and learn...

Comedian Myq Kaplan chats with Sara about managing stress, grieving a loss in quarantine, and the strangeness of adjusting to spending zero time on the road doing gigs. You can support this podcast on Patreon . Buy Myq's latest album, A.K.A.

Casper Kelly (Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell, Too Many Cooks ) pops in from Atlanta to confess his career aspiration: romance novels. He and Sara dive into the career of political leader, rightful governor of Georgia AND romance novelist Stacey Abrams! Casper is one of the most creatively adventurous writers and producers at work today, and Sara kinda geeks out. You can support this podcast at...

Ben Mankiewicz is the host of Turner Classic Movies, a co-founder of The Young Turks, and a former TV reporter. He talks to Sara about building one's own career, parenting in the time of quarona, how political D.C. kids are (and aren't) like Hollywood kids, and what it's like being from a family with a lot of big personalities. This episodes concludes with a review of a simple breathwork technique...

Rabbi Igael Gurin-Malous was born in Belgium and has lived and traveled all over the world. He now dwells in NYC with his husband and teenage kids, where he's building an amazing recovery community around T'Shuvah Center . He and Sara talk Talmud, fashion, why Rabbi Iggy is glowing in quarantine, sobriety, belonging versus fitting in, and managing anxiety. Sara has a few light audio issues on her...

Kelly AuCoin plays Dollar Bill on "Billions," and his list of other credits is very long. In this episode, recorded in early April 2020, Sara demands to know why Kelly doesn't remember every detail of every Law & Order he did 17 years ago, and expresses fury at his lack of Gossip Girl knowledge DESPITE HAVING PLAYED CHUCK'S LAWYER, DOUG. They also discuss Kelly's undying passion for the Portland T...

Sara talks to enchanting screenwriter and actor Tom Lennon (Reno 911!, The State) about becoming a sketch comedy star in late adolescence, getting beaten nearly to death as an NYU student, and other lighthearted topics. Support the podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa . Check out the article Tom mentions, "They Died Laughing."