My guide to Amy Poehler’s award-winning, laughter-filled podcast
One year after the start of Amy Poehler’s podcast, Good Hang, it remains a weekly source of laughter and joy for me. And I think it can be that for you too.
As a kid who was raised on Saturday Night Live and a current college student who pretty much exclusively watches comedy TV shows, I am certainly Poehler’s target audience and I bought in immediately, listening to the first episode within a week of its release and listening consistently since.
While understanding the lore behind some of the stories the guests tell does enhance the experience, you do not need to be an SNL nerd. Simply watching the short sketches on YouTube will solve that problem. Any fan of SNL, comedy TV, celebrity stories or simply an entertaining conversation will enjoy the podcast.
The show is exciting to me because of its unique weekly routine. Not only do I look forward to tuning in on Tuesdays, but I also look forward to the guest announcement on Mondays which occurs through an often random, funny TikTok with the guest. This gives me something fun to look forward to as fans often speculate in the comment section about who the next guests will be.
The show’s format is also consistently entertaining as it begins with a Zoom call where a friend or fan of the guest gives Poehler a question to ask the guest. This takes many forms, from a serious “What is the meaning of life” type of question to a silly question that leads to an inside joke. Episodes also end with the “Poehler Plunge,” where Poehler recommends a piece of media that makes her laugh.
Joy and laughter are the central themes of the show, which makes it not only a relaxing listen but also a crucial one in a current political climate where joy may be hard to find and the internet is flooded with constant terrible news.
Listening to funny stories about the entertainment industry helps distract from the constant horrors of the current world, but where the show sets itself apart from other celebrity podcasts is the truly insightful conversation happening around the laughter. Though the podcast rejects outright advice-based content, its blend of comedy and earnest conversation is what keeps me listening weekly. Hearing wisdom and perspectives from a variety of guests, sometimes offering me a new perspective if I am unfamiliar with the guest, provides me with moments I can take away to use in my daily life.
You don’t need to take my word for it, though. Good Hang won the first-ever podcast award at the Golden Globes this January. By breaking through in the male-dominated field of podcasting, Poehler represents a shift in what listeners enjoy, rejecting “hot takes” and self-help in favor of genuine conversation without expectations.
In her acceptance speech she said, “This is an attempt to try to make a very rough and unkind world filled with a little bit more love and laughter, and laughing with people, not at them” (Golden Globes).
If this seems like the energy you want to bring to 2026, I assembled a guide to get you caught up before the new season starts in mid-March.
The first episode is a crucial listen to understand the vibe of the podcast. The episode’s opening segment features a laugh-out-loud Zoom call with Poehler’s SNL friends Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen, Zarna Garg and Rachel Dratch. The rest of the episode, with guest Tina Fey, is also worth listening to. If nothing else, the funniest moments are captured below:
Further listening will depend on your interests:
For fans of Parks and Recreation: there are episodes with her co-stars Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari (feel free to skip this one…) and Kathryn Hahn, but I would recommend starting with her episode with Aubrey Plaza.
For SNL fans: Martin Short for a conversation about multiple generations of SNL greats and Kate McKinnon for behind the scenes realness
For thinking “OMG how did she get that guest?”: Michelle Obama and her infinite perfection and Carol Burnet and her comedy wisdom
And lastly, for the best lore to go down a TikTok rabbit hole about: Seth Meyers. You’ll thank me later.
There is an episode for fans of celebrities from varied career paths. So, if you need a laugh right now or want to hear behind the scenes stories from your favorite comedies, tune in to Good Hang.