Elise Joshi

Elise Joshi

Join us today to get hyped on Gen-Z leadership because it rocks. We sit down with the spectacular Elise Joshi, a progressive political organizer, climate activist & journalist who has been lighting up digital media with clear, hard-hitting content since she was 17. Elise discusses how—growing up during COVID, California’s wild fires, and the emergent climate crisis—she learned to question authority, found the grassroots coalition through making digital content, and went on to help found and then executive direct Gen-Z for Change. Now, Elise is reporting and producing groundbreaking local news coverage from within the Emmy-award winning nonprofit More Perfect Union, and is launching More Perfect University, a national project that aims to train and spotlight young local reporters across the country. Get a glimpse of a near-future progressive USA! Come on in, it’s open. 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

John C. Reilly

Today, Ilana was thrilled to meet and talk with actor, comedian, singer John C. Reilly. For decades, and through his unique expression of sincerity and comedy, John’s performances have shaped the impact of American movie classics—like Chicago, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Step Brothers. Ilana and John discuss his current and recent projects: a one-man-plus-band musical performance MR. ROMANTIC and the surreal Italian-American Western feature film HEADS OR TAILS. John discusses his love for singing love songs, his belief that kindness is absolutely everything, and nature-vs-nurture when both your sons are working models. Come on in, it’s open. 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

Elliot Page

Today Ilana sits down with the award-winning actor and cultural leader for queer rights, self-discovery, and truth: Elliot Page. Ilana and Elliot cover his new documentary SECOND NATURE, about queerness in the animal kingdom, the book Sex at Dawn, which was influential in both of their sexual developments, and the feeling of being in love 😍. In this generous and open discussion, Elliot describes learning to move beyond the societal pressures to conform (that we are all subject to) and discover an authentic, personal sense of masculinity and the deep comfort he has found in being his true self. Come on in, it’s open. 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

Reshma Saujani

Today Ilana sits down with Reshma Saujani, best known as the founder of Girls Who Code. Reshma’s an entrepreneur, social leader, and activist fighting to reshape the economic landscape for American mothers. llana and Reshma get right down to it, looking at depravity in America today, the enduring construct of “race,” and the manufactured rage-baiting that attempts to separate different groups of women from organizing as one. They discuss Reshma’s debut documentary film NO COUNTRY FOR MOTHERS, her two ground-breaking political runs for U.S. congress, and her nonprofit MOMS FIRST. Finally, they share about the all-too-common feelings of insecurity and self-doubt women feel, finding mirrors of ourselves in other people, and the empowering practice of telling the truth. 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

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