Heather McMahan: Dog Shows, Neck Lifts & Airport Fits
Heather McMahon discusses her comedy career, recent experiences hosting at the Ryder Cup and dog show, her neck lift recovery, gout diagnosis, move from her mother's house, and her new special 'Buy a Thread' on Hulu. She shares stories about travel mishaps, her dogs, and lessons learned about professional boundaries.
Summary
Alex Cooper interviews comedian Heather McMahon about her upcoming special 'Buy a Thread' on Hulu. McMahon opens by recounting a recent brunch disaster and discusses her congressional ambitions humorously. She reveals she recently had neck lift surgery (liposuction and a pull under the chin via ear incisions) and recovered while immediately taking on the AKC dog show hosting gig in Orlando, wearing a turtleneck to hide her wounds despite having drains and dried blood. She describes the experience as chaotic but manageable. McMahon then discusses hosting the Ryder Cup's opening ceremony at Bethpage Black on Long Island, where she was positioned as a 'glorified court jester' at 4:45 AM. The role turned contentious when she echoed crowd chants about European player Rory McIlroy, leading to her being fired on the spot by Team Europe representatives, though she was reinstated after apologizing. She reflects on the double standard between how male and female comedians are treated in similar situations. McMahon shares her gout diagnosis, which she initially refused to believe despite displaying classic symptoms, ironically occurring while eating healthy ground turkey and broccoli instead of during her previous wealthy diet in Italy. She contrasts this with Jeff's kidney stone experience on Thanksgiving. McMahon discusses her dogs (Macaroni Limone Ferrari Daniels and Rigatoni Cannoli Gandolfini Daniels), her love of Pitbull (meeting the real Armando at Hyde Park and receiving a text with 55 exclamation points), and her recent move out of her mother Robin's house after six years, citing her need for privacy and the desire to have sex in her kitchen without interruption. She discusses her writing process, which involves locking herself in the basement with whiteboards and sticky notes three weeks before tours, and emphasizes her commitment to getting critical feedback from her team. Cooper praises McMahon's professionalism, recalling when she unexpectedly saved a show by coming on stage to perform. McMahon mentions performing at Unwell Vegas with the flu and dancing so hard she collapsed afterward.
About this episode
Join Alex in the studio for a hilarious and completely unhinged conversation with Heather McMahan. From hot takes on millennial trends to how her Pitbull obsession led to a Guinness World Record, Heather shares the wild stories that could ONLY happen to her. She also talks about her wildest medical stories, from ovarian torsion mid-flight to getting back on camera just days after a neck lift.. Enjoy!
Key Insights
- McMahon argues that female comedians face disproportionate blame when placed in chaotic situations with intoxicated male crowds, whereas male comedians in identical scenarios would be celebrated as heroes for their irreverence.
- McMahon claims the gout diagnosis ironically occurred while she was eating healthy meal-prepped food (ground turkey and broccoli), suggesting that both unhealthy indulgence and restrictive healthy eating can trigger the condition.
- McMahon states she recovered from neck lift surgery with drains and open wounds still present when she hosted the dog show, suggesting she prioritized work opportunity over proper medical recovery.
- McMahon asserts that not knowing her job parameters at the Ryder Cup led to her missteps, arguing that women often avoid asking clarifying questions due to fear of being labeled difficult, creating a cycle where they're set up to fail.
- McMahon reveals that after six years of living with her mother, she realized she needed autonomy and privacy for her marriage, indicating that well-intentioned family living arrangements can eventually undermine adult relationships.
- McMahon describes meeting her idol Pitbull (Armando) and states he was kind and had followed her work, demonstrating that meeting heroes doesn't always disappoint if approached authentically.
- McMahon claims her comedy writing process requires her to lock herself away for three days without sleep, using whiteboards and sticky notes, suggesting she views isolation and obsessive preparation as necessary for quality material.
- McMahon experienced an ovarian torsion that burst mid-flight to London and initially refused to seek help due to her people-pleasing nature and status concerns, later regretting not trusting her husband's warning not to board.
Topics
Transcript
Call Her Daddy is brought to you by American Eagle. Okay, so fall is almost here and the new arrivals from American Eagle, kind of obsessed. We're talking sweet dresses, soft sweaters you'll want to live in, on-trend jeans and cargos you'll want to wear on repeat. And if you see a style you love, grab it now because you already know the good stuff doesn't stay in stock for long. You can check it all out at AE.com or just go to the store. Call Her Daddy is brought to you by Bright by Scotch Bright. Daddy gang, a lot of us obviously take pride in where we live, right? We want the decor to look good and then…
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