Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

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Julia Gets Wise with Glenn Close

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Dec 10, 2025

Guest

Glenn Close

Glenn Close, a veteran actress and activist, shares insights from her remarkable life, including her unique upbringing in a Moral Re-Armament cult. She opens up about her iconic roles in films like Fatal Attraction and her experiences as a grandmother. Close reflects on generational trauma and the impact of her grandmothers on her career. Through heartfelt stories, she discusses motherhood, advocacy for mental health, and the joys of aging with vitality. Her reflections are both deep and inspiring, revealing the power of forgiveness and the importance of family.

01:13:01

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ANECDOTE

Montana Cottage For Family Legacy

Glenn Close bought land in Montana that backs onto National Forest and wildlife habitat.
She built a stone cottage modeled on her grandparents' cottage to live in and leave to her family.

insights

INSIGHT

Self Is The Observer, Not The Body

Glenn Close describes feeling younger than her years because she identifies with the observer in herself more than her aging body.
She says identity is 'whatever is looking out of my eyes' and the body is just the house it lives in.

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Settle Into Yourself As You Age

Stop living to please people and settle into who you are as you age.
Use accumulated experience to open more creative possibilities rather than proving yourself.

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Glenn Close in Montana and Daily Life

05:06 • 3min

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Age, Vitality, and Inner Self

08:07 • 4min

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Perks of Aging and Grandmotherhood

11:51 • 5min

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Balancing Work and Parenting

Pregnancy During Fatal Attraction

24:54 • 2min

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Reframing Alex Forrest's Tragedy

26:39 • 5min

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Other Reviled Roles and Dangerous Liaisons

31:45 • 2min

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Grandmothers' Influence and Thank‑you Notes

33:29 • 6min

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Character Work Drawn From Family

Growing Up in Moral Re-Armament

46:31 • 3min

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Life at Mountain House and Early Trauma

49:54 • 4min

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Generational Trauma and Forgiveness

53:50 • 4min

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Touring with Up With People

57:22 • 2min

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Marriage, Mistakes, and Filling the Toolbox

59:27 • 2min

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Creative Drive vs. Need to Prove

Sister's Bipolar Struggle Sparks Advocacy

01:10:58 • 4min

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Bring Change To Mind and School Clubs

01:15:11 • 2min

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Rapid-Fire Reflections and Regrets

• Mentioned in 229 episodes

Hillbilly Elegy

A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

JD Vance

In 'Hillbilly Elegy,' J.D. Vance recounts his life growing up in a dysfunctional family in Middletown, Ohio, with roots in Kentucky's Appalachia. The book details his experiences with poverty, addiction, and family violence, as well as his journey to joining the marines and eventually graduating from Yale Law School. Vance provides a personal and insightful look into the decline of the white working class in America, exploring themes of family, culture, and the loss of the American dream. The memoir also touches on the political swing of the region, particularly in relation to the 2016 presidential election and the appeal of Donald Trump to this demographic.

#4118

• Mentioned in 9 episodes

Resilience

The Science of Mastering Life's Greatest Challenges

Steven Southwick

Jonathan M. DePierro

Dennis S. Charney

This book, written by three experts in trauma and resilience, answers key questions about adapting to life's most challenging situations, building personal resilience, and the science behind resilience. It combines cutting-edge scientific research with personal experiences of individuals who have survived traumatic events, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors describe ten key resilience factors such as facing fear, optimism, and relying on role models, providing practical tips and inspiring stories to help readers adapt and grow from stressful life events.

#9871

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

Dangerous Liaisons

Choderlos de Lacos

Choderlos de Laclos's "Les Liaisons dangereuses" (Dangerous Liaisons) is an epistolary novel exploring the manipulative relationships between the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont. The novel delves into themes of power, seduction, and social manipulation within the aristocratic circles of pre-revolutionary France. The characters engage in elaborate schemes of seduction and revenge, using their wit and charm to control others. The novel's exploration of human desire and the complexities of relationships has made it a classic of French literature. Its themes of manipulation and social intrigue continue to resonate with readers today.

The summer book

Elizabeth Gundrey

The Summer Book by Elizabeth Gundrey is an activity book published in 1974, aimed at providing engaging activities for children during the summer. It contains a variety of exercises and games to keep young minds active and entertained.

#4735

• Mentioned in 8 episodes

The world according to Garp

John Irving

The novel tells the story of T.S. Garp, whose mother, Jenny Fields, is a strong-willed nurse who conceives him in an unconventional manner. Garp grows up to be a writer, wrestler, and devoted parent, navigating a world filled with 'lunacy and sorrow'. The story delves into themes of feminism, sexual identity, and the struggles of the characters against intolerance and violence. It features a complex Dickensian plot that spans Garp's entire life, including his relationships with his mother, his wife Helen, and his friend Roberta Muldoon, a transsexual ex-football player.

#169

• Mentioned in 107 episodes

Dracula

Bram Stoker

The novel tells the story of Count Dracula, a vampire who moves from Transylvania to England to spread terror and create more vampires. The story begins with Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor, who travels to Transylvania to finalize the sale of a property to Count Dracula. Upon discovering Dracula's true nature, Harker barely escapes with his life. Dracula then travels to England, where he targets Harker's fiancée, Mina, and her friend Lucy. A group of characters, including Professor Van Helsing, Dr. John Seward, and Quincey Morris, band together to hunt down and destroy Dracula. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, modernity vs. tradition, and the fears and anxieties of the Victorian era, including immigration, sexual desire, and the role of women in society.

#4172

• Mentioned in 9 episodes

The natural mind

Andrew Weil

In *The Natural Mind*, Dr. Andrew Weil argues that the desire to alter consciousness is a natural human drive. He critiques societal attitudes toward drug use, suggesting that drug abuse is a symptom rather than the problem itself. Weil advocates for a more nuanced understanding of consciousness and the role of drugs in society, emphasizing the importance of 'deep thinking' over 'straight thinking' in addressing these issues.

#19663

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

About last night

Tim Kazurinsky

The screenplay, co-written by Tim Kazurinsky and Denise DeClue, is an adaptation of David Mamet's 1974 play Sexual Perversity in Chicago. It follows the story of Danny and Debbie, and their friends Bernie and Joan, as they navigate their relationships and sexual encounters in Chicago. The film version, directed by Edward Zwick, stars Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, James Belushi, and Elizabeth Perkins, and was released in 1986.

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 mother Judy dive into the fiery women in their own family tree.

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Keep up with Glenn Close @glennclose on Instagram.

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