Overview of Not Skinny But Not Fat — Episode: "Haley Lu Richardson is Sad & Horny"
Host Amanda Hirsch interviews actor Haley Lu Richardson in a candid, wide‑ranging conversation that mixes career anecdotes, personal confessions, and readings from Haley’s new poetry collection (shared under the title I'm Sad & Horny). The episode explores creativity, heartbreak and healing, fame vs. private life, motherhood and parenting, body/appearance pressures, and the role of sadness in emotional wholeness — all delivered with humor and frankness.
Main topics discussed
- Haley’s name, early career memories and on‑set stories (Edge of Seventeen; how she was called “Haley Two” on set).
- Turning 30: feelings about aging, growth in her 20s, Saturn return and emerging self‑acceptance.
- Poetry book: origin, themes, and a live reading of a playful poem. Title/theme: sad clown / Pierrot imagery; frank discussion of sex, longing and shame.
- Creative process: wrote most poems over time (not for a book), encouraged by a friend (Asim) to publish; artwork and design by a friend.
- Embracing sadness: influence of the movie Inside Out; therapy and learning to welcome sadness as a necessary emotion.
- Romantic history and dating: engagement/proposal in early 20s, breakup and lessons learned, patterns with emotionally unavailable partners, dating apps (Hinge), preferences about dating other actors vs non‑actors.
- Fame and The White Lotus: experience of being part of a cultural moment, working with Jennifer Coolidge, cast dynamics and the “bubble” of filming.
- Celebrity fandom & weird encounters: stories about meeting Aubrey Plaza (and a funny “stalking” anecdote), appearing in a Jonas Brothers video, crying when meeting Miley Cyrus.
- Side creative projects and grounding rituals: crochet drops on Etsy, jewelry‑making, grounding through routines and family.
- Body/self topics: eyebrow waxing, Botox curiosity, and how appearance intersected with confidence at different times.
Creative process & the book (I'm Sad & Horny)
- Origin: Most poems were written over years, often during long nights on sets; a colleague suggested turning them into a book.
- Theme & tone: mixture of candid, erotic, humorous and deeply sad poems — Haley calls some poems “dumb” and some “deep,” and embraces the full range of emotion.
- Visual motif: sad clown / Pierrot imagery informs the book’s aesthetic and Haley’s promo styling.
- Goal: Haley says she published partly to release and also in hope that at least one reader will feel seen or comforted by a poem.
Personal reflections & mental health
- Sadness as a tool: Inside Out was a turning point for Haley’s relationship to sadness; she emphasizes how sadness can validate joy.
- Therapy: both guests reference therapy as helpful, and Haley pokes at cultural attitudes that turn compassionless judgments toward characters (e.g., Portia).
- Turning 30: Haley describes relief after a difficult twenties, a clearer sense of self, and gratitude for the lessons past relationships taught her.
Notable anecdotes & pop‑culture moments
- White Lotus experience: describes the set as a creative bubble that was “wild” and unforgettable; positive working relationship with Jennifer Coolidge.
- Aubrey Plaza story: Haley chased opportunities to meet/observe Aubrey early in her career, later received an eerie text (a knife emoji + blood drop) she attributes to Aubrey — they later became friendly.
- Jonas Brothers cameo: Haley was in one of their music videos and still keeps a guitar pick from the shoot.
- Dating/industry insights: she articulates why some actors don’t make good long‑term romantic partners for her (exhaustion, expectations, lack of down‑home normalcy), and how she now values kindness, steadiness and good sex over “creative inspiration” from a partner.
Notable quotes (representative lines)
- “I’m sad and horny.” (Book title/theme and recurring joke.)
- On Inside Out: “The sadness is actually important and makes the happiness more genuine.”
- On reactions to her character Portia: “Portia haters need to go to therapy.” (pushback against misogynistic readings.)
- On growth: “I would not want to be anywhere else and anyone else than where and who I am right now.”
Practical takeaways / recommendations
- Read the book: I'm Sad & Horny — a candid poetry collection mixing eroticism, melancholy and humor (Haley notes it’s out now).
- If you struggle with cultural shame around sadness or complicated public personas, consider therapy or reflective practices; be open to embracing multiple emotions.
- Fans of Haley’s work should rewatch Edge of Seventeen and White Lotus Season 2 to compare her onscreen persona with the more vulnerable self she shares in this episode.
- Creatives: small encouragements from peers (Haley’s friend Asim) can catalyze big projects — keep sharing work with trusted collaborators.
Guest highlights / quick bio (from episode context)
- Haley Lu Richardson — actor known for roles in Edge of Seventeen and White Lotus (Season 2’s Portia); author of a new poetry collection exploring sadness, desire, and self‑discovery; also crochets and occasionally sells handmade drops on Etsy.
Advertisements & sponsors (mentioned in episode)
- Cozy Earth
- Frankie4 (footwear)
- Knix (period underwear)
- Mint Mobile
- Saie (makeup)
- The RealReal
- Columbia (Amaze Puff Down Jacket)
Who should listen
- Fans of Haley Lu Richardson and The White Lotus.
- Listeners who like intimate celebrity interviews that blend career talk with mental‑health honesty and creative process insights.
- People curious about short-form celebrity memoir/poetry and how artists translate private writing into public work.
Where to find the book
- The poetry collection discussed in the episode is referenced repeatedly as I'm Sad & Horny and promoted as available now.
Note: The conversation mixes humor and explicit content; the book and some poems are sexually frank and candid about mental health and relationships.