
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

Jul 27, 2023 • 1h 21min
Ladychild
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco cover the possibility of a new Trump indictment, the Carlee Russell case, OBGYNs heading to Texas, and Barbie’s record-breaking opening weekend. Then, Julissa Arce and Naomi Ekperigin join to talk birthdays: getting older, watching parents and babies age, and proving to people that we’re thriving — we promise! — even when we have gray hair. Finally, Sani-Petty (Scott Disick is selling air freshener, and insurance companies are never not the worst). 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.

Jul 20, 2023 • 1h 13min
Abortion Provider Barbie
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco rave about the FIFA Women’s World Cup before discussing No Labels, the Long Island Serial Killer, and the latest abortion news in Iowa, Ohio, and beyond. Then, What a Day’s Juanita Tolliver joins to get nostalgic and talk Barbie culture — feminism, race in dolls, body image, the works — in anticipation of the summer’s hottest film. Finally, some Sani-Petty, from Flyana Boss to the inevitable fistfight in the GOP caucus.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 NotesTour de France Fan Causes Massive Crash by Taking a Sidelines Selfie (People)The true story of Mattel accidentally releasing a super gay Ken doll (In The Know)

Jul 13, 2023 • 1h 15min
Jonah Hill and Other Wieners w. Jamie Loftus
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco cover quite the range of news, from important elections in Ohio that will decide the fate of abortion in the state, to the Zuckerberg / Threads versus Musk / Twitter dick-measuring contest. Then, Kara Klenk and special guest Jamie Loftus — who has copious hot dog knowledge thanks to her debut book, Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs — join the panel to talk about Jonah Hill and his “boundaries.” Finally, some Sani-Petty: we love Margot Robbie’s Barbie carpet looks and good European period meds!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 NotesRaw Dog: The Naked Truth about Hot Dogs by Jamie Loftus (Bookshop)That's Mess Up Podcast + Tour TicketsBarbie x Barbie: All of Margot Robbie’s Mattel-Inspired Red-Carpet Looks (Vanity Fair)

Jun 29, 2023 • 1h 10min
Time to Call Amy w. Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco cover the latest news — SCOTUS decisions are slowly coming in, and democracy shockingly hasn’t disintegrated yet, plus Trump is still an idiot — before interviewing Senator Amy Klobuchar about her new memoir, The Joy of Politics. Then, to close out Pride Month, associate producer Fiona Pestana joins to discuss the rise of anti-trans legislation over the past year. Finally, some Sani-Petty, featuring Vanna White, fireworks, and baristas.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 NotesThe Joy of Politics: Surviving Cancer, a Campaign, a Pandemic, an Insurrection, and Life's Other Unexpected Curveballs by Amy KlobucharTrans Legislation TrackerContrapointsMauree TurnerZooey Zephyr and Erin ReedGender Confirmation CenterACLU (s/o Chase Strangio)MMFATransLash (Anti-Trans Hate Machine podcast)Parker MolloyTre’vell AndersonElliot PageAlok Menon

Jun 22, 2023 • 1h 9min
Salmon Alito w. Monica Potts
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco cover the latest: Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito doesn’t understand what the big deal is about accepting a free luxury vacation from a billionaire megadonor and not reporting it, SCOTUS is finishing up their session, and self-described misogynist and incel influencer Andrew Tate gets indicted. Then, Monica Potts joins to discuss her new book about women in rural America, The Forgotten Girls. Next, Grace Parra-Janney and Dana Schwartz join to discuss weddings: planning them, Instagramming them, paying for them, the works. Finally, Sani-Petty (we’re improving our handwriting and seeing Stevie Nicks live).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 NotesThe Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America by Monica Potts (Bookshop)Quiet ‘epidemic’ of drugs, alcohol and suicide has killed half a million middle-aged white Americans (Princeton)Justice Samuel Alito: ProPublica Misleads Its Readers (WSJ Op-Ed)Justice Samuel Alito Took Luxury Fishing Vacation With GOP Billionaire Who Later Had Cases Before the Court (ProPublica)THE FAKE POOR BRIDE: Confessions of a wedding planner (The Atlantic)Noble Blood podcastSolar Opposites on Hulu

Jun 15, 2023 • 1h 4min
“I’m Going to Marry That Baby” w. Jill Gutowitz
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco celebrate Donny Trump’s birthday by covering his second indictment and mocking the ugly bathroom where he hid classified federal documents. Plus, why is everyone at the Young Women’s Leadership Conference full of…old and irrelevant conservative women gaslighting people into having babies? Then, Tien Tran and Jill Gutowitz come on to talk age-gap relationships: when it makes sense, when it’s actively desirable, and when it’s simply nasty. Finally, bad drivers and good radio in 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 NotesIndigenous knowledge, bravery, vigilance: how young siblings survived in Colombia’s perilous jungle (The Guardian)Good Food on KCRW

Jun 8, 2023 • 1h 19min
Wife of the Party w. Rep. Becca Balint
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco dive into the latest union news and GOP nonsense — Nikki Haley and Harlan Crow, what are you doing? Then, Rep. Becca Balint joins to talk about fighting for queer rights in Congress and singing Springsteen during karaoke. Next, Juanita Toliver, host of Crooked’s What A Day podcast, and Shaniqua McClendon, Crooked’s VP of Politics, join to talk about political spouses: the good ones, the bad ones, and the…forgettable ones. Finally, some Sani-Petty (should we have ducking — sorry, f*cking — VR monocles?).Show Notes@BeccaBalintVTHow a Campaign Against Transgender Rights Mobilized Conservatives (NYT)votesaveamerica.com/fuckbans 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.

Jun 1, 2023 • 1h 42min
With Pearls, You Can Do Anything w. Samantha Bee & Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco dive into the latest news: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was bipartisanly impeached; Minnesota gets paid family and medical leave — and legalized weed; and Waystar-Royco merged with GoJo (we love you forever, Succession). Samantha Bee then comes on to discuss women in late night, stealing cars, and her new podcast, Choice Words. Next, we invite Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein and Halle Kiefer to talk about possibly the best reality dating show: The Ultimatum: Queer Love. Finally, a range of emotions in Sani-Petty (AI finishes bodies, college reunions are happening, body hair is growing, and a Manson girl might leave prison).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 NotesChoice Words with Samantha Bee is out now from Lemonada Media.Dr. Chanda Prescod-WeinsteinRuined with Alison Leiby and Halle Kiefer

May 25, 2023 • 1h
"Quite Bad, Innit?" w. Coco Khan
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco are joined by Pod Save the U.K.’s Coco Khan to answer the question: which country is more of a dumpster fire, the U.S. or the U.K.? In the U.S. corner: E. Jean Carroll vs. Trump (again); the LA Dodgers inviting, disinviting, and reinviting drag queen nuns to Pride Night; and more GOP boys entering the 2024 race. In the U.K. corner: misogyny king Andrew Tate, a politically conservative downward spiral, and very expensive childcare. Finally, to recover from this tête-à-tête, a little Sanity Corner (Gen Z uses Cockney slang to cope with stress) and a little I Feel Petty (TikTok is ruining food!) in 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 NotesPod Save the UKCoco Khan on TwitterFact check: Average UK salary: ever wondered how you stack up?How much childcare workers get paid in the UK: source 1, source 2, source 3Cheesier, Saucier, and Drowning in Caviar: How TikTok took over the menu.Cannes dress code: source 1, source 2And, by the way, Alyssa isn’t on WikiFeet, so DON’T TRY TO LOOK!

May 18, 2023 • 1h 25min
Culture War Zone w. Jena Friedman
Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco celebrate their 250th episode (!!!) by answering some listener questions peppered throughout the show! In news, we cover the abortion showdown in North Carolina, Philadelphia one step closer to electing its first female mayor — after electing 99 male mayors prior — and a new menopause drug. Then, Jena Friedman and Megan Gailey join to talk all things culture war, from Bill Cosby to “wokeism” to the latest Succession election episode that made everyone lose sleep, even after taking an edible (spoiler alert). Finally, in Sani-Petty: the NBA Playoffs, TikTok’s TattooGate, and more.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 NotesNot Funny: Essays on Life, Comedy, Culture, Et Cetera by Jena Friedman (Bookshop.org)Matt Vaught response to TattooGate (Instagram)