Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns for Season 4 of her award-winning podcast, Wiser Than Me™. Each week, she has funny, touching, personal conversations with iconic older women who are brimming with the kind of unapologetic attitude and wisdom that only comes with age. Julia sits at the feet of some extraordinary teachers this season, and of course her 91-year-old mom, Judith. Tune in to laugh, cry, and get wise. All Hail Old Women! Photo: Ryan Pfluger and August Image

Episodes

June 24, 2026 64 mins
This week on Wiser Than Me, Julia sits down with 73-year-old style and music legend Cyndi Lauper. The pair talk premonitions, pop hits, and why she thinks she owes Steven Spielberg a decades-overdue apology note. From singing in the shower as a kid to writing the Broadway musical Kinky Boots, Cyndi talks about her creative chaos, and standing up to anyone who tells her to “just sing.” She opens up about marriage, activi...
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Julia is joined by 85-year-old folk legend and lifelong activist Joan Baez, who is still dancing, still showing up, and still refusing to be quiet. They talk about singing before a quarter million people at the March on Washington in 1963, what made Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. laugh, and what real courage feels like from the inside. Joan opens up about her decades-long struggle with anxiety, forgiveness, and dissociative identity d...
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This week, Julia sits down with 78-year-old Janet Mills, Maine's first female governor, first female DA, and first female AG in the state's history. Governor Mills, who recently suspended her Senate campaign, takes Julia behind the scenes of that legendary White House moment when she looked Trump in the eye, said "see you in court," and won. Julia also learns how Janet navigated the ups and downs of becoming a stepmom to five young...
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May 13, 2026 54 mins
This week, Julia sits down with 76-year-old trailblazing actress Pam Grier, Hollywood's first female action star. Pam opens up about the childhood injury that left her with a stutter, and how a giant draft horse healed her. She reflects on channeling her mother's quiet strength into the iconic titular character Coffy, gets candid about her Stage 4 cervical cancer diagnosis, and shares thoughts on the unexpected pleasures of aging y...
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May 6, 2026 77 mins
On this episode of Wiser Than Me, Julia sits down with 74-year-old scene-stealer Jean Smart. They get into the final season of Hacks, the highs and lows of a career in Hollywood and what it feels like when great material finally meets the actor it was meant for. Jean opens up about parenting a teenager in her 70s, dating as a widow, and her family’s witchy past. Plus, Julia shares behind-the-scenes Seinfeld writer’s sec...
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April 29, 2026 2 mins
We’re coming back with more episodes of Wiser Than Me, and Julia’s still asking older, wiser women to tell her everything they know. It's all on the table – the triumphs, the missteps, and the wisdom that comes from surviving it all. And of course, each episode ends with a check-in from Julia's 92-year-old mom, Judith. New episodes start May 6th, from Lemonada Media.
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We are heartbroken by the news of Catherine O’Hara’s sudden passing at the age of 71. Her brilliance, humor, and kindness touched so many of us, and we’ve taken comfort in listening back to Julia’s conversation with her from last year. We’re sharing it now as we mourn her loss and celebrate the sheer joy she brought to millions around the world.   On this episode of Wiser Than Me, Julia sits dow...
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January 14, 2026 63 mins
This week, Julia talks with 76-year-old legendary endurance swimmer Diana Nyad about obsession, the body, and attempting extraordinary feats later in life. Diana reflects on the evolution of her extreme swims, the chosen family that sustains her, and why loyalty and friendship are core to her survival. Plus, Julia and her 91-year-old mom Judy discuss their most surprising – but familiar – wrinkles.   Follow Wiser...
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On today’s episode of Wiser Than Me, Julia connects with 86-year-old death penalty activist Sister Helen Prejean. They discuss her joyful Southern childhood, early ambitions, and why she can’t put a little money down on her favorite card games – even though she really wants to. Sister Helen reflects on her political awakening, decades fighting the death penalty, and lessons about people and power. Plus, Julia asks...
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Christmas may be over, but we're still playing "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on repeat, so let's take the opportunity to listen back to Julia's conversation with the Queen of Christmas herself, Darlene Love.   This week on Wiser Than Me, Julia is joined by 84-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer Darlene Love. From her early days singing gospel music in her father’s church to backing up icons like Elvis Pres...
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The Wiser Than Me team is taking a little holiday break, but while we’re away, we’re excited to share a few conversations with friends. Today, we’re bringing you Julia’s recent appearance on Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers. Each week, brothers and comedians Seth and Josh Meyers chat with guests about their most memorable family vacations. In this episode, Julia joins the Meyers brothers ...
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The Wiser Than Me team is taking a little holiday break, but while we’re away, we’re excited to share a few conversations with friends. Today, we’re bringing you an episode of the hit podcast Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend is a weekly opportunity for legendary late-night comedian Conan O’Brien to hang out with the people he enjoys most and perh...
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The Wiser Than Me team is taking a little holiday break, but while we’re away, we’re excited to share a few conversations with friends. Today, we’re bringing you Julia’s recent appearance on Good Hang with Amy Poehler. On Good Hang, Amy sits down with brilliant guests like Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, and Ina Garten to talk about careers, mutual friends, and the things they’re genuinely...
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December 10, 2025 77 mins
On this episode of Wiser Than Me, Julia is joined by 78-year-old actress Glenn Close, who reflects on growing up in the Moral Re-Armament cult, her iconic work in Fatal Attraction and the new Knives Out, and the tenacity, talent, and forgiveness that have shaped her life. She also shares the impact of her grandmothers, how becoming one has changed her, and an incredible reveal from the set of The Natural. Meanwhile, Julia and her m...
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December 3, 2025 61 mins
In this episode of Wiser Than Me, Julia sits down with visionary 76-year-old photographer Annie Leibovitz for a conversation about ambition, aging and the strange magic of being truly seen: both on camera, and in life. They dig into Annie’s relentless eye for detail and how motherhood rewired her creative instincts. Plus Julia speaks with her 91-year-old mom, Judy, about family photos and why smiling for the camera is harder ...
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Because Thanksgiving is basically Ruth Reichl season (the holy trinity of food, family, and feelings) we’re serving up a rerun of Julia’s lovely conversation with her from Season 1.   On this episode of Wiser Than Me, Julia gets enlightened by 77-year-old food writer, magazine editor, and author Ruth Reichl. From her infamous New York Times review of Le Cirque to greenlighting a controversial David Foster Wallace...
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As we ease into Thanksgiving week, we’re bringing back Julia’s beautiful conversation with Alice Waters from last year, a chance to revisit her ideas about food, care and community.    On today’s episode of Wiser Than Me, Julia welcomes 81-year-old legendary chef, author, and farm-to-table pioneer Alice Waters. They discuss Alice’s incredible career at her groundbreaking restaurant Chez Panisse a...
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November 19, 2025 76 mins
Julia sits down with 70-year-old New Yorker cartooning legend Roz Chast, whose humor and unforgettable illustrations Julia has adored for decades. They dive into Roz’s anxieties, obsessions, and the worldview behind her award-winning memoir “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?” Roz chats about raising kids through constant worry, caring for her aging parents, and how her work helps her make sense of...
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November 12, 2025 62 mins
Today on the premiere episode of our new season, Julia sits down with 78-year-old comedy icon and Saturday Night Live original cast member, Jane Curtin. They reminisce about the 50th anniversary celebration of SNL and the enduring friendships Jane formed with the women of that first cast. Jane shares the story of meeting her husband of 50 years, Patrick Lynch, their hands-on parenting, and navigating grief after his recent passing....
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Hello listeners, get ready … because a NEW season of Wiser Than Me drops November 12th! In the meantime, we wanted to bring you something a little different: a celebration of wise women everywhere. With a special story directly from a listener, snippets of wisdom from women out and about, and a look back at some of our favorite Wiser Than Me moments, it’s proof that wisdom is all around us. You just have to listen! See...
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