Retta on Playing an Iconic Character & Still Having a Backup Plan

We are thrilled to welcome Retta to Work Friends today. The actor, HGTV host, and one-half of the team who brought us “treat yo self ” joins Sali to share how a prospective medical student and a somewhat reluctant stand-up comedian found herself cast on one of the most beloved sitcoms in history.

Retta is best known for her portrayal of Donna Meagle in all seven seasons of Parks and Recreation, and since the hit show wrapped, she continues to captivate with roles in Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, Good Girls, and in seven seasons of HGTV’s Ugliest House in America and its spinoff Scariest House in America.

We start all the way at the beginning, and get into some of Retta’s best stories along the way, including:

• the very first time she ever did stand up (she crushed it!), and the second (she bombed!).
• how she planned her path to med school and then abandoned it....yet why she refuses to throw away her MCAT books.
• the real reason she thinks she was cast as Donna on Parks and Rec.
• how she learned to be her authentic, unfiltered self as the host of Ugliest House in America.
• and, what she really thinks when someone quotes “treat yo self” to her.

For more Retta, be sure to check out the newest season of Ugliest House in America, now streaming on HBO Max and discovery+ .

On Sali: Argent Chelsea Blazer, Fine Polo, and Straight Leg Trouser

Hosted by Sali Christeson @salichristeson

Produced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbit

Edited by Ryan Woldoff @c__biz

Theme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyema

Recorded at Podstream Studio @podstreamstudio

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