

Hysteria
Crooked Media
Political commentator and comedy writer Erin Ryan and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco are joined by a bicoastal squad of funny, opinionated women to talk through everything from reproductive rights to romcoms. They break down the political news of the week, plus the topics, trends, and cultural stories that affect women’s lives.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 4, 2025 • 43min
This F*cking Guy: Nancy Mace
Introducing our hit YouTube series This F*cking Guy to our podcast feed! Each episode, Erin and Alyssa pick one of America's worst people and catch you up to speed on the messes they've made, dig into their horrible pasts and expose what losers and clowns they really are. Think of it as half history, less than half roast, with a hearty sprinkling of 'why are you like this' on top. This week's episode dives into the past of the chaos muppet herself, US Congresswoman Nancy Mace. From her freaky obsession with trans people to her desperate attempts to kiss Trump's a**, is Nancy our most attention-seeking guy yet? Episode sources

13 snips
Aug 28, 2025 • 1h 37min
Wifely Submission (Taylor’s Version) w. Megan Gailey & Evan Kleiman
Megan Gailey, a comedian and host of Sports Bitches, teams up with chef and author Evan Kleiman for a lively chat. They delve into Taylor Swift's surprise engagement, reflecting on public reactions and societal norms. The duo explores the complexity of child-free spaces, laughing about parenting expectations in public. Evan shares insights on the challenges facing local media and tips for summer recipes. Finally, they tackle the upcoming football season and the K-Pop phenomenon, blending humor with thoughtful commentary.

Aug 21, 2025 • 1h 25min
Trolls, Lies, & Hunting Wives w. Katie Lowes
Katie Lowes, known for her role in Scandal, shares juicy insights about her character Jilly Bean in Netflix's The Hunting Wives. She recounts her hilarious journey learning to shoot a gun on set and the camaraderie fostered among cast members. The conversation also dives into political satire, with discussions on Melania Trump’s clumsy diplomacy and Gavin Newsom's social media antics. Additionally, the hosts tackle the troubling trend of women leaving the workforce and critique the culture war surrounding male NFL cheerleaders.

15 snips
Aug 14, 2025 • 1h 37min
Ifs, Ands, and Butts w. Samantha Irby
Samantha Irby, a New York Times bestselling author and comedian known for her work on "And Just Like That," joins the conversation to unpack the final season's challenges and the internet's reaction, particularly her thoughts on Aidan. The hosts also dive into serious issues like school choice's impact in Arizona and Trump’s controversial federalization of D.C. police. They wrap up with a humorous critique of a cringe-worthy conservative mom podcast, blending sharp insights with Irby's signature humor throughout.

11 snips
Aug 7, 2025 • 1h 32min
Do Mess with Texas w. NY Gov. Kathy Hochul
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the first woman to lead the state, joins the conversation. She shares her strategy for tackling Republican gerrymandering alongside Texas Democrats. Hochul also discusses her ambitious redistricting plans and how New York is responding to the challenges posed by Trump 2.0. Meanwhile, the hosts touch on Trump’s extravagant White House ballroom renovation proposal, the ongoing threat to reproductive rights, and the diminishing number of OBGYNs in states with strict abortion laws, illuminating the urgent need for reform.

Jul 31, 2025 • 1h 30min
Beyoncé Has Better Jeans w. Akilah Hughes
America’s got a long and shameful history with eugenics, and, while history doesn’t repeat itself, it rhymes. As white supremacist ideology permeates everything from Silicon Valley startups to domestic policy in 2025, is it really that far-fetched to notice it in that American Eagle “good jeans” ad featuring Sydney Sweeney? This week, Akilah Hughes joins Erin to break it all down. They also discuss Candace Owens’ low-key hilarious legal battle with the Macrons, MAGA politicians getting their karma, and The Nelk Boys' Netanyahu interview– the children that were left behind are now 30-year-old male podcasters. They wrap up with a petty rant about modern attention spans and how South Park is maybe the only TV show doing it right.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Get tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at http://crookedcon.comListen to Akilah’s New podcast, How Is This Better?Netanyahu’s appearance on popular Nelk Boys podcast draws criticism from right and left online (NBC NEWS 7/22)The Macrons v Candace Owens: lawsuit marks new phase in battle against conspiracy theories (The Guardian 7/26)Oklahoma’s Trump-Loving, Bible-Thumping Superintendent Faces Porn Probe (Rolling Stone 7/26)Texas GOP Rep. Giovanni Capriglione admits affair, denies abortion allegations (Texas Tribune 7/25)Project 2025’s Paul Dans will challenge Lindsey Graham in South Carolina Republican primary (The Guardian 7/28)American Eagle sparks backlash for touting Sydney Sweeney's 'great jeans' (NBC News 6/28)

Jul 24, 2025 • 1h 44min
Coup d’ Vance w. Bridget Read
JD Vance meets with Rupert Murdoch shortly before the bombshell Wall Street Journal piece on Trump’s letter to Epstein, Trump’s swollen ankles raise new questions about his health, Andrew Tate is accused, yet again, of assault, and Coldplay concerts are ground zero for cheating. Then Erin and Alyssa find some sanity in Indigo Girls concerts and podcasts about the history of Mongols. Plus, author Bridget Read stops by to discuss her new book Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Trump Was Diagnosed With Chronic Venous Insufficiency. What Is It? (NYT 7/17)White House Tries to Shake Off Trump’s Bizarre Hand Make-Up (Daily Beast 7/16)JD Vance Visited the Murdochs Right Before the WSJ Dropped Trump’s Letter to Epstein (Esquire 7/21)Trump and Epstein Photo Is Placed Near U.S. Embassy in London as Protesters Rally Against President’s U.K. Visits (Time 7/21)JD Vance to spend summer vacation in UK countryside spot beloved by A-listers after Disney disaster: report (The Independent 7/21)Lauren Southern, Former Right-Wing Commentator, Says Andrew Tate Assaulted Her (NYT 7/17)Unpacking the Fallout From Coldplay Exposing Astronomer CEO's Alleged Affair (E! News 7/21)

Jul 17, 2025 • 1h 27min
MAGA Revolt w. E. Jean Carroll
E. Jean Carroll joins to dish on beating Trump in court, what it was like to go camping with Fran Lebowitz, and how to give the best advice. Erin and Alyssa also round up the latest Epstein files insanity, Elon Musk and Greg Abbott's “intimate” emails, and the future of student loans. Then they take a trip to the sanity corner to discuss Lena Dunham’s new show Too Much, and children’s TV theme music that goes too hard.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Read Not My Type: One Woman Vs. a PresidentSign up to run for office: votesaveamerica.com/runTexas camp leader waited over an hour after flood warning to evacuate (The Guardian 7/14)What the Republicans’ New Policy Bill Means for Higher Education (NYT 7/3)Why Gov. Greg Abbott Won’t Release His Emails With Elon Musk (ProPublica 7/14)Wife of Texas AG Ken Paxton files for divorce ‘on biblical grounds’ (CNN 7/10)VP Vance visits Disneyland as protesters gather nearby (OC Register 7/12)Trump comes to Pam Bondi’s defense on Epstein: ‘She’s really done a very good job’ (Politico 7/15)

Jul 10, 2025 • 1h 37min
Modern Baby-Snatchers w. T.J. Raphael
After the devastating floods in central Texas, Erin and Alyssa reflect on the tragic loss of life, what went wrong, and what it means to “politicize a tragedy.” Then, journalist T.J. Raphael joins for a discussion about her new podcast Liberty Lost, a heart-wrenching investigation into the dystopian birthing home run out of Liberty University. They wrap up in the Sanity Corner to rave about Summer produce and Love Island USA.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Listen to Liberty Lost: https://wondery.com/shows/liberty-lost/How state lawmakers should respond to Central Texas floods (Dallas Morning News 7/8)What to know about the flash floods in Texas that killed over 100 people (AP News 7/7)National Weather Service defends its flood warnings amid fresh scrutiny of Trump staff cuts (NBC News 7/6)

Jun 26, 2025 • 1h 42min
Sounds Like Feminism w. Chelsea Clinton
Chelsea Clinton joins Hysteria to discuss health advocacy in the MAHA era and the state of reproductive healthcare under Trump 2.0. Erin and Alyssa also get into the latest on Charlie Kirk’s misogynistic agenda, the tacky Bezos/Sanchez Venetian wedding, and whether doomsday preppers are onto something.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Jeff Bezos alters Venice wedding plans after threat of inflatable crocodiles (The Guardian 6/24)‘More Babies and Beef Tallow, Less Blue Hair and Birth Control’ Seventy-two hours with America’s most ambitious young conservative women. (The Cut 6/17)Republican representative’s ectopic pregnancy clashes with Florida abortion law (The Guardian 6/22)Cassidy, in Break With Kennedy, Calls for Vaccine Meeting Delay (NYT 6/24)They’re not your typical ‘preppers,’ but thousands look to them for survival tips (The 19th 6/10)