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[0:00] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Today on Support for This Podcast. I kid you not, he gives off light. I’m not saying that to be poetic. He shines. Lights come out of him, and parts of me were healed. Ever wonder what Jon Hamm eats for breakfast? Dr. Miriam LaCroix doesn't have to. She knows Jon Hamm. We'll hear all about their meet-cute and how she combines exercise with social activism. It's weird, like instead of using our own body weight, we'll use like vegetation or something real. Join us, won't you? I'm Emily Amy Lauren Becca, and this is Support for This Podcast.

[0:54] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Oh, my pleasure. We are thrilled to have you.

[0:57] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: I'm thrilled to be here. When and how did you meet Jon Hamm?

[1:01] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Oh my gosh, what a day. Well, I was on the crosstown bus, and normally I just walk across the park. I live on the west side of Manhattan, New York City. Of course. Not that I'm snobby about it, but you know, it's a great place to live, a lot of culture. For now.

[1:20] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: For now, right.

[1:21] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: That's true. So I was taking the bus, the 81st Street crosstown bus to this class I like to take. And normally I take class on the west side, but there was a teacher that I just, you know, some of those teachers that just have that voice. Or they'll do that thing where they say like 10 reps left, and then they start talking to someone, giving them corrections, and you're thinking, Do you remember what number you're on? So that teacher was teaching, so I said, I'm not taking her class. I'm gonna go take the class on the east side. It's kind of like part workout, part social responsibility. It's weird, like instead of using our own body weight, we'll use like vegetation or something real, you know what I mean? So it's a way of connecting. So you're lifting eggplants, for example, right? So then it's stuff that we've harvested, and then we cook it afterwards, and it's a really nice kind of instead of religion.

[2:22] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: When and how did you meet Jon Hamm?

[2:25] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Um, that placed me at the scene of the crime, as it were, on the crosstown. What a crime.

[2:30] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: I know.

[2:34] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Oh, please arrest me, arrest me. So we're stuck for a long time at the corner of Central Park West and 81st Street. And there's like this huge hoopla, and it looks like they're shooting something, you know, a television show. So of course, me and all the 80-year-olds are like, What are they shooting? It's so exciting, you know. That's one of the perks of living where we get to live, you know, we get to see the art really from the art. You know, Cleveland or some subpar city like that.

[3:07] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: No, no, right.

[3:07] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: And subpar isn't exactly the term I would use. I would just say like, have you been?

[3:12] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: No.

[3:13] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Well, yeah. I see this guy like making a big to-do at the food station. And I'm staring out the window. My seat partner, Maureen, turns out her name is, is looking out the window too, and lo and behold, it's Jon Hamm. And at this point now there's just like this sort of foggy sheen between us and him, and it's becoming all the more romantic and quizzical and chimerical, if you will. Like, who is that guy? Who is, as it happens, just sort of having like this temper tantrum? And so I thought, I don't know what kind of person he is. I don't know if he's maybe the kind of, you know, has to stay in character. Which in my very small experience doing sort of community theater growing up, it was really, I mean, I would understand if he wanted to stay in character because that's what I was taught to do by my mentors when we did Annie.

[4:18] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Were you Miss Hannigan?

[4:21] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: No. Oh, but thank you so much for thinking that I was. No, I was Pepper actually. Which was quite a challenge actually for a girl of fifteen, you know, to pull that off, actually.

[4:34] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Right.

[4:35] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Is Pepper is the man that she goes to live with?

[4:41] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: No, I believe that's Daddy Warbucks.

[4:45] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: And then the next thing I know, the doors open and onto the bus walks Don Draper. What a thrill. You live for that. You spend your whole life preparing, you know, wondering what you're gonna do. So he sits down and he starts stomping his feet and talking to himself and he's saying something about like eggs or mushrooms or peppers and omelets, and it turns out they didn't have the ingredients for the omelet he wanted.

[5:14] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Oh.

[5:14] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Yeah. Um, so he quit. He quit. He was working on a film, and at that moment, apparently he just said, It's too much. And he quit.

[5:25] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Did he sit towards the front or the back of the bus?

[5:27] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: He sat right by the front.

[5:29] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Oh.

[5:29] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Right by the front. I know. It's odd. You would think he would want to sort of mingle in the back and hide. But I think he was really agitated and looking to maybe jump off while the bus was moving. It seemed like that. But then once we sort of started interacting, I think he calmed down a bit.

[5:52] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Lucky there weren't elderly people taking those seats in the front.

[5:56] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: No, there were. There were. He asked them to please give up their seats. And they did. They were incre—people think New Yorkers are so rude, but we are the most generous. And so there was a man in a wheelchair who unstrapped himself and was rolling.

[6:12] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Okay, so this is what a wild story.

[6:15] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Wild. There's a man rolling. Yeah. Jon Hamm's in the front. Did you approach him?

[6:20] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Well, so he took the man's seat and I was sitting right next to him. No, it was like, well, Maureen and I were facing front and then he was sitting on the side, one of those seats that are reserved for elderly or disabled. Yes, yes. And so I was on the window, so I was right next to him. He was on that furthest elderly disabled seat. So that, no, as I had predicted or sort of secreted, he asked me what I was listening to on my iPod.

[6:51] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Amazing.

[6:53] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Yes, and I just, you know, at first I was like, should I make something up? Should I say I'm listening to, I don't know, classical music or hip-hop? Because to look at me, I mean, I look sort of very mild-mannered and I wanted to impress him. Sure, you know, and I wondered what would he listen to. But he beat me to it. And he saw that I was listening to "Around Here," and he said that's his favorite song.

[7:21] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: My heart just skipped a beat.

[7:23] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: I can't even imagine how you are feeling.

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[8:37] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: In that moment, you're seeing Jon Hamm on the bus. And do you realize in the moment that he is the most attractive person you've ever met or will meet? Or did you have to take a second and say, Wow, wow, wow?

[8:52] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: I kid you not. He gives off light. I'm not saying that to be poetic. He shines. Lights come out of him, and parts of me were healed. Yeah, I've got a modern shaman.

[9:06] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Yeah, which is actually sham. Do you get the impression that he feels limited by his beauty?

[9:15] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Oh my God, that's what I got from the experience. How long was he on the bus with you?

[9:21] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Oh, about, well, until we got across to the museum, so across the entire park. So that's maybe twenty minutes?

[9:27] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Well, probably twelve actually, but that's, I mean, twelve minutes is twelve minutes more than I've ever had with—no, yeah, and right, they were profound minutes.

[9:41] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Yes. Now what does he smell like?

[9:44] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: I think our listeners would love to know that.

[9:47] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Yeah.

[9:47] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Juicy fruit. Oh yeah, I just got in and I was like, you know, and juicy fruit.

[9:55] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Is there any better smell?

[9:57] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: No.

[9:57] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Yeah.

[9:58] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: What can you share with us? Do you think was he super excited when he booked Mad Men?

[10:04] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: This was before he was a star, remember?

[10:07] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Right.

[10:07] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: If you can even imagine such a time.

[10:10] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: I don't want to go back there.

[10:12] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: I think that he probably felt like, how am I gonna live up to this? You know, this is, we're gonna have to see a whole arc. We're gonna have to see me with the dog tags. We're gonna have to see me with Bets, me with, um, I can't remember any of the other women, but do you think he thought it was funny how high-waisted the pants were?

[10:34] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Well, I think he thought it was funny because he's got a great sense of humor. Because once he calmed down on the bus, he was cracking jokes the whole way across Central Park.

[10:45] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Now, it is pretty well known that Jon Hamm was an improv teacher at Ellie Kemper's high school in St. Louis. Do you think that he knew that she was going to be a big success? Ellie Kemper, um, for our listeners, is the star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

[11:00] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: I think he did. I think he probably was a little too hard on her just because he knew she could be more than just a pretty face, you know. I think he was exacting. I only know going back to that Annie experience. She did say, "I was in ninth grade and he taught the improv section of my theater class and everyone loved him." End quote. I think it's interesting. I think there's a parallel. I think he probably sensed that in me kind of need to be a mentor, and I think he probably did the same for her.

[11:28] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Mm-hmm.

[11:29] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: And that's helpful in the career you're in, which is...

[11:29] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Oh, I'm an OBGYN.

[11:35] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Oh, that's beautiful.

[11:35] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Yeah, it's life, you know. Do you think he likes brunettes?

[11:39] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: No.

[11:40] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Um, oh, I no.

[11:42] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Okay. Well, because I don't care because I'm married and I'm a brunette, but I just figured I'd ask you.

[11:47] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: No, I suspect he doesn't. Let's move on.

[11:49] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Okay. Now, this is sensitive, and maybe he wouldn't want you to discuss it, but I think it's pretty relevant given what we've been talking about already today. And I think our listeners would find it really important. How does he feel about the hamaconda incident?

[12:05] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: You know, I think he feels limited by it. I think, again, it's not fair to put him in this box, in this, again, which is a big box.

[12:14] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: A large box.

[12:15] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Yes. Well, a large or a snake tank or whatever you keep anacondas in. But I think he's more than that, and he doesn't want to be seen as just that. Why should he be bound and beholden to societal norms that dictate that guys have to wear underwear or else we have to discuss the size of their phallus? I think it's unfair. Especially as someone, um, as a straight, white, incredibly handsome man in America who has personified, um, you know, American masculinity, he must feel so put upon.

[12:51] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: So put upon by society.

[12:53] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: So put upon. It's hard. It's hard. Like, can't I go to my CrossFit class? I'm being him right now, without underwear and not worry about everyone, you know, staring at me. Um, I just think he's more than that.

[13:11] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Did he, do you know if he sought comfort from Christina Hendricks during that time? Because I know that she has had similar experiences with being objectified.

[13:21] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Yes. Well, I will say she was able to find solace in his, let's be honest, manly beautiful arms. And, um, right. She, I think they spoke a lot about the size of her breasts and the size of his, you know, I don't want to say penis because I don't want to limit him to anatomical terms. I think in his case, it's probably more than that. You know, I know light comes off of his head and his face and his hair. I can only, it's getting warm in here.

[13:55] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Emma, let's move on.

[13:57] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: That's your name, right, Emma?

[13:58] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: No.

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[15:20] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Um, did he like working with Ben Affleck in The Town?

[15:25] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: No. They hated each other.

[15:28] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Oh.

[15:29] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Yeah.

[15:30] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Yeah.

[15:30] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: I don't know the details about that. And that came up in those 12 minutes.

[15:37] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Mm-hmm.

[15:37] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Yeah.

[15:38] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Is Jon Hamm a foodie? I know you mentioned the omelet experience, but does that, is that indicative of the discerning nature of all of his food choices?

[15:49] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Look, when your name is Hamm, you're, it's a given. Anyway, you slice it.

[15:52] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Oh my god.

[15:56] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: I mean, there's a reason. There's a reason. This is a calling.

[16:00] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: This is a calling what you do.

[16:01] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Stop it. It's the same way I think about delivering life into the world. But, um, everyone has their purpose. Everyone has their purpose.

[16:10] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: And they're all equally important.

[16:11] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: I don't agree with that. I'm just gonna ask you some rapid-fire questions here.

[16:17] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Sure.

[16:17] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: What do you think Jon Hamm's favorite letter is?

[16:21] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: L.

[16:22] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Absolutely L. For love or I just know that it would be L.

[16:26] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Oh.

[16:27] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: What's his favorite girl group?

[16:29] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Well, the Spice Girls, obviously. Again, if we're bringing back the food theme.

[16:34] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Oh.

[16:34] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Yeah. I would have thought he was more of a Danity Kane man.

[16:37] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Oh, well, I don't know, but remember, he's not, you know, he's not 22.

[16:43] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: I'm not either.

[16:47] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Favorite color?

[16:48] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Turquoise.

[16:49] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Favorite number.

[16:51] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: 17.

[16:51] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Favorite day of the week.

[16:53] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Wednesday.

[16:53] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Favorite season.

[16:55] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Fall. Now, here's a fun question. It's called Shag, Marry, Kill.

[17:00] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Oh, I love that game.

[17:02] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: And it would be with you, me, and our audio engineer, Ben, Michael, Sam, Matt, Mark.

[17:08] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Oh.

[17:09] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: So would Jon Hamm shag, marry, kill?

[17:13] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Oh. Um. Well, I think it would kill you.

[17:19] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Only because I think the intrusion into his privacy, I think is a little aggressive.

[17:27] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Sure. You know.

[17:29] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: I would argue your complicity in that might make you number one on the list.

[17:33] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: It's a great point, except for the fact that we did share that moment on the bus, and that is, we can't unring that bell.

[17:43] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: You're right.

[17:43] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: You know. So I think, I guess he would marry me. And I think he would shag, um, Ben, Mark, Michael, Ben, Michael.

[17:55] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Sam, Matt, Mark. So having spent those precious twelve minutes with, uh, television and film's Jon Hamm, what do you think was the best piece of advice that he gave you?

[18:04] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Oh wow. Um, I'd say probably, um, he told me to get a new MetroCard. I think that really says it all about him. Like, I think he's all about use that MetroCard, you know, and whatever that means to you.

[18:18] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Sure. And especially for him as an actor, um, to be willing to talk to a doctor who, uh, what is it you do? You bring life into the world.

[18:29] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: I mean, right, exactly. So for him to be able to talk to you is a real privilege and speaks to his humanity.

[18:36] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: Right. I mean, I don't think what I do is so unimportant, but I do think...

[18:36] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: Yeah, but you're not starring on Mad Men for six seasons. I mean, how many Emmys have you won?

[18:46] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: That is true. I mean, I, we can get into the details.

[18:49] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: No, what you, no, that's a great point. I mean, we could get into the details of where I received my training.

[18:54] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: That's all the time we have. Thank you so much for joining us.

[18:57] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: I'm, I feel so grateful that I get the opportunity to go around the city and the country, actually have a couple dates coming up to speak about this.

[19:06] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: That's great. Well, thank you so much.

[19:07] Dr. Miriam LaCroix: My pleasure. Thank you.

[19:10] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: To read Dr. Miriam LaCroix's most recent Zocdoc reviews, or to see clips from her 1991 performance as Pepper in the Yonkers Community Theater production of Annie, go to our website at www.supportforthispodcast.com/extras.

[19:26] Emily Amy Lauren Becca: I'm your host, Emily Amy Lauren Becca. Thanks for listening. And as always, for supporting Support For This Podcast.