Wiser Than Me is a podcast hosted by actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus. On the show, launched in 2023, Louis-Dreyfus interviews women older than her on their lived experience and earned wisdom. The show was named Apple's Best Podcast of the Year for 2023[1] and the Webby Podcast of the Year in 2024.[2] Wiser Than Me is produced by Lemonada Media, a podcast company cofounded by Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs.[3]
Louis-Dreyfus created the show to counter-balance the trend of iconic women disappearing from the public eye as they age. In the first episode she explains that this struck her while watching a documentary about Jane Fonda. “It is just stunning to me that old women are so easily dismissed and made invisible by our culture,” she says. Jane Fonda later became the first guest on the show.[4]
Each episode begins with a monologue from Louis-Dreyfus, followed by an interview with a well-known woman, typically over 70 years old, and ends with a recap conversation between Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her mom. Guests have included actress Jane Fonda, comedian Carol Burnett, author Isabel Allende and author Amy Tan.[5]
Episodes
| Ep # | Guest | Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Actress / Activist Jane Fonda | April 11, 2023 |
| 2 | Novelist Isabel Allende | April 11, 2023 |
| 3 | Writer Fran Lebowitz | April 18, 2023 |
| 4 | Chef Ruth Reichl | April 25, 2023 |
| 5 | Singer Darlene Love | May 2, 2023 |
| 6 | Fashion Designer Diane Van Furstenberg | May 9, 2023 |
| 7 | Former Head of EPA Gina McCarthy | May 16, 2023 |
| 8 | Novelist Amy Tan | May 23, 2023 |
| 9 | Actress Rhea Perlman | May 30, 2023 |
| 10 | Comedian Carol Burnett | June 6, 2023 |
| Ep # | Guest | Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Actress / Activist Sally Field | March 28, 2024 |
| 2 | Musician Bonnie Raitt | April 3, 2024 |
| 3 | Model / Actress Beverly Johnson | April 10, 2024 |
| 4 | Cook / Author Ina Garten | April 17, 2024 |
| 5 | Tennis Player Billie Jean King | April 24, 2024 |
| 6 | Musician Patti Smith | May 1, 2024 |
| 7 | Choreographer / Actress Debbie Allen | May 8, 2024 |
| 8 | Author Anne Lamott | May 15, 2024 |
| 9 | Designer Vera Wang | May 22, 2024 |
| 10 | Author / Activist Gloria Steinem | May 29, 2024 |
| 11 | Singer / Actress Julie Andrews | June 5, 2024 |
| Ep # | Guest | Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scientist / Conservationist Jane Goodall | October 9, 2024 |
| 2 | Chef / Author Alice Waters | October 16, 2024 |
| 3 | Correspondent Nina Totenberg | October 23, 2024 |
| 4 | Actress Catherine O'Hara | October 30, 2024 |
| 5 | Activist Dolores Huerta | November 13, 2024 |
| 6 | Actress / Model Isabella Rossellini | November 20, 2024 |
| 7 | Singer / Actress Patti LaBelle | December 4, 2024 |
| 8 | Actress / Dancer / Singer Rita Moreno | December 11, 2024 |
| 9 | House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi | December 18, 2024 |
| Ep # | Guest | Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Actress / Comedian Jane Curtin | November 12, 2025 |
| 2 | Cartoonist Roz Chast | November 19, 2025 |
| 3 | Photographer Annie Leibovitz | December 3, 2025 |
| 4 | Actress Glenn Close | December 10, 2025 |
| 5 | Sister Helen Prejean | January 7, 2026 |
| 6 | Swimmer Diana Nyad | January 14, 2026 |
| 7 | Musician Cyndi Lauper | March 25, 2026 |
| 8 | Actress Jean Smart | May 6, 2026 |
| 9 | Actress Pam Grier | May 13, 2026 |
| 10 | Governor Janet Mills | May 20, 2026 |
| 11 | Singer-Songwriter / Activist Joan Baez | May 27, 2026 |
Awards
Wiser Than Me was the single show named Apple's Best Podcast of the Year for 2023.[1]
In 2024, Wiser Than Me was named the Webby Podcast of the Year.[2] The show also won the 2024 Ambie Award for Best Interview Podcast.[6][7]
References
- ^ "Apple Podcasts names Wiser Than Me the 2023 Show of the Year". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ^ "Webby Podcast of the Year: Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfuss". The Webby Awards. April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Weprin, Alex (2023-12-05). "Apple Names Julia Louis-Dreyfus' 'Wiser Than Me' Its Podcast of the Year". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ^ "Conversations with older and wiser women". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ^ "Wiser Than Me™ with Julia Louis-Dreyfus". Lemonada Media. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ^ "2024 Ambie Award Winners & Nominees". The Ambie Awards. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ Victorian, Brande (March 26, 2024). "The Ambies: 'Slow Burn: Becoming Justice Thomas' and 'Weight For It' Win Top Podcast Honors". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 27, 2024.