
Hysteria
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.
Latest episodes

Dec 22, 2022 • 1h 7min
Holiday Happy Hour w. Sen. Gillibrand, Hirono & Klobuchar
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco put on their coziest beanies and review this Year in Chaos, remembering everything from JLO changing her last name to the January 6th hearings and the raid in Mar-a-Lago. Then, Senators Amy Klobuchar, Mazie Hirono, and Kirsten Gillibrand join to talk about their favorite festive traditions, holiday recipes, and whether or not they’ll be drinking some ‘nog (spoiler: the answer is yes, and it WILL be boozy). Happy Holidays!Show NotesSenator Amy KlobucharSenator Mazie HironoSenator Kirsten Gillibrand 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.

Dec 15, 2022 • 57min
Burnt Out on Murder w. Jena Friedman
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco are army crawling towards 2023 with the help of White Lotus, a hopeful reformation of the Electoral Count Act, and the schadenfreude of watching a crypto bro fly too close to the sun. Then, Jena Friedman and Megan Gailey join to talk true crime, from copaganda to genuine ACAB content. Finally, we close it out with a Sani-Petty — but with all Sani, no Petty, because we’re treating ourselves during this year-end chaos!Show NotesTrue Crime Story: IndefensibleNot Funny: Essays on Life, Comedy, Culture, Et Cetera by Jena FriedmanLadykillerr/idahomurders 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.

Dec 8, 2022 • 1h 8min
Bay Area Wrapper w. Rep. Jackie Speier
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco talk to Rep. Jackie Speier about her iconic political career ahead of her upcoming retirement from Congress (which, she assures, does NOT mean she won’t be booked and busy). In News, Erin and Alyssa cover everything from the Georgia runoff results (yay, Warnock!) to the Good Morning America host cheating scandal. Then, Julissa Arce and Dana Schwartz join to dive into getting the “ick.” Finally, a little Sanity Corner, a little I Feel Petty.Show NotesWalker delivers concession speechWhy Warnock Won and What it Means (Dan Pfeiffer)Congresswoman Jackie SpeierYou Sound Like a White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation by Julissa ArceImmortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz 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.

Dec 1, 2022 • 55min
Chief of Vibes w. Megan Rapinoe
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco sit down with U.S. Women’s National Team soccer star and activist Megan Rapinoe to talk about the Qatar World Cup, pay equity and transparency, being a woman in soccer, and her and her fiancé Sue Bird’s shoe collections. Then, in News: Erin and Alyssa talk January 6th updates (summary: Find Out Season continues), rail workers’ labor rights, and recent Balenciaga scandals. Finally, Megan Rapinoe joins the ranting in I Feel Petty.Show NotesSoccer star Megan Rapinoe urges accountability after investigation finds systemic abuse and misconduct in women’s game [CNN]Megan Rapinoe x Trusaic 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.

Nov 24, 2022 • 1h 10min
Extra Helpings
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco are joined by Megan Gailey and Kara Klenk celebrate Thanksgiving by bringing you another installment of Solicited Advice! Plus Sani-Petty! 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. Show NotesHook On Chair, Clip on High Chair, Fold-Flat Storage Portable Baby Feeding SeatINSTANT POT BUFFALO CHICKEN

Nov 17, 2022 • 1h 20min
Conservateur Tears w. Mallory McMorrow
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco are joined by Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow to take a victory lap on Michigan’s big election night! From enshrining abortion rights to flipping the state house and state senate. Then in News: Erin and Alyssa talk about Trump's Presidential announcement, the University of California academic worker strike, the Taylor Swift/ Ticketmaster clusterfuck, and toast Christina Applegate. Plus! Dana Schwartz and Kiran Deol join to talk about the decline of women’s magazines and their conservative counterparts. Finally, we, of course, talk about Tiffany Trump’s wedding in I Feel Petty. 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. Show NotesSen. Mallory McMorrow

Nov 15, 2022 • 50min
Introducing Work Appropriate: How to Make Work Less Hostile to Parents with Jessica Grose
American society is still organized around a presumption that every family unit has a full-time caregiver in the home. Jessica Grose, mom of 2 and opinion writer for The New York Times, joins host Anne Helen Petersen to answer questions about the struggle, sadness, and burnout that comes from trying to still get by in that space, even when it isn't reality for millions of families.To hear even more episodes don't forget to subscribe to Work Appropriate. If you've got a workplace quandary you want help figuring out, head to workappropriate.com to tell us about it.

Nov 10, 2022 • 1h 5min
Find Out Season
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco talk midterm election results we know so far with Grace Parra Janney and Crooked’s Vice President of Politics Shaniqua McClendon. Then, a break from all that! With a completely non-political Sani-Petty.Show NotesCNN panelist predicts 'bad night,' says Democrats didn't 'listen' to voters throughout the election 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.

Nov 3, 2022 • 1h 20min
B-B-B-Bye, Corona
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco talk SCOTUS’s affirmative action arguments — some poignant, some petty — and the attack on Paul Pelosi before reminding everyone that the midterms are this! Tuesday! Next, Amanda Nguyen and Megan Gailey come on to look back on the way we behaved during the height of COVID and whether or not there’s forgiveness there. To end, a little Sani-Pedi.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.Show NotesJustice Ketanji Brown Jackson confronted the lawyer arguing for outlawing affirmative action with how his proposed college admissions system would privilege a white legacy applicant over a Black descendent of slaves.

Oct 27, 2022 • 1h 40min
Coffee Table Book-ish w. Lorena Austin
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco discuss the latest bad news: anti-semitism’s surge, Britney Griner’s rejected appeal, and schoolchildren’s low post-pandemic scores on a national exam. Then, Lorena Austin joins to talk about her crucial campaign for Arizona State House. Next, Dana Schwartz and Kara Klenk join to talk about looking smart, gifted child syndrome, and rainbow-organized bookshelves. Finally, a healthy dose of joy and annoyance with Sani-Pedi. 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. Show NotesLorena Austin