What Are We Even Doing? with Kyle MacLachlan

The one and only Ego Nwodim helps Kyle answer “what are we even doing?” in an infectiously silly chat about how she plotted her career trajectory from USC biology major to successful actor, writer & comedian, the unforgettable magic of Miss Eggy & Ego’s canon of masterful SNL characters, her creative process & improv superpowers, and the importance of presence & fun. Kyle and Ego unpack that time s...

Actor, writer, director, musical artist & producer Jordan Firstman joins Kyle in the pod stu to muse about being & having a muse, Jordan’s creative process & feature directorial debut with Club Kid, and his Laura Dern song & standom. Of course, the two discuss all things I Love LA, including Rachel Sennott’s spot-on depiction of the industry’s current vibe, what it’s like being Charlie, and g...

Actor, comedian, writer, podcaster & breath of fresh air Owen Thiele mics up with Kyle to chat about how he turned his sleep troubles into a hit podcast, late night inventions, childhood & the core memory that led to Owen’s career, being part of the amazing Overcompensating community, the entrepreneurial spirit of millennials & Gen Z, Owen’s desire to be a Desperate Housewife (reboot alert!), podcasting styl...

Digital creator, columnist & podcaster Tefi Pessoa sits down with Kyle to unpack how she established her career & connects with so many people via pop culture, a mindblowing Elizabeth Taylor story, how to approach auditions & choose optimism, their thoughts on Britney Spears & Hamlet, how Tefi navigates interviewing celebrities on the red carpet, Kyle’s longtime love for wine, social media, why it’s time...

Kyles kicks the New Year off right by celebrating creativity & silliness with actor, comedian & writer extraordinaire, Holmes. The OVERCOMPENSATING castmates discuss what it was like making the show & using improv to bring the iconic Hailey to life, why they feel more comfortable as characters than themselves, the internet as nonbinary, TWIN PEAKS & David Lynch’s one-of-a-kind talent, the healing powers of liv...

Kyle is joined by comedian, podcaster, and NYT bestselling author Drew Afualo aka the internet’s “Queen of the Roasts” and the reason certain men fear the For You Page to talk core memories, career chaos, and what it’s like making a living in the world’s loudest comment section. The two dive into Drew’s TikTok origin story, how she turned hate comments into a full-blown empire, and what she&rsquo...

This week, Kyle hosts award-winning actor, best-selling author, UNICEF Ambassador & producer Simu Liu, who regales us with tales of being a stock photo legend, why he pursued acting over accounting, how he broke into Hollywood & navigates the industry, teenage rebellion & popstar aspirations, powerful nudges from extraordinary people, and what it was like making history as the first Asian Marvel superhero. Kyle gets the...

Photographer, director, mixed-media artist & AOH Studios Founder Alana O’Herlihy joins forces with Kyle to discuss how she went all in on her creative destiny to get where she is today & creates such compelling self-portraits, the iconic David Lynch and his impact on Kyle & Alana’s art, authenticity & careers, why social media is a creative playground, Kyle & Alana’s Balenciaga shoot for Vanity...

Kyle drops an early holiday gift this week: an interview with beloved actor, comedian, writer, producer, director & singer, John Early! Kyle & John unwrap which core memory led to John’s career, his stoned Golden Retriever approach to creativity, a life-changing teenage trip to NYC, the tea on Tisch & his desire to play an ingenue, theater & Shakespeare, John’s flawless tribute to Showgirls, what it was ...

Kyle welcomes creator, actor, and internet heartthrob Noah Beck for a serious exploration of what it means to have a huge following at a young age. They talk post Sway House life, moving to L.A., and the oddly intimate experience of millions of strangers watching Noah plate his protein, carbs, and emotional growth in real time. Noah gets candid about imposter syndrome, trading “TikTok boy” for “actor boy,” a...

This week, actor Justice Smith and Kyle delve into their love for Shakespeare & Pokémon, what it was like going to magic school for Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, their philosophy on acting & play, Justice’s superpower & why he prioritizes authenticity, what he learned from starring in I Saw the TV Glow & how the movie references David Lynch, the impact of social media on celebrity culture, why Ky...

Enlivening the pod stu today is Recess Therapy and Celebrity Substitute creator, writer, comedian, actor and podcaster Julian Shapiro-Barnum, who takes Kyle on his creative journey from theater student to viral sensation for his playground interviews with kids during the pandemic and a hit second show plus podcast. The guys discuss why children are such refreshing interview subjects, what Julian has learned so far from his award-wi...

Kyle suits up for Cosmopolitan and Seventeen Editor-in-Chief Willa Bennett to discuss their ties du jour & love for Demna, the impact high school English teachers had on their careers, how Willa honors & evolves the magazines she loved growing up with, their Highsnobiety photoshoot that minted Kyle’s babygirl status, Willa’s inspiration for Cosmopolitan’s 60th anniversary edition & what makes magazines...

Actress, writer, and producer Rachel Sennott joins Kyle for a royally chaotic Halloween episode recorded entirely in Princess Diaries cosplay (yes, Mia Thermopolis and Queen Clarisse have entered the pod stu). Between tales of Hollywood hauntings and creative chaos, they talk Bottoms, Shiva Baby, I Love LA, and how Rachel’s Treacly Productions is conjuring its next big thing. There’s matcha spilled, crowns dropped, and ...

Comedian, writer, actor, podcaster, and fellow Overcompensating cast member Caleb Hearon joins Kyle in the studio to discuss how the women in Caleb’s family inspired his comedy, which life experiences inform his politics and activism, Caleb’s razor-sharp observation skills, and how he really feels about lists and Mr. Beast. The guys share their mutual gratitude and joy for getting to be entertainers, their approaches to...

Kyle connects with kindred spirit, actor, comedian, writer, and director Grace Kuhlenschmidt to learn about her incredible career path and creative process, what being a correspondent on The Daily Show is like, which Spice Girl she met while performing in London, who inspired her comedy, and where to get the best Chinese chicken salad in Grace’s hometown of L.A.. Grace rates Kyle’s limited reality TV experience, gets th...

Actor, comedian, writer, and producer Geraldine Viswanathan gives Kyle the lowdown on how she caught the acting bug in 5th grade, the difference between soft and f*#@ boys, her strategy for working with her heroes, how to go viral with dalmatians on a red carpet, and what it’s been like playing a historical figure in the upcoming biopic about Merle Oberon, an Oscar-nominated Indian-British actor, writer, and producer with a p...

Kyle is joined by actor, Spice Girls enthusiast, and fellow coffee aficionado Dylan O’Brien to talk core memories, career pivots, and the chaos of balancing blockbusters with indies. The two dive into Dylan’s transition from Teen Wolf and The Maze Runner to Twinless and the art of playing not one but two completely different characters in the same film. Don’t miss Kyle and Dylan unpack the importance of infusing y...

Kyle has a heart-to-heart with his on-screen biological son – comedian, writer, actor, podcast host, and producer Benito Skinner aka Benny Drama – to unpack what it’s like working together and growing up in the Northwest, ideas for the second season of Overcompensating, and how Benny created the original characters and viral celebrity impersonations that jumpstarted his career. Don’t miss father and son reve...