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 and the Webby Podcast of the Year in 2024. Wiser Than Me is produced by Lemonada Media, a podcast company cofounded by Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs.
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.
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.
Episodes +Season 1 Ep #GuestAir Date1Actress / Activist Jane FondaApril 11, 20232Novelist Isabel AllendeApril 11, 20233Writer Fran LebowitzApril 18, 20234Chef Ruth ReichlApril 25, 20235Singer Darlene LoveMay 2, 20236Fashion Designer Diane Van FurstenbergMay 9, 20237Former Head of EPA Gina McCarthyMay 16, 20238Novelist Amy TanMay 23, 20239Actress Rhea PerlmanMay 30, 202310Comedian Carol BurnettJune 6, 2023
+Season 2 Ep #GuestAir Date1Actress / Activist Sally FieldMarch 28, 20242Musician Bonnie Raitt April 3, 20243Model / Actress Beverly Johnson April 10, 20244Cook / Author Ina GartenApril 17, 20245Tennis Player Billie Jean King April 24, 2024 6Musician Patti Smith May 1, 20247Choreographer / Actress Debbie Allen May 8, 20248Author Anne Lamott May 15, 20249Designer Vera Wang May 22, 202410Author / Activist Gloria Steinem May 29, 202411Singer / Actress Julie Andrews June 5, 2024 +Season 3 Ep #GuestAir Date1Scientist / Conservationist Jane GoodallOctober 9, 20242Chef / Author Alice WatersOctober 16, 20243Correspondent Nina Totenberg October 23, 20244Actress Catherine O'HaraOctober 30, 20245Activist Dolores Huerta November 13, 2024 6Actress / Model Isabella Rossellini November 20, 20247Singer / Actress Patti LaBelle December 4, 20248Actress / Dancer / Singer Rita Moreno December 11, 20249House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi December 18, 2024 +Season 4 Ep #GuestAir Date1Actress / Comedian Jane CurtinNovember 12, 20252Cartoonist Roz ChastNovember 19, 20253Photographer Annie Leibovitz December 3, 20254Actress Glenn CloseDecember 10, 20255Sister Helen PrejeanJanuary 7, 20266Swimmer Diana NyadJanuary 14, 20267Musician Cyndi LauperMarch 25, 20268Actress Jean SmartMay 6, 20269Actress Pam GrierMay 13, 202610Governor Janet MillsMay 20, 202611Singer-Songwriter / Activist Joan BaezMay 27, 2026
Awards Wiser Than Me was the single show named Apple's Best Podcast of the Year for 2023.
In 2024, Wiser Than Me was named the Webby Podcast of the Year. The show also won the 2024 Ambie Award for Best Interview Podcast.
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