Call Her Daddy
Call Her Daddy
"I think my life just felt like pressure for so long and that kind of ties into what we're talking about earlier with like trying to find what are the other aspects of the pie chart of life because I think from such an early age I was so programmed for achievement success that equals mom's happiness mom dies and then it's like okay but still achievement and success equal happiness and then it's like okay now I've achieved things what else is there there have there has to be um other means of joy and I know that there are and and there they're just it can't be the thing that I think you plant a flag in but I think that's what I did from an early age was okay success equals mom's happiness achievement equals mom's happiness let's achieve let's succeed let's do whatever it takes" — Jennette McCurdy
"My favorite part of the year is the week between Christmas and New Year's and I take that week to kind of evaluate my life and reflect on it and think where do I want things to go and then I plan from there." — Alex Cooper
"I think my experience of life has so often been like why is nobody saying this whether it is sitting on a zoom or sitting in a a dinner table or sharing a holiday with a bunch of people it's just like why are we not talking about anything why are it just feels like I'm going to fucking explode and writing is the place where I can not explode but explode in that way I you know I'm not explode in in real life put on the page and get it all out and and hopefully connect um in that way it's I think that the truest form of myself and the thing that I hope connects the most of people" — Jennette McCurdy
Jennette McCurdy, author of "I'm Glad My Mom Died" and the new novel "Half His Age," discusses the profound impact of her childhood, marked by a mother's illness, a controlling parent, and early entry into child acting. She details how these experiences shaped her identity, leading to codependency, body image issues, and the development of an eating disorder, which she later realized was implicitly encouraged. McCurdy explains her journey through these challenges, emphasizing the role of writing as a cathartic and healing process that allowed her to explore complex themes of power, desire, and loneliness.
The conversation highlights the manipulative tactics used by her mother, which instilled a deep-seated people-pleasing behavior and a fear of expressing her own needs. McCurdy draws parallels between her childhood experiences and the themes in "Half His Age," which explores a relationship with a significant age and power imbalance. She discusses how societal conditioning and personal trauma can lead individuals to seek validation through unhealthy relationships, often confusing physical intimacy with genuine connection and commitment.
Ultimately, McCurdy expresses pride in her recovery from her eating disorder and the success of her writing, which she views as a testament to her ability to process difficult experiences and connect with others on a deeper level. She advocates for authenticity and encourages listeners to embrace their true selves, even if it means challenging societal norms and expectations.