Social Anxiety Variety Hour

Sara and Jessica got to chatting when they were volunteer boosters for the Elizabeth Warren campaign, though they've known of each other's work for awhile. In late March, they recorded this chat talking about podcasting, finding money for art, dealing with anxiety, and much more. If you're an aspiring filmmaker with no idea where to start, this one's for you. Support this podcast at Patreon.com/Sa...

Alex Berg, host of Buzzfeed's AM2DM, chats with Sara about interviewing famous people during a vulnerable time, pivoting from a fancy studio set to her closet, the glory of cats, roller derby adventures, and other topics you'd expect to hear two femme bi women discuss on a podcast during quarona or honestly whenever. Support this podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa .

Veteran stage and screen actor Thomas Sadoski ("Tommy" on CBS; "The Newsroom" on HBO) talks to Sara about his work with refugee children through the fantastic medical charity INARA. In return, Sara threatens to attempt to steal his wife, actress Amanda Seyfried. You know what, this quarona has different effects on us all. Check out INARA.org and contribute if you can. You can support this podcast...

Bestselling author, critically acclaimed comics writer and The Real World: San Francisco alum Judd Winick talks to Sara about what happens when people stop being polite and start sheltering at home with their tweens. They discuss life during quarantine, San Francisco Mayor London Breed's response to the pandemic, creativity, staying sane-ish, and a whole lot more. Great fact: Judd is married to fe...

Ashley Nicole Black (Full Frontal with Sam Bee, A Black Lady Sketch Show) talks to Sara about why people with clinically diagnosed anxiety may be feeling weirdly calm these days - at least some of the time. Sara also tries to become an improv coach and learns about Ashley's wild days as a cruise ship professional. And, as usual, you get a big dose of relaxation and encouragement. Support the podca...

Sara repeatedly claims that one-woman TV and film factory Liz Hannah is 22 years old, despite Liz's claims to the contrary. Liz is an incredible writer (The Post, Long Shot, All The Bright Places). Sara asks the hard questions, like whether it's more emotionally draining to write something like episodes of "Mindhunter" or to deal with the fact that her cat hates her puppy. Support this podcast at...

Josh Radnor (Hunters, How I Met Your Mother, Radnor & Lee) is most widely known as an actor, but he's a creative multi-hyphenate. This Ohio-raised artist talks to Sara about music, writing, acting, meditating, relationships, anxiety and much more. Subscribe to his Museletter at  https://bit.ly/3cRkKE9 . Support this podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa .

Sara talks to Rabbi Jill Zimmerman, who has an online congregation called Hineni. They talk about mindfulness, Judaism, and the power of connecting online regardless of the faith in which you were raised. Also, Sara announces another book giveaway! Learn more about Jill at RavJill.com. Support the podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sara talks to musician Taali (Talia Billig) of Rainbow Blonde Records. Taali had to cancel a tour, but there's no way she's going to stop creating music for as long as she possibly can. Her latest single:  rainbowblonde.co/thesedays . Support the podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tabetha Wallace is a veteran journalist, a soon-to-be author, a daughter of the Midwest, and a proud resident of Washington, D.C. She's also an audiobook narrator, one of Sara's dream jobs. She talks to Sara about managing anxiety and a major career change. Support the podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Ross Bowie is an actor ("Big Bang Theory," "Speechless," "Jumanji 2.") He's also a playwright, a dad, a husband, an improviser, a mensch, and a person for whom gray hair is working well. He and Sara talk about comedy, parenting, how cool his wife Jamie Denbo is, and a whole lot more. Support the podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...

Actor and TV host Rob Belushi talks to Sara about sobriety, teaching at Second City, the joy of giving away money on Game Show Network, and being a part of his community. Please support LALGBT.org and AngelsRisk.com. You can support this podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready for our horniest episode yet (not saying much). Sara interviews her friend Akilah Hughes, co-host of the Crooked Media podcast "What A Day," which basically means Sara and Akilah have a catchup chat and record it. Among other things, Sara says that Milana Vayntrub's mom is gorgeous (true), that Milana Vayntrub looks like a precious baby angel (true), that Sam Richardson is handsome (true...

Ben Lee is a talented Australian musician who has accomplished various beautiful things. Naturally, Sara brings up the fact that he was in Sassy magazine as a teen. They discuss kindness, music creation as magic, philosophy, the healing power of sincerity and much more. Support the podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor Sebastian Roche (Supernatural, General Hospital, Man in the High Castle) talks to Sara about growing up on a crowded small boat, finding joy in nature, fighting fascism, and how he keeps hope alive in the midst of global turmoil. Please donate to DoctorsWithoutBorders.org. Support the podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling author and talented therapist Lori Gottlieb shares suggestions on how to deal with grief, fear and unproductive anxiety vs. productive anxiety. She also speaks movingly about not being permitted to sit shiva for her father, who recently passed away. Hopefully, this discussion of grief and boundaries will help you wherever you’re at these days. You can support the podcast at Patreon.com...

Sara asks Parker Molloy "What's your poison?" and they are, in fact, talking about emotionally eating cereal. Parker talks about writing, politics, enduring stress, and raising a puppy with a person with the coolest profession imaginable. Also, Sara cries at the end. Support the podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Use offer code POLLY at MelissaCynova.com for 20% off a really fun tarot reading w...

Two relaxation exercises in one episode! Plus, bestselling sci-fi author Chuck Wendig also writes and talks and thinks about plenty of other stuff. He chats with Sara from his shed in the countryside (he also has a house, but he writes in the shed) about writing, the Amish, and the importance of being friendly from a distance. Support the podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Learn more about your...

Sara talks to her friend, comedian and podcast host Travis McElroy, about finding out about shelter in place rules while on a cruise ship. co-parenting a toddler and a newborn, and his livestream project to benefit people in need. Buy tickets to Travis’s livestream variety show:  http://bit.ly/CUSSLIVE . Support the podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap...

Best selling author Roxane Gay joins Sara from her home in a different part of Los Angeles to discuss the social impact of soap operas, the soothing practice of baking, and the importance of giving people real cash when you can. Support the podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Highly-regarded meditation teacher and author Sharon Salzberg talks to Sara about kindness, stress, and living with some peace in the midst of turmoil. Sara also speaks about a panic attack she recently had. Sharon offers free and subscription-based teachings at SharonSalzberg.com. You can support the podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

Okay, actress Niccole Thurman isn't actually Madonna's assistant. But creating characters is one way this funny human stays inventive and creative during this time (and, honestly, during regular times too.) Maybe this episode will inspire you to get goofy and make ridiculous, fun stuff in your own home. Might help you, might helps others too. Please support the Actors Fund and take good care of yo...

Sara talks about panic attacks - how to identify them and how to deal with them. Plus she welcomes a special guest. Steven Weber (NBC Indebted, Wings, tons of other stuff) is one of Sara's favorite people from Queens. The Impeached Orange Creamsicle Kraft Dinner Palpatine President, on the other hand, is not. Sara and Steven talk about how we manage stress, and how families survive and thrive at t...

Sara talks to writer-director-actress Ingrid Haas about experiencing pregnancy loss and waking up from surgery to discover her directorial debut screening at SXSW had been cancelled. Yeah. This one gets deep, so take good care as you listen. This podcast is produced by Sara Benincasa and Spoke Media. You can support at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Please seek mental health resources at NAMI.org and...

Alicia Hannah is an actress, environmental advocate, and Korean-Australian-American world traveler. Sara talks to her about the impeached president, the profound experience of visiting Sydney during the unprecedented catastrophe of the recent fire season, and why Alicia became a citizen. Please support The Actors Fund. Support the podcast at Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa. Produced by Sara Benincasa an...