I’ve been enjoying Amy Poehler’s new podcast, Good Hang. 

“They’ll share stories about their careers, mutual friends, shared enthusiasms, and most importantly, what’s been making them laugh. This podcast is not about trying to make you better or giving advice. Amy just wants to have a good time.” – Amy Poehler

In a world constantly pushing us to be “better,” “fitter,” “wiser,” and to endlessly “thrive” through self-optimization, it’s easy to feel like we’re always falling short. 

The “wellness industry” often targets this feeling, convincing us we need to spend and strive to reach an ideal version of ourselves, leaving us feeling “always lacking, always chasing, always tired”. 

But what if “thriving” didn’t always mean striving? What if “enough” was, well, enough?

Here’s where Amy Poehler’s genius shows up in the form of a refreshing counter-narrative to the pervasive self-improvement rhetoric. 

Her approach is a delightful breath of fresh air for anyone feeling pressured to constantly “provide value” in conventional, measurable ways.

“Good, Dumb Fun” Over Gurus and Growth. Nothing wrong with that. It’s important to remember to have fun.

She welcomes “celebrities and fun people to her studio” to “share stories about their careers, mutual friends, shared enthusiasms, and most importantly, what’s been making them laugh”. 

The “About” section for Good Hang on Spotify reinforces this philosophy, noting that the podcast “is not about trying to make you better or giving advice. Amy just wants to have a good time”. 

This stance is further highlighted by an observation Poehler made on her podcast with guest Rashida Jones. 

Poehler stated that one reason she wanted to do the podcast was because she had “watched so many men do the bare minimum for so long, she was also ready to just give 25%”. 

As Therapist and Author Cathy Cassani Adam notes, while funny, was also “in so many ways, serious,” pointing out that women are often “conditioned to believe that we must always be doing our best, showing up fully, growing constantly, giving 100% at all times, and bettering ourselves every chance we get”. 

Poehler’s 25% remark is a humorous yet poignant pushback against this exhausting societal expectation.

This is not to discredit hardworking men, but rather to reinforce the sometimes unrealistic expectations women have for themselves. 

We are constantly reminded to contribute value. 

Value seen in the more conventional sense is something tangible and impactful. 

What if the value you provide is something commercial minded folks slight or value less? Things like joy, simplicity, a sense of humour?

That’s what I believe makes Good Hang such a fun listen. 

“Enough is enough. Enough with the 100%, enough with always trying to get better and better and better”. – Amy Poehler 

While personal development and growth should be celebrated and encouraged, there is also much room for allowing people to celebrate their status quo, their progress and their contentment. 

Here are the Good Hang episodes I recommend: 

Tina Fey

Andy Samberg

Dakota Johnson 

Happy Listening! 

If you’re inspired by examples of people crafting their own path, do subscribe to our monthly newsletter.