Call Her Daddy
Call Her Daddy
"We both show up with notes that we both wrote and we are probably disgusting no it's fuck you and you can tell we're both reading our script Lauren's like I'm an advocate for myself now and and pitch as to why I deserve a raise and I'm literally sitting there be like okay go ahead and you can tell Lauren's like reading off of her computer and then he's my growth here in my string and we're both dying laughing." — Alex Cooper
"I feel that way about you like, and now getting to work with you the way that you are so good at multitasking and yet giving somehow a hundred percent to every multitask at the same time like you juggle so many things at once and you're so eloquent and calm and I don't know it's just really fun to watch something that wasn't like your natural thing that you wanted to do in your life become something that you are beyond talented in." — Lauren McMullen
"I think it's also been really important to us because I recognize that as the owner of the company and as the host of the show, like I can make all these calls. And I think I have such a respect for you and I weariness for you that I don't want our dynamic to ever impact the way other people on the team or at the company feel about you." — Alex Cooper
The episode begins with Alex Cooper and Lauren McMullen, childhood best friends, revealing their long-standing professional collaboration as producer and host of "Call Her Daddy." They trace their partnership back to the pandemic in 2020 when McMullen, then pursuing a master's in clinical psychology and nannying, moved in with Cooper in New York. Initially, McMullen assisted Cooper remotely with her teaching job while also offering informal support for the podcast. The partnership formalized when they relocated to Los Angeles, and McMullen began to take on more structured research and editorial tasks as Cooper's Spotify deal grew.
The conversation delves into the decision to keep their working relationship private, stemming from a belief that it would be a temporary one-year arrangement before McMullen pursued her PhD. They feared public confusion and potential negative speculation. As the year progressed, they realized the immense value of their dynamic, with Cooper feeling a deep sense of ease and enjoyment and McMullen finding the work fulfilling. This led to an honest discussion about McMullen's long-term career aspirations versus the security and passion she found in their collaboration, culminating in her decision to commit to "Call Her Daddy."
The discussion highlights the evolution of McMullen's role from research to writing full drafts of interviews, managing social media organization, and eventually overseeing the entire operational logistics of both "Call Her Daddy" and their company, Unwell. Cooper emphasizes that their success hinges on their deep, lifelong bond, allowing for direct communication and unwavering respect, which has enabled them to navigate creative differences and professional challenges seamlessly. They contrast this with a previous public fallout, stressing that their foundational relationship is fundamentally different and built on decades of shared history and trust.