Ep. 538 - An Interview with Actress Janie Haddad Tompkins

·56 min·5 clips

Actress Janie Haddad Tompkins reveals what to say if someone calls you crazy and how male egos dominate Hollywood.

The episode begins with Hemant introducing Janie Haddad Tompkins, an actress and podcaster married to comedian Paul Tompkins. Janie shares a personal anecdote about a comeback for when someone calls you 'crazy', which she adopted from an online article. She talks about her upbringing, moving from West Virginia to South Carolina, and later to LA after 9/11. Janie discusses her podcast 'Stay F. Tompkins', which she started with her husband during the COVID-19 lockdowns as a therapeutic project, evolving into a monthly show with merch. The conversation shifts to Hollywood, where Janie critiques toxic masculinity, power systems, and the recent strikes, describing them as demoralizing and driven by shareholder interests. She reflects on her Catholic school background, explaining how it led to her questioning faith and embracing feminism and humanism due to patriarchal structures. Janie also touches on topics like capitalism, healthcare costs, and historical revisionism, mentioning the podcast 'Telling Jefferson Lies'. The interview concludes with light-hearted talk about TV shows, gossip, and seeing friends on screen.

As heard by us

A candid, funny interview that turns a simple comeback into a sharper look at power and self-definition.

Janie Haddad Tompkins gives the Friendly Atheist Podcast a sharp, easy conversation. It moves from growing up in the South to toxic masculinity and the way Hollywood can turn people into objects.

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Why you'd press play

Want a funny interview that also digs into power and self-respect?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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