Bestselling author and cultural critic Roxane Gay joins Monica this week on Reclaiming for a deep, candid conversation about the body, feminism, trauma, and the ways power protects itself ? in publishing, politics, media, and the stories we tell about survivors. Roxane takes us inside the writing of Hunger, her landmark memoir about sexual violence, survival, and the body she built as a fortress, reflecting on what it means to live with trauma without pretending to be ?cured? of it. She offers her sharp analysis of abuses of power ? from the media?s handling of the Epstein files to the failures of political institutions to meet moments of moral urgency with courage. Together, Roxane and Monica explore the problem with pedestals, the liberation of learning to say no, and the grace required to embrace our own complicated humanity on our own terms. Plus, Roxane dishes on co-writing her first romance novel with actor Channing Tatum! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Actress, author, and advocate Jamie Lynn Sigler joins Monica this week on Reclaiming for a deeply honest conversation about chronic illness, the burden of secrecy, and the freedom that comes from finally telling the truth. Jamie Lynn reflects on growing up in the public eye as Meadow Soprano on The Sopranos and being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at just 20 years old, as her career was taking off. For 15 years, she kept her MS private, afraid that revealing the truth about her body might cost her work, her identity, and the image of strength she felt compelled to maintain. She opens up about the shame of feeling as though her illness made her ?a problem,? and the profound sense of safety she found in James Gandolfini, the one person on set she trusted with her diagnosis. Jamie Lynn also shares how becoming a mother changed everything, ultimately pushing her to stop hiding so her sons would never have to carry her secret for her. Together, she and Monica explore the difference between strength and silence, the healing power of vulnerability, and the philosophy behind Jamie Lynn?s new memoir, And So It Is: A Memoir of Acceptance and Hope. This is a conversation about reclaiming your body, your story, your voice, and the life waiting on the other side of shame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, we're revisiting one of our favorite interview with Miley Cyrus?global icon, shape-shifting performer, and fearlessly candid storyteller. Miley opens up about her earliest days in the spotlight, the complicated legacy of Hannah Montana, and the personal cost of growing up famous. She shares why her latest music feels like medicine, how she?s learned to set boundaries with the public, and the lessons she?s still unlearning about shame, identity, and self-worth. With humor, honesty, and striking insight, Miley opens up about family estrangement and reconciliation, the armor of persona, and why she?s finally starting to feel free in her own skin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emmy-winning actress, producer, author, and transgender rights trailblazer Laverne Cox joins Monica this week on Reclaiming for a live taping at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival in Seattle. With her new memoir, Transcendent, out in the world, Laverne opens up to Monica about what it means to finally tell her story in her own words?from childhood trauma and self-worth to fame, healing, and the complicated cost of visibility. She retraces her path from growing up in Mobile, Alabama, where homophobia taught her early lessons about shame, to finding freedom, community, and creative purpose in New York City. Laverne reflects on how, after nearly 20 years spent struggling as a working actress, Orange Is the New Black changed everything, making her the first openly transgender person nominated for an Emmy in an acting category. Together, she and Monica explore vulnerability, the difference between being seen and being safe, and how Laverne continues to reclaim dignity for trans people everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Queer Eye star, fashion entrepreneur and producer Tan France joins Monica this week on Reclaiming for a vulnerable conversation about identity and belonging. Tan retraces his path from growing up as a gay, Pakistani, Muslim kid in England, to building a wildly successful fashion business designing modest clothing for Mormon women in Utah. He takes us back to the accidental Queer Eye audition he never really wanted?one he only attended in the hopes of making gay friends?and how that reluctant yes launched him into global visibility. Tan also shares what it was like to have his coming out accelerated by the show?s premiere, forcing deeply personal conversations with his traditional Muslim family. Together, he and Monica explore the emotional cost of being seen before you feel ready, the power of humor and how Tan has reclaimed fashion, family, and fame on his own terms. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RECLAIMING at oneskin.co/RECLAIMING#oneskinpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emmy-winning actor, writer, and creator Lena Waithe joins Monica on Reclaiming this week for a philosophical conversation about storytelling as a path to empathy and social change. Lena charts her journey from creating groundbreaking television like The Chi, co-writing  Netflix's award winning Master of None and more recently co-producing Cats: The Jellicle Ball on Broadway. She opens up about the profound impact of attending her first silent meditation retreat at 40 and how this daily practice has brought her life into focus. Together, Monica and Lena explore queer representation in the arts, the strange elasticity of time, and the singular magic of theater. Whatever challenges you?re facing, Grow Therapy is here to help. Visit GrowTherapy.com/RECLAIMING to get started! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Serial entrepreneur and digital marketing icon, Gary Vee joins Monica on Reclaiming this week for a candid conversation that pulls back the curtain on his early investments in some of the biggest digital platforms of our time ? including Facebook, Twitter, Venmo, and Resy, the wildly popular restaurant reservation app he co-founded. Though often seen as the patron saint of ?hustle culture,? Gary reveals the counterintuitive philosophies that actually drive him: kindness as a competitive advantage, patience as the true engine of success, and radical accountability as the antidote to victimhood. Expect a raw, provocative, and surprisingly vulnerable conversation that goes far beyond marketing tactics ? offering a masterclass in building a life, not just a business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The most decorated American track & field athlete in history, Allyson Felix joins Monica this week on Reclaiming for a conversation about what it takes to turn a moment of rejection into a movement. Allyson retraces her path from a shy, 'head-down' competitor focused solely on winning medals to the powerful advocate who risked everything to challenge a corporate sponsor system that penalized women for becoming mothers. She opens up about the isolating experience of hiding her pregnancy from Nike, negotiating her job security when her pregnancy became public, and the terrifying condition that threatened both her life and her daughter's. Allyson reveals how that confluence of personal crisis and professional injustice ignited her voice, leading her to walk away from a sponsorship, publish her groundbreaking New York Times op-ed, and ultimately build her own footwear company, Saysh, from the ground up. Expect a conversation filled with quiet determination and hard-won wisdom. * Since we taped this episode, Allyson made the exciting announcement that she?ll come out of retirement to compete in the 2028 Olympics is Los Angeles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, we?re playing one of our all time interviews with comedian, writer, and host John Oliver? a candid and thoughtful conversation about comedy, shame, and the power of laughter. John and Monica first connected in 2019 when she was interviewed for Last Week Tonight and she shares how that moment ultimately became part of her reclaiming journey. They explore the ethical tightrope of making jokes in a world full of gray areas and how humor can be both a coping tool and a way to call power to account.John shares what really surprised him about interviewing the Dalai Lama and the unexpected way His Holiness threw him off balance. With wit and depth, he and Monica dig into the weight of public shame, the risk of accountability, and why, for John, getting into trouble might just be the point. (And they use the C Word quite a bit!) Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RECLAIMING at oneskin.co/RECLAIMING#oneskinpod #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emmy-winning creator and star of the TV series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Rachel Bloom joins Monica this week on Reclaiming for a revealing conversation about turning your personal trauma into creative expression. Rachel retraces her path from childhood OCD and early career love triangles, to creating Crazy Ex-Girlfriend?a show that brilliantly dismantled romantic-comedy tropes and reclaimed the "crazy" label with a raw, honest portrayal of mental illness. Expect a conversation brimming with intellectual curiosity, radical candor, and a masterclass in how to find the perfect punchline for your deepest pain...plus Rachel dishes on her latest role in The Devil Wears Prada 2. Thanks to Grow Therapy for sponsoring the show! Whatever challenges you?re facing, Grow Therapy is here to help.  Visit GrowTherapy.com/RECLAIMING to get started! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Actress, entrepreneur, and 90s icon Jennie Garth joins Monica this week on Reclaiming for a conversation about surviving global fame, reclaiming your purpose, and the profound power of choosing yourself. Jennie retraces her path from a quiet horse ranch in Illinois to the center of a cultural phenomenon as Kelly Taylor on Beverly Hills, 90210. She opens up about the personal cost of that fame?developing crippling anxiety and agoraphobia at the height of her success?and how she has since reclaimed the toxic ?rivalry? narrative with and her 90210 female co-stars Jennie reveals how a single line from a 90210 script became the mantra for her second act, and how a pivot at 50 offered a different kind of healing than her acting career ever could. Expect a conversation brimming with surprising vulnerability, hard-won wisdom, and a roadmap for how to reclaim your own story, no matter how the world has tried to write it for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emmy-nominated writer, actor, and co-creator of the critically acclaimed series PEN15, Anna Konkle joins Monica this week on Reclaiming for a conversation celebrating how dark humor can get you through almost anything. Anna retraces her path from a chaotic childhood to co-creating PEN15?a show that lets everyone process the tragicomedy of adolescence. She opens up about a five-year estrangement from her father that ended abruptly when she became his sole caregiver in his final months, and about the ways she?s been able to recategorize her mom?from a source of eye-rolling to a source of admiration. Anna reveals why now was the time to explore grief and reconciliation in her debut memoir, The Sane One, and how the solitary act of writing offered a different kind of healing than collaborative television. Expect a conversation brimming with laughter, warmth and tragicomic story swapping between Monica and Anna. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Renowned intuitive and bestselling author Laura Day joins Monica this week on Reclaiming for a pragmatic and enlightening conversation about turning trauma into a superpower and reclaiming intuition as a practical tool for living. Laura recounts the harrowing story of her traumatic childhood?caring for her younger siblings amidst profound neglect?and explains how the hyper-vigilance she developed to survive became the foundation for her intuitive gifts. She reveals the 16-year journey to writing her most definitive book, The Prism, and shares why her core philosophy is "proof over belief," a principle that earned her the title "The Psychic of Wall Street.? Listen for a masterclass in how to stop looking backward to heal, why the answers are rarely "inside you," and what it takes to reclaim your future by making one small, targeted change today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Writer, director, and creator of the groundbreaking HBO series Girls, Lena Dunham joins Monica this week on Reclaiming for a candid, profoundly self-aware conversation about surviving public scrutiny, turning pain into art, and the radical act of reclaiming your own story. Lena retraces her path from becoming the ?voice of a generation? at 24 to enduring a decade of public dissection, and ultimately to consciously building a quieter, more protected life as a writer and director. She reflects on the surreal experience of Girls being re-evaluated by a new generation and reveals why now felt like the right time to write about the physical and emotional costs of fame in her new memoir, Famesick. Along the way, Monica and Lena forge a powerful connection over their shared experience of becoming global symbols of female controversy?having their bodies and sexualities  treated as public property?and the long, difficult work of taking back the pen to write their next chapter. Expect a conversation brimming with unflinching honesty, confrontational humor, and a powerful lesson in what it means to find your voice, lose it under the weight of public opinion, and rebuild it stronger on your own terms. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Business mogul Emma Grede of Good American and SKIMS, joins Monica this week on Reclaiming, for a candid, no-nonsense conversation about building a billion-dollar empire, the myth of work-life balance, and the audacity to define success on your own terms. Emma retraces her path from a working-class childhood in East London and dropping out of fashion school, to becoming the operational force behind some of the world's most successful fashion brands. She reveals how her new book Start With Yourself was created in response to the countless questions she gets from other women about the secret to success. Along the way, Monica and Emma connect on the pressure of public perception, the power of reclaiming ambition from gendered stereotypes, and the hard-won freedom that comes from building a life that is authentically your own, no matter the noise. Expect a conversation brimming with unfiltered advice, tough-love honesty, and a powerful lesson in how to stop asking for permission and start building the life you were meant to live. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feminist artist and activist Marilyn Minter joins Monica this week on Reclaiming for a raw, defiant conversation about dismantling shame, reclaiming the female gaze, and turning public cancellation into a badge of honor. Marilyn retraces her path?from being declared a ?traitor to feminism? in the 1980s for her provocative, sex-positive art to becoming one of today?s most revered artistic voices challenging cultural taboos around pleasure, aging, and the female body. In a powerful exchange, Marilyn reveals why she was so determined to paint Monica for her portrait series ?which includes Lizzo, Jane Fonda and Padma Lakshimi? and Monica reflects on what it took to finally give up her ?portrait virginity? and reclaim her own image through Minter?s fearless work. She shares how surviving public shaming?and getting sober?forged an unapologetic voice that continues to challenge our culture. Expect a conversation brimming with unflinching honesty, defiant humor, and a powerful reclaiming of the feminist spirit. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bestselling author and artist Suleika Jaouad joins Monica this week on Reclaiming, for a profound conversation about creative alchemy, navigating uncertainty, and the defiant joy of living in life?s messy middle. Suleika retraces her path from being diagnosed with leukemia at 22, to writing her Emmy-winning New York Times column, ?Life, Interrupted,? from her hospital bed. She reflects on the radical choice to marry her husband, Grammy award winning musician Jon Batiste, the day before a bone marrow transplant and how turning to watercolors when she could no longer write taught her that survival is always a creative act. Along the way, Monica and Suleika connect on the long shadow of narratives held by women, the power of journaling to find your way back to yourself, and the hard-won wisdom that comes from reclaiming a life you weren?t sure you?d get to live. Expect a conversation brimming with insight, gentle humor, and a powerful lesson in how to alchemize our deepest pain into our greatest purpose. Head to cozyearth.com and use my code RECLAIMING for an exclusive 20% off. And if you get a Post-Purchase Survey, be sure to mention you heard about Cozy Earth right here! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grammy and Emmy-winning artist Lizzo joins Monica this week for a raw, laughter-filled conversation about what it takes to practice radical self-love under a global microscope.Lizzo speaks about the profound disconnect between her public persona and her private self, revealing how she?s channeled the darker chapters of loss and public scandal into a creative rebirth. Monica and Lizzo find deep common ground on the universal challenge of authoring your own story when the world has already written its own version, and the hard-won wisdom of setting boundaries to protect your peace. Plus we get a live sneak peak and Lizzo?s brand new single. This episode is sponsored by, Whatever challenges you?re facing, Grow Therapy is here to help. Visit GrowTherapy.com/RECLAIMING to get started! Head to cozyearth.com and use my code RECLAIMING for up to 20% off. And if you get a Post-Purchase Survey, please be sure to mention you heard about Cozy Earth right here! Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RECLAIMING atoneskin.co/RECLAIMING #oneskinpod Go to HelloFresh.com/reclaiming10fm to get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value!) on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica welcomes Emmy and Peabody award-winning filmmaker and activist Deeyah Khan for a stunning conversation about how she transformed her own trauma of being silenced into a tool for radical dialogu? leading her to create acclaimed documentaries that confront the architects of hate?from former jihadis to American neo-Nazis Deeyah retraces her path from being a successful teenage musician in Norway to being forced to abandon her art after years of escalating threats from religious extremists.. She reflects on the insistence on humanity that allows her to be in conversation with violent ideologies, the delicate line between understanding and endorsement, and the stunning, real-world moments when her approach opened up a white supremacists to receive her beliefs. Along the way, Monica and Deeyah explore what leading with love looks like, the quiet power of listening in a world that demands we shout, and how we can all show up in a moment that demands hope and action. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it take to walk away from one of the most powerful jobs in television? Monica sits down with legendary showrunner Krista Vernoff, a creative force behind Grey's Anatomy,Station 19, and Shameless, for a profoundly honest conversation about the real price of female success and the wakeup moment that demanded she start to reclaim her life from burnout. Krista pulls back the curtain on the makings of her remarkable career, from her unconventional "hippie artist" upbringing that taught her to break the rules, to the intense pressures of "having it all." She shares how shaping the behaviors and dialogue of the characters in her TV shows can impact social change and how she's used writing as a powerful healing modality to process her own grief and life experiences. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica welcomes writer-director-actor Lake Bell for an honest and funny conversation about voice, vulnerability, and the art of world-building?both on screen and in life. Lake charts her trajectory from an indie filmmaker who literally wrote herself a voice of authority in her Sundance-winning film In a World..., to starring in the subversive HBO hit The Chair Company. She speaks with candor about how navigating her daughter's epilepsy transformed her into a fierce and creative advocate for neurodiversity (and a children's book author!). Lake explains the hard, intentional work of conscious uncoupling from her ex-husband and unexpected joy in building a loving 'two-house family' for their two kids. Along the way, Monica and Lake connect on the tools it takes to reframe our personal narratives and discover a shared admiration for a well built car/for good looking cars. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica welcomes actor, author, and creator Dylan Mulvaney for a deeply candid and surprisingly joyful conversation about identity, art, and the radical act of choosing joy in the face of public hate. Dylan retraces her path from a musical theater kid with a secret to documenting her transition for a billion people in her viral "Days of Girlhood" tik tok series. She reflects on surviving the ?beergate? controversy, and how that traumatic moment of becoming a political symbol pushed her not to retreat, but to reclaim her story on her own terms?first through a spiritual ayahuasca journey, and then on stage in her one-woman show. Along the way, Monica and Dylan find profound common ground on the dizzying experience of surviving a global scandal, the specific pain of being turned into a caricature by the media, and the quiet, determined work it takes to piece your narrative back together. Expect laugh-out-loud moments about the absurdity of fame, a shared belief in humor as the ultimate survival tool, and even some breaking out into song mid podcast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica welcomes three-time Emmy winner Uzo Aduba for an expansive conversation about identity, creativity, and the quiet courage it takes to reclaim yourself?over and over. Uzo retraces her path from being the only Nigerian-American kid in her class growing up, to inhabiting some of TV?s most indelible women, from Suzanne ?Crazy Eyes? Warren in Orange Is the New Black to Shirley Chisholm in Mrs. America. She reflects on the discipline of choosing roles that let her evolve on-screen as quickly as she does off, the tenderness of becoming her mother?s caregiver during a cancer battle, and the seismic joy (and humility) of welcoming her first child. Along the way, Monica and Uzo trade stories about finding comedy inside chaos, finding dignity in dating and indulge in a few serious theater geek tangents! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, actress and producer Madelaine Petsch gets real about what it actually takes to keep going when Hollywood keeps saying no. Before landing her breakout role of Cheryl Blossom in Riverdale, she faced more than 250 rejections ? and instead of letting them define her, she used them to build resilience, confidence, and a thicker skin. Madelaine opens up about learning how to set boundaries to protect her peace in an industry that constantly asks for more, and why horror movies became an unexpected form of emotional regulation ? a safe way to give her nervous system a jolt and feel in control of anxiety instead of consumed by it. She also reflects on navigating a deeply personal chapter of her life: supporting her father through serious mental health challenges and how that experience reshaped her understanding of strength, compassion, and self-preservation. And because this is Reclaiming, the wisdom doesn?t stop with her own journey ? Madelaine even turns the tables and offers Monica some very earnest (and very funny) advice on how to finally get her ship-based period piece made. Hollywood, consider this your official notice. Make sure to check out Madelaine's new movie "The Strangers" - in theaters now! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica sits down with actor, writer, and activist Jameela Jamil for a passionate conversation about pleasure, purpose, and the ways modern life has quietly taught us to live without community. Jameela reflects on her desire to build a chosen village, why friendships deserve as much investment as romantic relationships, and how capitalism and isolation have reshaped our ideas of fulfillment. She opens up about nearly dying as a teenager, rejecting the idea that life is a test to endure, and why peace, laughter, and joy are not indulgences but necessities. Together, they explore loneliness, patriarchy, burnout, and the radical idea that a meaningful life might be rooted not in productivity, but in connection, curiosity, and shared humanity  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Monica dreamed up Reclaiming, she imagined conversations that could stretch and reshape what reclamation means ? identity, agency, voice, dignity, desire, self-worth, ancestry, joy, and even the things we didn?t know we needed to take back. Across 48 guests, we asked the same question: What is something you're working on reclaiming right now? The answers turned into a breathtaking tapestry ? big, small, public, private, famous and familiar ? from reclaiming bodies and boundaries to relationships with family, fame, faith, narrative, pleasure, community, and the powerful decision to rewrite the story of your own life. This special episode gathers every one of those moments into a single watch. You?ll hear reflections that are messy, triumphant, hilarious, tender, surprising ? and yes, one guest even reclaimed her misaligned zodiac sign. It?s a reminder that reclaiming isn?t a destination ? it?s an ongoing practice, a return to ourselves over and over again. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All year long, people have asked Monica the same question: Who?s been your favorite interview? And all year long, the truth has been the same ? there was something unforgettable in every single conversation. So for this special compilation, we?ve pulled together some of the most powerful, lingering moments of 2025 into one episode. From Miley Cyrus talking about shame, sexuality, and the collateral damage of fame, to Alan Cumming confronting his abuser, to Chelsea Handler cracking open decades of armor over a single orange ? these are the stories that stayed with us. Jurnee Smollett and Gabrielle Union explore blood memory and ancestry; Mark Duplass names ?the woog? that lives between anxiety and depression; Sarah Paulson and Allison Janney reflect on childhood survival strategies and the characters that shaped them. Tarana Burke reframes grace, John Oliver and Margaret Cho show how gallows humor can literally save us, Molly Ringwald and Adam Scott unpack the long tail of fame, Olivia Munn reclaims her mastectomy scars, Beanie Feldstein talks about grief and language, Jon Chu and Tony Hawk share the hustles and crash landings behind their legends, and Elise Loehnen and Courtney Smith dig into the high cost of reputational harm ? especially for women. And because Reclaiming is never just one thing, we even tucked some of the year?s funniest, most unhinged moments at the end ? from sex vocabulary lessons to Broadway ?up the butt? lore to John Oliver?s favorite four-letter word. It?s a season of memorable moments, in one episode: raw, reflective, heartbreaking, and laugh-out-loud ridiculous in all the best ways. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with Michael Urie?actor, producer, and director whose career has been shaped by sharp comedy, emotional range, and a deep love of the stage and screen. In this conversation, Michael reflects on the lasting impact of Ugly Betty, what it meant to play a character who resonated so deeply with audiences, and how those early television years helped define his voice as a performer. He opens up about his unconventional path into acting?the power of the ACT after bombing the SATs?and how that second chance ultimately led him to Juilliard, along with the expectations and stereotypes that often come with elite training. We also explore his annual festival Pride Plays and why creating intentional space for LGBTQ+ artists feels increasingly vital in a media landscape dominated by algorithms and influencers. And just in case things get too serious, Michael also gives Monica permission to call him ?Mikey,? finishes the rest of her banana, and proves once and for all that Mikey will eat anything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica sits down with author Elise Loehnen and coach Courtney Smith for a conversation about goodness, desire, and the new "workbook" they co-authored "Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness" . Elise reflects on the ideas behind her other book ?On Our Best Behavior? and the cultural pressure for women to be selfless, disciplined, and ?good,? while Courtney explains how those inherited beliefs settle into the body and quietly steer our choices. Together they explore Enneagram types and how understanding our dominant type and wing can illuminate the fears driving our behavior, the drama triangle and the roles we slip into without noticing, and the surprising insight within envy and wanting. They talk about the fear of losing approval when we step out of line, the shame that gathers around desire, and the courage it takes to name what we truly need. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica sits down with bestselling author Harlan Coben for a conversation about risk, and the emotional heart that anchors every twist he writes. Harlan reflects on the fear and curiosity that led him to co-author a book with Reese Witherspoon, the childhood losses that shaped his most beloved characters, and the belief that pressure is a privilege for any creative life. He opens up about the hotel key he still keeps from his father, why thrillers only work when readers care deeply, and how boredom, insecurity, and paying attention to human behavior quietly fuel his work. Together, they explore grief, humor, the lives we imagine, and the stories that keep us tethered to one another.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica sits down with the authors of ALL THE COOL GIRLS GET FIRED, Laura Brown and Kristina O?Neill, for a conversation about identity, resilience, and rebuilding after everything shifts. Laura and Kristina share the story of being fired from their dream jobs, how they moved through shock and uncertainty, and why that moment became the spark for their next chapter. Together, they explore how women are taught to carry shame around career loss, the power of community and humor in hard moments, and what it really means to reclaim your worth outside of a title. Sharing the firing stories of famous women like Oprah, Katie Couric, Carol Burnett and many others, It it is an honest, grounded look at letting go, starting again, and trusting that sometimes the fall is what sets you free. Be the first to know about Wondery?s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/reclaiming-with-monica-lewinsky now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica sits down with artist and author Charlie Mackesy for a warm conversation about softness, grief, and what it means to stay human in a world that urges you to harden. Charlie opens up about the unexpected impact of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, the emotional weight of meeting readers in their most tender moments, and how creating gentle work requires its own quiet courage. Together, in this connecting, deep dive they explore childhood defenses, the ache of losing the people and animals we love, and why storms change us even when we don?t choose them. Charlie also tells us about when his 19 year old dog, Barney, met the late Queen Elizabeth. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with Malala Yousafzai?activist, author, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate whose courage and conviction have inspired a global movement for girls? education. In this conversation, Malala reflects on growing into herself?beyond the headlines and history?and learning to see her life through her own lens. She speaks candidly about her feminist father, whose belief in equality helped her imagine a future not just for herself, but for generations of women to come. We also explore her evolving relationship with her mother, and how, as Malala gets older, she?s come to understand and honor her mother?s perspective in new ways. And because self-discovery isn?t all philosophy and politics, Malala shares the lighter side too?like deciding it was finally time to wear jeans and the tragic, but clarifying, realization that she looks truly terrible in a cardigan. And if you?ve ever wondered if being brave in activism translates to being brave in other areas ? Malala and Monica discuss rollercoasters! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with Adam Scott?actor, producer, and storyteller whose career has spanned cult classics, beloved comedies, and boundary-pushing drama. In this conversation, Adam reflects on the years of struggle before his ?big break,? the self-doubt that came with them, and how Parks and Recreation didn?t just change his career?it reshaped his sense of belonging. He shares how the unexpected, global resonance of Severance has opened up a new creative chapter, one defined by leaning into the unknown. We also explore the loss of his mother to ALS and the complicated experience of parenting while building a career. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with Lili Reinhart?actor, producer, and author who?s redefining what it means to live honestly in the spotlight. In this conversation, Lili opens up about her ongoing battle with anxiety, PMDD, and cystic acne, and how learning to be present has become the foundation of her healing. We chat about her relationship to the characters she?s played, from Riverdale?s girl-next-door, Betty Cooper, to the anxious, dread laden Harper of Hal & Harper. Lili also opens up about the inspiration behind her new skincare line, Personal Day, born from years of vulnerability, experimentation, and self-care. A conversation about authenticity, duality, and the courage to show up?exactly as you are. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica sits down with actor Grace Van Patten, whose fearless performances have made her one of Hollywood?s most intriguing young talents. Grace opens up about the challenge and responsibility of portraying Amanda Knox (The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox on Hulu), and how she approached the role not as a tabloid figure, but as a complex human being caught in an impossible situation.   She reflects on growing up in a famously creative but deeply supportive family, where encouragement and curiosity were constants?and how that foundation helped her stay grounded while pursuing a life in front of the camera. Grace also shares how her college courses in criminal psychology unexpectedly became tools in her actor?s toolkit, helping her build deeper, more layered characters.   Together, she and Monica explore how the Me-Too movement reshaped her generation?s relationship to power and vulnerability?and how, through it all, Grace is learning to reclaim her inner child, to hold space for joy, curiosity, and self-trust amid the demands of a difficult world.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica sits down with Sarah Paulson for a conversation about ambition, empathy, and what it means to be seen. Sarah reflects on the roles that changed her life, from American Horror Story to Impeachment, and the complicated art of portraying someone like Linda Tripp with both honesty and compassion. Together, they unpack how childhood survival skills can turn into creative instincts, the tension between visibility and vulnerability, and the quiet strength that comes from forgiveness. It is an intimate look at transformation, grace, and the power of meeting your past with understanding. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica sits down with Dr. Mary Claire Haver, OB-GYN and author of The New Menopause. Together they explore what it really means to navigate perimenopause and menopause with clarity and compassion. Dr. Haver explains the physical and emotional changes of this stage, the gaps in medical training on women?s health, and the cultural silence that leaves so many unprepared. She and Monica talk about weight stigma, hormone therapy, brain fog, and the urgency of science-based care. And, since Dr Haver was originally focused on Geology, they chat on Monica?s favorite topic: crystals! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica sits down with Flamingo Estate founder, Richard Christiansen, for a conversation about wonder, reinvention, and slowing down. Richard shares how the collapse of his old life gave way to the garden at Flamingo Estate, reflecting on childhood shame, creative awakening, and the quiet work of softening into love. Together, they explore how convenience erodes meaning, why ceremony matters, and how beauty can be turned into impact. It is a soulful look at what blooms when we choose to live with intention. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with the incomparable Allison Janney?Oscar, Emmy, and Tony-winning actress whose depth, humor, and humanity have made her one of Hollywood?s most beloved performers. In this conversation, Allison opens up about the silver screen legends who shaped her early career?Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman?and how their mentorship changed everything. She reflects on her own journey of self-exploration through ketamine, MDMA, mushrooms, and even astrology, sharing how those experiences have helped her see herself, and the world, more clearly.   We also explore her profound love for her mother, the unshakable bond she shared with her brother, and the enduring ache of his loss. Allison also reflects on her deep friendship with Matthew Perry, and the shared understanding that comes from loving people who wrestled with pain and brilliance in equal measure. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica sits down with Gabrielle Union for a conversation that is both deeply personal and profoundly expansive. Gabrielle opens up about her journey through trauma and survival, the ways disassociation shaped her life, and her ongoing work to reclaim peace in her body and spirit. She reflects on the cultural legacy of Bring It On twenty-five years later, her pilgrimage to Africa for her 50th birthday, and how listening to ancestors has guided her path forward. Gabrielle also shares the story of surviving sexual assault at 19, the impact it had on her relationships and career, and why she has committed her voice and advocacy to changing how we understand and treat PTSD. Later in the episode, psychiatrist Dr. Sofia Noori joins the conversation to unpack how trauma lives in the body and the tools that can help survivors heal. Together, Gabrielle and Sofia talk about their work with Nema Health, the company they?ve helped build to create new, lasting pathways to trauma recovery. It?s a raw, soulful episode about ancestry, survival, advocacy, and the possibility of a life defined by more than trauma. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica is joined by award-winning actor Jurnee Smollett for a conversation about ancestry, resilience, and the radical act of finding joy in the present. Jurnee reflects on the ?blood memory? carried through generations, the lessons of her mother and grandmother, and the responsibility of bringing truth to the screen without succumbing to trauma. She shares the spiritual practices that help her quiet her inner critic, the balance of parenting without shame, and the resilience forged at the intersection of her Black and Jewish heritage. Together, she and Monica explore feminine strength, the complexities of history, and how art can heal what feels impossible. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with Nicole Byer?comedian, actress, writer, and unapologetic force of nature whose humor has reshaped the boundaries of what comedy can hold. In this conversation, Nicole opens up about the loss of her parents and the lasting ways their absence continues to shape her outlook on life and love.   She reflects on her honest, refreshingly relatable relationship with her body?how rejecting society?s unrealistic standards has become both a personal act of liberation and a cornerstone of her comedy, and how that candor eventually led to a successful book. Nicole also shares her lighthearted take on living with ADHD, why hecklers don?t stand a chance, and the joy she finds in turning the whole audience into her co-conspirators. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with Jamie Kern Lima?entrepreneur, author, and trailblazing founder of IT Cosmetics, the billion-dollar beauty brand built on authenticity and inclusion. In this conversation, Jamie opens up about what she calls ?doubting yourself out of your destiny,? and her ?season of setbacks." She reflects on how persevering through countless ?no?s? taught her the power of resilience, why creating products that reflected real women?s skin tones and needs was non-negotiable, and how listening to her gut?even when others didn?t believe?changed everything. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with Mark Duplass?actor, filmmaker, writer, and creative force whose career has stretched across indie film, television, and music. In this conversation, Mark opens up about his personal journey with anxiety and depression, and how he works to keep what he calls ?the woog? at bay. He reflects on the tools that help him navigate those darker stretches, the importance of naming what scares us, and how leaning into vulnerability can become its own form of resilience. He also shares his evolving perspective on creativity, fatherhood, and partnership, and why showing up authentically online?even in the messiness?can foster a kind of intimacy that transcends likes and algorithms. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica is joined by Liz Gilbert, bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and City of Girls, for a deeply personal conversation about solitude, self-compassion, and the courage to live outside expectation. Liz opens up about the liberation she?s found in celibacy, the radical practice of befriending herself, and the cost of female over giving. She and Monica talk about loneliness, freedom, recovery, and what it means to say: this isn?t working for me. It?s a candid and soulful episode about grief, transformation, and the power of reclaiming your own life. And make sure to check out her new book "All the Way to the River" out now! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with Julia Fox?actress, artist, author, and unabashed cultural provocateur who has turned fearlessness into a full-blown art form. In this conversation, Julia opens up about the importance of having a positive male role model for her son, the determination not to let the demons of her past overshadow the blessings of her future, and how she manifested?yes?a sugar daddy. She reflects on her meteoric rise from the New York art scene and doing sex work to breaking into Hollywood, her sometimes rocky relationship with her parents, her perspective on being a muse, and the politics of beauty. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica is joined by Amanda Knox?advocate, writer, and executive producer of the new Hulu series The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox?for an unflinching and deeply personal conversation about identity, injustice, and the long tail of trauma. From being wrongly imprisoned for her roommate?s murder at 20 years old to reclaiming authorship over her own story, Amanda reflects on the cost of being turned into a symbol?and the strength it takes to become a person again. They talk about shame, survival, and what it means to be thrust onto a global stage as a young woman in the public eye. It?s a candid and emotionally layered episode about truth, bias, and the power of finally being heard. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, Monica is joined by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Ronan Farrow for a conversation that?s as vulnerable as it is incisive. From growing up under relentless scrutiny to reporting on some of the most powerful men in the world, Ronan opens up about the emotional toll of telling the truth and the unexpected ways trauma can shape ambition. They talk, disinformation, misplaced reality, and the quiet bravery of choosing compassion in a world that rewards cruelty. It?s a revealing and unexpectedly tender episode with one of journalism?s most fearless voices. Plus, Monica talks about the time she got catfished by a fake Greta Thunberg. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with comedian, writer, and host John Oliver for a candid and thoughtful conversation about comedy, shame, and the power of laughter. John reflects on his interview with Monica in 2019 for Last Week Tonight and how that moment became part of her reclaiming journey. They explore the ethical tightrope of making jokes in a world full of gray areas and how humor can be both a coping tool and a way to call power to account. John shares what really surprised him about interviewing the Dalai Lama and the unexpected way His Holiness threw him off balance. With wit and depth, he and Monica dig into the weight of public shame, the risk of accountability, and why, for John, getting into trouble might just be the point. (And they use the C Word quite a bit!) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices