Just Something About Her with Jennifer Palmieri

Kaiya McCullough was a former professional soccer player in the National Women's Soccer League, who recently came forward with allegations of abuse by her former coach on the Washington Spirit team. Since then, other players in the league have spoken up against abuse and sexual misconduct by their coach. Kaiya joins Jennifer on the show to discuss the imbalance of power when men coach women, how low pay in women's sports functions to keep players silent against injustice, and why Kaiya ultimately had to quit soccer for her mental health. Plus, Kaiya reflects on the pride and power she felt witnessing athletes Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka put themselves over sport this past summer.

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Megan Barry is the former mayor of Nashville and the first woman to be elected to that position. While she was in office, she lost her only son to a drug overdose. Less than a year later, she resigned as mayor over charges related to an extramarital affair with the lead of her security detail. Jennifer invites Megan on the show to discuss what it's like to have your worst day and your worst secret revealed in the same year. They discuss how shame only serves to hold you back from healing, and why there's liberation in having lived through your toughest moments. Plus, Megan shares how each of us can take simple steps to prevent overdoses in our communities.

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Texas passed one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, and Royce Brooks and Wendy Davis join Jennifer on the show to make sense of it all. Royce is the executive director of Annie's List, an organization that aims to elect progressive women to statewide office in Texas. Wendy was a former Texas state senator, most known for filibustering a previous restrictive abortion bill in 2013 for 11+ hours. Royce, Wendy, and Jennifer discuss how unpopular the Texas law is, why lawmakers seem to have created it with blatant disregard for the Constitution, and how Republicans are skirting accountability by enacting voting bills that keep women and people of color out of power. Plus, will one of our guests run for Texas governor?

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Phoebe Robinson is an actor, comedian, producer, and New York Times best-selling author, best known as the co-creator and co-star of the HBO limited series "2 Dope Queens." Phoebe joins Jennifer on the show to discuss her newly released book, Please Don't Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes, which includes essays about Phoebe's decision not to have kids, reflections on the racial justice protests of summer 2020, and what it's like to build your own production company and literary imprint.

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In partnership with The Texas Tribune Festival, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar joins "Just Something About Her" to discuss the current attack on people's rights in this country, and why Sen. Klobuchar thinks the solution is eliminating the Senate filibuster. They discuss the Texas abortion law that bans the procedure before most women know they're pregnant, why it's not just a Texas problem, and how Sen. Klobuchar predicted this attack on Roe v. Wade after a contentious back-and-forth with Justice Amy Coney Barrett during her confirmation hearing. Plus, Sen. Klobuchar shares her revelations after recent breast cancer treatment, and what it was like running for president in 2020.

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In the 2010s, #girlbosses ruled the world. But in the past few years, we've seen many of them publicly disgraced, accused of enabling toxic workplaces, and/or pushed out of the companies they founded. Koa Beck & Leigh Stein have both written extensively on the #girlboss phenomenon and the forces that enable her. Koa is the author of the book "White Feminism: From the Suffragettes to Influencers and Who They Leave Behind," and Leigh has written a number of books, including a satirical novel about two women founders called "Self Care." On this episode, Jennifer, Koa, and Leigh discuss the historical and cultural forces behind #girlboss, consider what led to her eventual downfall, and ask whether there's a better way to hold people accountable than erasing them from the business world completely.

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The United States has officially ended its longest war, as Jennifer closes out our deep-dive into the war in Afghanistan during Part 2 of her conversation with Elise Jordan, which was originally recorded on August 24, 2021. (If you haven't listened to Part 1, we highly suggest you go back and listen to that first.) Elise worked for the National Security Council and the State Department under President George W. Bush. She lived in Afghanistan while working on an international development project and as a journalist. In this episode, Elise shares her experience embedding with female U.S. Marines in 2010, who were tasked with connecting with local women and girls. She shares the divides between what Afghans wanted and needed and what the U.S. was able to provide, her frustration with media coverage of America’s longest war, and what she hopes for in the coming months and years.

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In Part 1 of this conversation with Elise Jordan, we begin our deep-dive into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Elise has worked for the National Security Council and the State Department under President George W. Bush, and she has lived in Afghanistan for a United States Agency for International Development project and as a journalist. Elise joins Jennifer on the show to share her desperate attempts to evacuate friends and former colleagues from Kabul, what she thinks the Biden administration could have done to better prepare for this moment, and what the August 31 deadline for U.S. troop withdrawal means for evacuation efforts.

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Errin Haines is the editor-at-large of The 19th*, where she writes about the intersection of gender, race, and politics. Amidst the 101st anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, when white women won the right to vote, Errin joins Jennifer on the show to discuss Black women's continued fight for access to the ballot, what we learned about the politics of race and gender during the pandemic, and why newsrooms need to change their perception that women and people of color are special interest groups. Plus, Errin explains why objectivity in journalism is a myth created by white men.

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The mythologies and stereotypes that prosecutors used to wrongfully convict Amanda Knox still linger in the zeitgeist. So much so, that her story has reportedly inspired a new movie, "Stillwater," starring Matt Damon, leading Amanda to question exactly what responsibility storytellers have when reinventing the traumas of real people. Amanda and Jennifer discuss Amanda's reaction to the film, what McCarthy and Damon might have learned if they asked her perspective, and how women have been sold as "cardboard characters" for other people's profit. Plus, Amanda reflects on her case as it relates to larger issues within the criminal justice system.

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Amanda Litman is the host of "Battleground," another podcast from The Recount, as well as the co-founder and co-executive director of Run For Something, an organization that helps recruit and support young diverse progressives to run for local and state offices. Amanda joins Jennifer on the show to talk about how young people are wildly under-represented in politics, despite their intimacy with some of the most American issues like childcare, home rental, and reproductive health; why there are no off years when you're trying to rebuild democracy; and what to make of the media coverage of Vice President Kamala Harris. Plus, Amanda explains how she went from professing she'd never get married, to gearing up for her wedding later this month.

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Afton Vechery co-founded Modern Fertility so people with ovaries have information to be proactive about their reproductive health and futures. In starting her company, Afton realized just how under-researched women's health and reproductive systems have been throughout history. Afton joins Jennifer on the show to discuss how cultural stigmas, ancient legends, perpetuated stereotypes, and institutionalized bans have contributed to big gaps in data and information about women's health. She explains how her company is trying to address that issue by doing its own research to inform future generations of women, as well as use data to de-stigmatize the otherwise taboo topic of reproduction. Plus, Afton shares the difficulties of being a woman CEO who is creating a product for women.

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Texas State Representatives Gina Hinojosa and Mary González are two of 50+ Democrats from the Texas House of Representatives who are seeking refuge in Washington DC to stop a restrictive voting bill introduced by Republicans. It is the second time they have denied Texas Republicans a quorum to vote on election bills they deem unfair and undemocratic. Jennifer joins Reps. Hinojosa and González at their hotel in DC to discuss how their caucus banded together to escape Texas with 24-hours' notice, what's at stake in their state and around the country, and how women have been the driving force behind the movement. Plus, they discuss the "far right agenda" Texas Republicans have successfully passed already, and why the right to vote is the hill they'll die on.

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Lizz Winstead is co-creator of The Daily Show and a fierce advocate for reproductive rights. She is the founder of an organization called Abortion Access Front, which uses humor to destigmatize abortion and provides support to clinics across the country. Jennifer invites Lizz on the show to discuss the state of reproductive rights, as the Supreme Court gets ready to consider a case that could challenge Roe v. Wade. Lizz shares the story of her abortion as a teenager; why she believes waiting periods are the most dangerous laws for women; how to invite people without uteruses into the conversation; and why abortion is a human rights issue for everyone. Plus, Jennifer shares why she thinks Lizz single-handedly changed the news media landscape.

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Sandra Abrevaya is the co-founder of I AM ALS and a caregiver to her husband, Brian Wallach, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2017. Jennifer invites Sandra on the show to discuss her family's journey post-diagnosis, explaining the disease to her two daughters, launching their successful patient-led nonprofit organization, navigating the isolating effects of COVID, and maintaining hope through the discomfort and difficulties of caregiving. Sandra also explains why now is the time to join the fight against ALS.

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Every morning on The Recount Daily Pod, host journalist Reena Ninan will break down the most important news of the day, both domestically and abroad. In 5 minutes or less, you’ll walk away feeling smarter and more in sync with the world. Then, tune in for an interview with journalists who are on the forefront of the stories that affect us all. 

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Jade Bird is a writer, musician, and performer, who is preparing to release her second album at just 23 years old. She is one of the first artists to have gone on a mini-tour of the American South this spring, and the "Just Something About Her" team was able to get an exclusive backstage pass!

Jennifer and Jade talk about what it's like to perform after more than a year in quarantine and how audiences are responding. Jade explains what led to her landing a record deal at age 18, her complicated introduction to music, and how falling in love has influenced her upcoming album. Plus, a sneak peak at some of Jade's new songs!

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This week, we're taking you back to our very first episode of "Just Something About Her" with guest Charlotte Clymer, a writer, veteran, and activist. In this episode, she shares her journey coming out as a trans woman and some of the confusion and dark periods that led her there, including her time in the military. She sheds light on some of the discrimination and misconceptions she's faced since coming out, like being asked to show her ID before entering the bathroom in a D.C. bar.

But most importantly, Charlotte shares the freedom, joy, and pride she feels embracing her womanhood and living as her true self. Trans stories are often lost in our discussion of the LGBTQIA community. Or they’re too often told from the lens of tragedy and discrimination. But Charlotte's story is one of resilience, introspection, growth, and radiance, and one we're proud to share in light of Pride Month.

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Brooke Baldwin is an award-winning journalist who anchored the show "CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin" for more than a decade. When she announced her departure from CNN in early 2021, Brooke said she was moving on in order to be the "bravest version" of herself. Jennifer invites Brooke on the show to discuss that bold decision, what led her there, and how she knew it was time to leave such a big opportunity behind. They discuss Brooke's evolution from a cub reporter to the bold, authentic anchor she's become in recent years. Plus, the two discuss their shared belief in the power of women banding together for success, which is the through-line of Brooke's new book "Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power."

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Brandi Carlile is a six-time GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, performer, and producer, and her new memoir “Broken Horses” just debuted at #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list. Jennifer – a huge Brandi Carlile and Americana music fan – invites the artist on the show to discuss Brandi's unique ability to stand up to male gatekeepers in the music industry, how she attributes a lot of that confidence to being queer, and why she's hopeful about the future of Americana music. Plus, Brandi shares her struggles navigating motherhood and gay domesticity after her first child was born.

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Dame Karen Pierce is the first woman to become the British ambassador to the United States, after representing the UK for decades in diplomatic postings across the world. Jennifer invites Ambassador Pierce on the show to discuss the group of all women representing the UK in its top diplomatic posts, and what they are tasked with amidst so much disruption and change in the world. They discuss the "special relationship" between the UK and US, how the two countries can promote democracy while dealing with their own internal battles, and how to look at conflicts – like the most recent escalation between Israel and Gaza – with both fresh eyes and historical perspective. Plus, Dame Pierce explains how she uses fashion to both express herself and her country's values.

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Kate Stayman-London is a novelist, screenwriter, and political strategist whose national bestselling-book "One to Watch" is our pick for this summer's beach read. The book is about a stylish plus-size blogger who is chosen as the star on a "Bachelorette"-style reality TV show. Kate and Jennifer discuss the significance of writing a plus-size heroine in a media landscape that stigmatizes and erases fat women. Kate shares why she refuses to call reality TV her "guilty pleasure" and what her main character can teach us about heartbreak, vulnerability, and confidence.

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Liz Phair is a rock star, feminist icon, and author, who describes her purpose in life as leaving behind the "imperfect evidence of a woman's life" through art. As Liz prepares to release her new album "Soberish" in the coming weeks, Jennifer invites her on the show to discuss how the landscape for women musicians has changed since Liz began her career in the '90s. Liz shares what it was like to tour with her young son, how she felt when she was pitted against other women in the industry, and how the inspiration for her first album "Exile in Guyville" came from Mick Jagger (and an ex-boyfriend). Plus, some sneak peeks into the new album, coming out June 4.

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Julia Gillard was the first (and only) female Prime Minister of Australia when she served from 2010 – 2013. During her term, she received especially harsh and vulgar criticism from fellow politicians and constituents, culminating in one of the most memorable moments in Australia's Parliamentary history: what's come to be known as the "misogyny speech," where Julia claps back at a male politician of another party for his treatment of women. Nearly a decade later, Julia and Jennifer reflect on that speech and the moments that led up to it. They discuss how Julia rose to the Prime Minister's seat under a "glass cliff" situation; why Australia has managed to select a woman to the highest office, while the United States has not; and why young women shouldn't be deterred by the treatment they've seen women leaders and candidates endure. Plus, Julia explains the recent #MeToo wave that's erupted in Australia.

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Mika Brzezinski is the co-host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe," a best-selling author, and the founder of "Know Your Value," a movement in partnership with NBCUniversal to empower women to recognize their worth and get paid for it. Mika recently partnered with Forbes to create its first "50 over 50" list of women who have achieved success later in life.

Jennifer invites Mika on the show to discuss how Mika "walks the walk" when it comes to supporting women (including Jennifer). They discuss common mistakes they've made during pay discussions, what we can learn from men at the negotiating table, and how women can make a comeback from the setbacks they've faced during the pandemic. Plus, Mika shares a traumatic experience from when her daughter was a newborn that taught her to slow down and focus on what's important.

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Alexis McGill Johnson is the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. She's dedicated her life to championing reproductive freedom, equity in health care, and racial and social justice. She co-founded the Perception Institute, which uses mind science research about race, gender, and other identities to find ways to reduce bias and discrimination.

Jennifer invites Alexis on the show to discuss reproductive rights: the recent spike in restrictive abortion bills across the country, how politicians are blatantly using these policies to challenge the very popular Roe v. Wade, and why men's "status anxiety" could be at the root of some of these efforts. But the conversation maintains its focus on our implicit prejudices when it comes to gender and race: how we learn stereotypes before the age of 10 and how we were taught to practice our sense of fairness in unfair ways. Plus, Alexis shares her struggles with invisible labor in the pandemic and how we can fix what's been broken for women during this time.

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Paola Ramos is a host and correspondent for VICE and VICE News, who primarily covers issues affecting migrant and border communities. Before that, she worked on Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign as Deputy Director of Hispanic Media and served in the Obama administration. Paola joins Jennifer on the show to discuss her recent VICE report from a violent jungle region in South America that many migrants are forced to cross on their trek to the U.S., and she explains why women's stories specifically resonate with people. Paola also takes us along her personal journey to discover the Latinx identity, and what that means to 60 million people in the U.S. who belong to that community.

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Muffet McGraw was the women's basketball head coach at Notre Dame for 33 seasons, winning two national championships and scoring her entry into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. But her voice resonated outside the sports world during a 2019 Final Four press conference, where she spoke out about the lack of women in leadership positions in a 2-minute address that went viral.

After the 2021 NCAA tournaments, Jennifer invited Coach McGraw on the show to discuss widespread criticism that the association doesn't value its women players. as much as the men – criticism that started with the players themselves. Coach McGraw explains what led her to finally speak up after years of coaching, how the pandemic brought these issues into stark relief, and why the players (both men and women) give her hope.

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Norma Kamali is a fashion designer, wellness expert, and author of her new book "I Am Invincible," which empowers women to embrace aging. At age 75, Norma's career has spanned five decades, during which she's become best known for the sleeping bag coat, the red swimsuit worn by Farrah Fawcett, and creating an athleisure line before athleisure was a thing. And she says her best years are still ahead.

Jennifer invites Norma on the show to bond over their shared belief that turning 50 is the most liberating experience for women. Norma shares her secret to staying creative, how she plans on living until age 120, and the importance of always looking forward. Plus, Jennifer and Norma discuss how women's fashion has changed through the years, and how they think it will look after more than a year of sweatpants and sneakers in the pandemic.

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In a very special episode of "Just Something About Her," Jennifer talks to the inspiration for this podcast: Hillary Rodham Clinton. As the communications director for Sec. Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, Jennifer was consistently confronted with detractors who – when asked why they wouldn't vote for Sec. Clinton – would respond by saying, "I don't know, there's just something about her I don't like" (or "I don't trust," etc.).

Years later, the two finally come together to decode why women like Sec. Clinton are branded as untrustworthy, inauthentic, or divisive (to name a few). They discuss why, despite significant progress since the 2016 election, women still didn't win any primaries or caucuses in the 2020 election. Sec. Clinton opens up about gendered expectations that plagued her during her campaign for the presidency, how speaking out against injustice makes women polarizing, and even weighs in on the debate about gun policy and the filibuster. You don't want to miss this one!

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Bobbi Brown is a makeup artist and serial entrepreneur, whose eponymous makeup line launched in the early '90s with just 10 lipsticks and quickly became the beauty empire it's known as today. After four years, she sold Bobbi Brown to Estée Lauder with a 25-year non-compete clause in the contract, vowing that she would never want to work in her sixties. But on the day her non-compete expired, Bobbi revealed her new makeup line Jones Road Beauty.

Bobbi joins Jennifer on "Just Something About Her" to discuss how the beauty industry has changed since she started as a makeup artist, why adopting a uniform gives her more confidence, and what it's like to be the boss again.

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Ambassador Samantha Power, an immigrant from Ireland, dreamed of becoming a sports journalist. But as she watched unedited tape of the Tiananmen Square Massacre as a college intern at CBS, her passion to fight for human rights was activated. She began her career as a war correspondent in Bosnia, eventually writing a book on the American response to genocide, which then-Senator Barack Obama read and took Samantha under his wing. She went on to serve on President Obama's National Security Council and as the country's UN Ambassador. Now, she's been nominated to lead the United States Agency for International Development in Biden's administration.

Samantha joins Jennifer on the show to discuss the "bat cave" – a term Samantha uses for overcoming doubts in her head. They discuss how to make big career decisions, leaning on other women for support, and navigating gender dynamics in the White House. Plus, Samantha takes us through the last 30 years of U.S. diplomacy in 10 minutes. 

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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot knew the challenges ahead when she was elected to run one of America’s most populous, politically turbulent, and segregated cities. But she never expected a teacher's strike, global pandemic, historic recession, and months-long protests against police violence.

Mayor Lightfoot joins Jennifer on "Just Something About Her" to discuss what it's like to lead during these critical times and how Chicago is faring. She shares some of the lessons she learned on her journey from growing up in small-town Ohio, to becoming a lawyer in Chicago, and now as the first Black woman and first openly gay mayor of Chicago.

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Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett represents the at large district of the U.S. Virgin Islands in the United States House of Representatives. Many Americans got to know her this past month as one of the impeachment managers in former President Trump's trial in the Senate. She used her platform on the Senate floor to discuss the gravity of the January 6th Capitol insurrection and the importance of upholding our democracy. But now, she's using her newfound recognition (as both a powerful orator and fashion icon) to elevate the issues of people who live within one of the U.S. territories. Congresswoman Plaskett joins us on the show for a history lesson on the Virgin Islands, why she felt compelled to return to the land of her ancestors, and how she hopes to fight for economic equity. Plus, she shares some insight into how she wrote her impeachment trial speeches and what happiness means to her.

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Mary Robertson and Samantha Stark are the showrunner and director, respectively, behind The New York Times Presents "Framing Britney Spears." The documentary chronicles Britney Spears' life in the spotlight – from her teen pop stardom, through her relationships, mental illness, custody battles – eventually unveiling the mystery behind her 13-year conservatorship, where her father has controlled her business, medical, and most personal decisions in her life.

Mary and Samantha join the show to fill in additional gaps between some of the infamous moments in Spears' life. They explain why it's so important that women were the ones behind the lens for this project, what's next in Spears' conservatorship battle, and how the landscape has changed (and not) for today's young women in the spotlight. Plus, we get some behind-the-scenes insight on why certain scenes were included, and which were left on the editing floor.

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Glennon Doyle is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers UNTAMED and LOVE WARRIOR. She is an activist and founder of Together Rising, a women-led nonprofit organization that has revolutionized grassroots philanthropy. Aside from encouraging women to live their wild and free selves, Glennon also encourages us to quit what we're doing...each and every day. Jennifer and Glennon discuss the power of quitting, how to avoid avoiding yourself, and what the pandemic has taught us about our broken institutions. Plus, the two women bond over how Amanda Gorman has given them renewed strength to fight on.

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Kristen Welker is NBC’s Chief White House Correspondent and the co-anchor of “Weekend TODAY” with Peter Alexander. But one of her breakout moments came when she moderated the final presidential debate between Trump and Biden in 2020, receiving praise from the left and right – including former President Trump himself. Kristen tells us how she prepared for that “terrifying” moment, and how Jennifer was a part of her early education in national politics. Kristen shares advice about why it’s so important to vocalize your ambitions, do things that scare you, and enjoy every moment along the way. Plus, we find out how Kristen got her nickname “Welk-nado.”

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Kara Swisher is known as “Silicon Valley’s most feared and well-liked journalist” – a name she’s earned since moving to San Francisco in the 1990s as one of the first reporters on the internet beat at The Wall Street Journal. Now she’s also known for hosting numerous podcasts, such as the New York Times’ new show “Sway” and Vox Media’s “Pivot” with co-host Scott Galloway.

After the insurrection at the Capitol, and the subsequent focus on social media’s role in helping foment and plan the violence, Jennifer invites Kara on the show to make some sense of it all. They discuss the ways in which the Biden/Harris administration can hold tech companies accountable for misinformation and violence, why it’s really not about free speech, and why there should be a one-time wealth tax for tech CEOs who have made inordinate amounts of money during the pandemic. Also, Kara shares why women should stop self-editing, and how she prevents imposter syndrome.

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Rebecca Sugar (she/they) is an animator, director, screenwriter, producer, and songwriter. They are best known for creating the award-winning series Steven Universe on Cartoon Network, which has not only resonated with children, but teens, adults, and the LGBTQIA community alike. On this episode of “Just Something About Her,” Rebecca describes how they created Steven Universe as a personal journey of self-discovery, what they learned, and behind-the-scenes insights on how some of the characters and their experiences were shaped by their own life.

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Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan is a former lawyer, prosecutor, and state representative. As COVID-19 began spreading across the U.S., Detroit quickly became one of the hardest hit cities, and Governor Whitmer was quick to initiate a stay-at-home order and point out the federal government’s lack of assistance to states in need. President Trump fired back with angry tweets and the nickname “That Woman From Michigan.” In the following months, Governor Whitmer experienced armed mobs storming her state capitol, calls for her assassination, and extremists plotting to kidnap and kill her. Governor Whitmer joins Jennifer on the show to discuss the real dangers of Trump’s words, what accountability should look like, and why she thinks she’s getting more criticism than her fellow (male) governors.

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Stephanie Schriock just stepped down as the President of EMILY’s List; but during her 11-year tenure, the organization recruited and trained thousands of pro-choice candidates. Since it's founding in 1985, EMILY's List has helped elect more than 180 women to the House and Senate, and the 117th Congress begins its first session with a record number of women in office.

Jennifer and Stephanie discuss why Republican women made more gains than Democrats in the 2020 election and whether or not Democratic women have plateaued after a historic year in 2018. Stephanie shares what she’s learned from EMILY’s List, why both representation and diversity are so important for our leaders, and why women need to overcome their fear of failure.

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Happy New Year’s Eve from all of us at The Recount! On this episode of “Just Something About Her,” Jennifer Palmieri and producer Sari Soffer share their favorite advice from previous episodes. Spoiler alert: Valerie Jarrett taught us how to ask for our money’s worth, Lori Gottlieb changed our perspective on anxiety during the pandemic (and beyond), Sarah Cooper shared her struggles with imposter syndrome, plus a few surprises. For more advice from amazing women, make sure to go back and listen to all of our episodes from 2020!

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From all of us at “Just Something About Her,” we want to wish you a happy holiday season. We know this year has been especially tough, as many people have lost loved ones to COVID-19 or are grieving the absence of friends and family during the holiday season. To talk about all of that and more, Jennifer Palmieri invites her niece Rebecca Drago onto the show. Rebecca is the daughter of Jennifer’s oldest sister Dana, who died of early-onset Alzheimer’s in early 2017. Her passing punctuated a devastating political loss for both Jennifer and Rebecca, who were working on Hillary Clinton’s campaign during Dana’s last few months. The duo reflect on how the experience changed their relationship to worrying, how grief is not linear, and Dana's final impact on their lives.

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Judge Rosemarie Aquilina is most known as the sentencing judge for the Larry Nassar case, where she allowed more than 150 survivors tell their story of abuse at the hands of the USA Gymnastics team doctor. But she’s also made history as the first female Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer in the Michigan Army National Guard and the first female professor to speak at the MSU College of Law Commencement in the Spring of 2018. Now she has served on the 30th Circuit Court for Ingham County, MI for 12 years. Jennifer invites Judge Aquilina on the show to discuss how her personal experiences with neglect and abuse affect her style on the bench, her solutions for fixing a broken justice system, and where she derives her confidence from. For more about Judge Aquilina, her new memoir “Just Watch Me” is available on Audible.

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Lori Gottlieb is a psychotherapist and author who wants us to start taking our mental health seriously, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. She joins Jennifer Palmieri on the show to discuss the difference between productive and unproductive anxiety, how to avoid creating a hierarchy of grief when we're surrounded by tragedy, and why we are all unreliable narrators of our own stories. Lori also shares plans for a new TV show based on her latest book “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone” and some of the positives people of all ages can take away from this time in isolation.

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Alyssa Mastromonaco was the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Obama White House, after serving as the Director of Scheduling and Advance in his administration and the Obama '08 campaign. Since then, she’s been COO of Vice Media, written two New York Times Best Selling books, and co-hosts the Crooked Media podcast #Hysteria. Jennifer invites her old friend Alyssa on the show to discuss the lesser-known sisterhood in the Obama White House, their experiences with depression after leaving the West Wing, and what’s in store for their next chapters.

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Anne Helen Petersen knows what it's like to be burnt out. In fact, she wrote the book on it: "Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation," based on a viral article she wrote for BuzzFeed News in 2019. In this episode, Jennifer and Anne talk about why burnout is so difficult to self-diagnose, policies (or lack thereof) that have made burnout so prevalent among millennials, and how economic instability fuels our constant need to take on more projects. Finally, Anne shares why she decided against parenthood and gives listeners a look into the subject of her next book. For more of Anne’s insights, check out her newsletter "Culture Study."

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Ellen Pao has become a champion for fairness and inclusion in Silicon Valley as a long-time entrepreneur and tech investor. Her landmark gender discrimination case against venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins in 2012 inspired other women to stand up against harassment and discrimination in the workplace, also known as the “Pao Effect.” As the CEO of Reddit, Ellen was the first major social platform leader to ban revenge porn, unauthorized nude photos, and cross-platform harassment. Currently, she is the CEO of nonprofit Project Include, which uses data-based solutions and recommendations for equity at tech companies. Ellen joins Jennifer Palmieri to discuss whether or not CEOs have the power and technology to control misinformation and hate, what the “Bamboo Ceiling” is, and their expectations vs. reality for women in the workplace.

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Connie Britton is an actress and executive producer, most known for her standout role as Tami Taylor on NBC’s “Friday Night Lights,” for which she received two Emmy nominations. Her following role as legendary country music superstar Rayna James in ABC’s “Nashville” scored Connie her first Golden Globe nomination and a fourth Emmy nomination. Most recently, Connie starred in the first season of Bravo Media’s “Dirty John,” based on a series of articles written in the Los Angeles Times and the true crime podcast of the same name. Jennifer Palmieri invites Connie on the show to discuss how Connie has created such meaningful and empowered female characters, why they both appreciate getting older, and what’s left before there will truly be equity in Hollywood.

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For the first time ever, all four of The Recount podcast hosts team up for a bonus episode. Jennifer Palmieri, host of "Just Something About Her," David Plouffe and Steve Schmidt, hosts of "Battleground," and John Heilemann, Executive Editor of The Recount and host of "Hell & High Water," discuss the collision of expectations and reality, poll trouble, what may have held Democrats back from bigger wins, and what's next for the country.

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Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and now stars in her own Netflix special “Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine.” Many might recognize her as the woman who lip syncs Trump on TikTok, but Sarah’s been calling out men’s bravado as a source of humor for years, inspiring her two books “How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men’s Feelings” and “100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings.” Sarah joins Jennifer days before the recent election to talk about how she derives confidence from imitating Trump, why her imposter syndrome always tries to get in the way, and what new projects she’s currently developing.

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Nikole Hannah-Jones is best known as the creator of the “1619 Project", which has made her a lightning rod for criticism for her reframing of the United States’ founding and its relationship to the African slave trade. But Nikole’s been interested in and actively covering race, inequality, and education since she started a column called “From the African Perspective” in her high school newspaper. Now she’s won a Pulitzer Prize, a MacArthur Genius Grant, and more for her writing. Nikole joins Jennifer Palmieri to talk about the role of a journalist in covering history, how her worldview was shaped as a second grader in Iowa, and how learning about our past can inform our present and future.

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Even though Mary Trump believes her uncle Donald Trump is a weak and “deeply sick” man, it still wasn’t easy for her to stand up to him and write a tell-all book about her family. In her interview with Jennifer Palmieri, she uses her PhD in psychology to explain how toxic dynamics created by her grandparents trickled down to the rest of the family, how she was able to avoid some of those influences, and what gave her the courage to take on the most powerful man in the free world by writing her new book Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man.She uses that same understanding to predict how President Trump (though she wishes people would just call him Donald) will react to the results of the upcoming election.

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On opposite sides of the world, immersed in completely different careers, Jennifer Palmieri and comedian Hannah Gadsby’s thoughts were turning in the same direction. What if trying to fit the male mold of success was more work than it was worth? What if they could build something better? They both found out; Hannah with her groundbreaking 2018 Netflix comedy special Nanette and Jen with her best-selling book Dear Madame President. In this episode, Jen and Hannah talk about the freedom and limits of stand-up comedy, the moment Hannah realized comedy's status quo wasn’t working for her, and what happens when a culture used to one kind of story has to make room for more voices.

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Valerie Jarrett was known as “the Obama whisperer” when she worked as a senior adviser to President Obama. But the title doesn't do her justice: she is a lawyer, an author, a former CEO, an advocate for women and girls, a new grandmother and a longtime mentor to Jennifer Palmieri. In this episode of "Just Something About Her," Jennifer calls Valerie “the most confident person in the entire White House" and gets her advice on how women can stand their ground in the halls of power. Valerie and Jennifer also talk about how to level the playing field in a gendered workplace, how women in Obama’s administration banded together to improve their standing, and how to ask for a raise.

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The New York Times' White House correspondent Maggie Haberman is equally one of the most famous, most respected, and most reviled political journalists in America. Jennifer Palmieri, host of "Just Something About Her" and former Head of Communications for the Hillary Clinton 2016 campaign and Obama White House, has known Maggie for years, since Maggie was the City Hall reporter for the New York Post.

Jennifer asks Maggie about the accusation that she is an "access journalist," how she balances work with parenthood, and what objectivity means in the Trump era. Jennifer and Maggie share how gender has played a role in their careers, and in the unending criticism Maggie receives.

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In the first episode of “Just Something About Her,” our host Jennifer Palmieri speaks to writer and activist Charlotte Clymer about navigating her past and present as a trans woman who grew up in Texas, joined the military, and eventually went on to be a widely published writer with a controversial Twitter presence.

Jennifer Palmieri is the former Communications Director for the Obama White House and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. She uses her communications expertise to illuminate underlying messages – and often unconscious biases – in the way women are spoken about, treated, and often view themselves.

Charlotte and Jennifer discuss the quid pro quo Charlotte faces as a trans woman with self-described “practical politics” and how there is currently no playbook for trans women facing discrimination. Charlotte also addresses criticism she faced as leader of a women’s equality Facebook group before coming out.

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