Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Jacob Tierney

This week on It’s Open, Ilana sits down with Jacob Tierney. Best known as the writer and director of Heated Rivalry— the TV adaptation of Rachel Reid’s hockey romance that positively rocked the culture in 2025— Jacob is a staple in Canadian television. He created the beloved series Letterkenny and its spin off Shorsey, and now Jacob discusses his personal career journey from Canadian child-actor through his teenage years, against the dark backdrop of Miramax in the 90s, to the present, where his professional prowess and creative energy is impacting the culture. He and Ilana discuss writing queer stories in the industry today, the yearning of a weekly release, and his submitting to the connectivity of the universe.  Enjoying It’s Open with Ilana Glazer? The best way to support the pod is also the easiest: Subscribe! It tells the platforms what we’re doing, which helps us grow, and ensures you never miss an episode. Loving it? Leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Thank you for being a part of our community. Host: Ilana Glazer Producers: David Rooklin, Annika Carlson, Madeline Kim, Kelsie Kiley, Glennis Meagher Video Producers: Lexa Krebs, Louise Nessralla Audio Producers: Nicole Maupin, Rachel Suffian, Rebecca O’Neill Lighting Director: Kevin Deming Editor: Tovah Leibowitz Graphics: Raymo Ventura Outro Music: Don Hur All Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod

Matt Bernstein

Matt Bernstein (aka @mattxiv) is a force to be reckoned with. A 27-year-old, progressive political commentator who has cultivated a 2M+ following by combining clear-eyed, heartfelt, sharp-witted cultural discourse with gorgeous glam and a calm, confident delivery. His video podcast, A Bit Fruity with Matt Bernstein, has become a touchstone in the digital landscape as a rational, ethical, and hilarious voice calling for political and social accountability and standing up for basic human rights for all. Ilana and Matt discuss right-wing grifting, his innate passion for politics, and the privilege and joy of simply getting to live as one’s true colorful self. Enjoying It’s Open with Ilana Glazer? The best way to support the pod is also the easiest: Subscribe! It tells the platforms what we’re doing, which helps us grow, and ensures you never miss an episode. Loving it? Leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Thank you for being a part of our community. Host: Ilana Glazer Producers: David Rooklin, Annika Carlson, Madeline Kim, Kelsie Kiley, Glennis Meagher Video Producers: Lexa Krebs, Louise Nessralla Audio Producers: Nicole Maupin, Rachel Suffian, Rebecca O’Neill Lighting Director: Kevin Deming Editor: Tovah Leibowitz Graphics: Raymo Ventura Outro Music: Don Hur All Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod

"More Perfect Union on Toxic Data Centers and the Local Nonpartisan Fight Against Them" with Ilana Glazer

It’s Open partners with More Perfect Union, the ground breaking and progressive non-profit news organization, to highlight the vital local coverage that is helping Americans stay informed and stay connected. Join us as MPU spotlights—and Ilana reacts to—the toxic fallout from mass data center installations nationwide. And then witness the wave of nonpartisan action welling across American towns RIGHT NOW to fight this escalating affront to citizens’ basic human rights. Enjoying It’s Open with Ilana Glazer? The best way to support the pod is also the easiest: Subscribe! It tells the platforms what we’re doing, which helps us grow, and ensures you never miss an episode. Loving it? Leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Thank you for being a part of our community. Host: Ilana Glazer Producers: David Rooklin, Annika Carlson, Madeline Kim, Kelsie Kiley, Glennis Meagher Video Producers: Lexa Krebs, Louise Nessralla Audio Producers: Nicole Maupin, Rachel Suffian, Rebecca O’Neill Lighting Director: Kevin Deming Editor: Tovah Leibowitz Graphics: Raymo Ventura Outro Music: Don Hur All Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Ilana’s dream comes true as she interviews the U.S. Congresswoman from New York, the luminous progressive brawler, the one-and-only… Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. AOC shares about her personal experience growing up Puerto Rican American in the Bronx and Westchester, New York. She unfolds the myth of capitalism, the unyielding profit monsters that uphold it, and its tragic reinforcement of our lesser impulse to alienate and vilify the most vulnerable people in our communities. To break this corrosive pattern of barbarism in America, AOC emphasizes our need to form broad bipartisan coalitions, but she asserts that, in fact: the people will always have the power. Enjoying It’s Open with Ilana Glazer? The best way to support the pod is also the easiest: Subscribe! It tells the platforms what we’re doing, which helps us grow, and ensures you never miss an episode. Loving it? Leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Thank you for being a part of our community. Host: Ilana Glazer Producers: David Rooklin, Annika Carlson, Madeline Kim, Kelsie Kiley, Glennis Meagher Video Producers: Lexa Krebs, Louise Nessralla Audio Producers: Nicole Maupin, Rachel Suffian, Rebecca O’Neill Lighting Director: Kevin Deming Editor: Tovah Leibowitz Graphics: Raymo Ventura Outro Music: Don Hur All Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

Today Ilana sits down with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a PhD marine biologist, leading climate conservationist and policy expert, and author of WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT, which Rolling Stone calls “The most helpful book on the planet right now for… anyone concerned with Earth’s rising temperatures”. Ayana and Ilana discuss the alarming scarcity (but desperate need for) climate crisis messaging in politics and culture. In fact, we already have the renewable energy solutions we need to fight climate change, restore the environment, and create jobs, but if men say they feel emasculated by simply carrying a reusable canvas bag… are we doomed? 🤦 Enjoying It’s Open with Ilana Glazer? The best way to support the pod is also the easiest: Subscribe! It tells the platforms what we’re doing, which helps us grow, and ensures you never miss an episode. Loving it? Leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Thank you for being a part of our community. Host: Ilana Glazer Producers: David Rooklin, Annika Carlson, Madeline Kim, Kelsie Kiley, Glennis Meagher Video Producers: Lexa Krebs, Louise Nessralla Audio Producers: Nicole Maupin, Rachel Suffian, Rebecca O’Neill Lighting Director: Kevin Deming Editor: Tovah Leibowitz Graphics: Raymo Ventura Outro Music: Don Hur All Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod