Saying Yes To Inspiration with Daily Show Co-Creator Madeleine Smithberg

“Don't let fear put you out of reach of your dreams.”

As the Thanksgiving and holiday season unfolds, it’s natural to focus on gratitude for the good things in life. But what happens when life’s transitions leave you feeling lost, isolated, or stuck in a downward slump? This week’s guest, Madeleine Smithberg, knows all about navigating those emotional valleys. As the co-creator of “The Daily Show”, an Emmy and Peabody award-winning producer, and the talent behind “Mad in the Kitchen” (among many many other shows), Madeleine has experienced the dizzying highs of professional success. Yet, she’s also faced deeply personal struggles, including challenges in her personal life and a grueling battle with cancer. Through it all, Madeleine’s unwavering creativity, sense of humor and resilience have guided her to new purpose and opportunities at every stage of life.

In this rich conversation, Erin and Madeleine explore the realities of navigating life’s highs and lows, from professional reinvention to personal resilience, and acting on inspiration to create new opportunities. Together, we dive into:

1. Pivoting, adapting to change, and exploring new passions—whether in career, family, or personal life—especially later in life.
2. The power of saying no and stepping back, even in the face of big opportunities, to prioritize personal goals and well-being.
3. Breaking barriers in male-dominated industries and the impact of women stepping into leadership roles.
4. Creating The Daily Show and the serendipitous blend of timing, talent, and collaboration that made it a success.
5. Why “having it all” is still bullsh*t and the toll it takes on women striving to do it all at the same time.
6. How focusing on the present moment can ground us in gratitude and possibility, even amid chaos and uncertainty.
7. Acting on moments of inspiration and fearlessly pursuing your dreams.
8. Getting out of your own way, taking risks, and embracing the unexpected opportunities that follow.

OUR GUEST: Madeleine Smithberg is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning producer, best known for co-creating The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. She also worked on The Jon Stewart Show, Steve Harvey’s Big Time, and Late Night with David Letterman. Through her production company, Mad Cow Productions, she has developed comedy projects for networks like HISTORY, TBS, FOX, and Showtime, and created the news franchise INFOmania for Current TV. She earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Don’t Sleep! on BET. In 2018, Madeleine shifted careers to become a Teaching Chef at Blue Ribbon Cooking and launched her YouTube channel Mad in the Kitchen. She’s currently working on her memoir “Almost Funny” and a new show for women over 50, “Lady Girls”.

Want more Madeleine? Learn more about her work on IMDb https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0810431/ and at https://madcowmedia.weebly.com/. Check out MAD in the Kitchen at https://www.madinthekitchen.com/

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