Zosia Mamet is an author and actress known for her breakout role as Shoshanna on HBO’s Girls. In this episode, she joins us to discuss her raw, funny, and deeply personal new book, Does This Make Me Funny?
In this candid conversation, Zosia opens up about anxiety, self-worth, family legacy, and the constant challenge of defining herself outside of fame. She shares the emotional rollercoaster of turning her private journal entries into a published book — what it feels like to expose your inner world to strangers — and the strange comfort that comes from owning your story before anyone else can.
From nepo baby labels to the internet’s obsession with lineage, Zosia talks about navigating public judgment with humor and grace, and what it’s really like to grow up as the daughter of legendary playwright David Mamet. She explains why compassion matters more than defensiveness, and how empathy became her quiet rebellion against cynicism.
Zosia also reflects on her years playing Shoshanna — the character that made her a pop culture icon — and why she still feels connected to her. She opens up about the bittersweet nature of creative success, the beauty of radical honesty in relationships, and how her husband’s blunt truth-telling helped her redefine love and emotional safety.
Funny, heartfelt, and disarmingly honest, this episode is a deep dive into vulnerability, artistic growth, and what it means to stay authentic in a world built on performance.
Check out video clips of this episode and other conversations on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNH5UGRKI5E1AUBWAk-OkrA?sub_confirmation=1
00:00 - Girls opened doors and the Shoshana effect00:24 - Intro: Justin Jay and The Plug00:55 - Iconic roles: the blessing and curse of being typecast01:50 - Tackling anxiety, body image, and self-worth02:20 - Guest introduction: Zosia Mamet, author and actress02:53 - Book release nerves and the “anxiety flea”04:20 - Acting vs. writing: How creative paths challenge us differently07:16 - Sharing personal stories while protecting identities11:32 - Handling internet trolls with compassion13:16 - Growing up Mamet: privilege, pressure, and the NEPO label28:24 - Breakout role reflections: Girls, improv, and industry lessons42:00 - Closing plug: Zosia Mamet’s book Does This Make Me Funny?
Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay at: theplugpodcast.jj(AT)gmail.com
https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/
https://justinjay.com/
HI 1K - 10 Years / 1000 Moments On Hawaii’s North Shore by Justin Jay:
https://www.hi1k.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices