10 Best Heather McMahan Podcast Episodes to Queue Up Next

Heather McMahan has become one of the most binge-worthy voices in podcasting, with Absolutely Not earning a loyal following for its authenticity and laugh-out-loud commentary. But Heather isn’t “just funny.” ANYONE can be “funny.” She has a natural talent for blending chaos, unapologetic honesty, and Southern charm into one captivatingly hilarious platform.

We can brag about her sold-out stand-up tours, Netflix comedy specials, and even her acting roles all day. (Which we will, don’t you worry.) But ultimately, it’s Absolutely Not episodes like “We’ll Cry in June” and “Big Bold B*tches with Becky Robinson” that give fans the most unfiltered access to the personality they already adore.

Each episode of Heather’s podcast demonstrates one common theme: nobody can turn everyday situations into memorable stories quite like her. But if you’re totally new here, figuring out which episodes to start with can feel a little overwhelming. Especially because, as one of the best comedy podcasts, they’re all SO good.

That’s why we’re rounding up the best Heather McMahan podcast episodes below. Whether you’re craving interview-style energy or unhinged solo storytelling, this list has your next binge covered.

10 Best Heather McMahan Podcast Episodes to Queue Up Next

Comedian Heather McMahan isn’t one of those one-hit-wonder personalities that you see on socials and forget about after you scroll. Her highly relatable comedic storytelling helped her build an empire—one rooted in transparency and a refreshingly unfiltered perspective. Enter episodes like “Trying Consistency,” where Heather can make you laugh and reflect all at once.

So, maybe you’re on the hunt for podcasts that offer a good laugh. Or, maybe you’re looking to add to your weekly listening lineup! Whatever the case, we’re here to tell you who Heather McMahan is, what she’s known for, and which of her episodes you need to listen to first.

What Is Heather McMahan Known For?

Heather McMahan has built a seriously impressive career. Here’s a quick look at everything she’s accomplished over the last decade:

• Viral Instagram Stories and Candid Podcast Tangents. Heather first got her start on Instagram, sharing unconventionally hilarious stories about her father’s passing. This style of storytelling later transitioned to her podcast, Absolutely Not, where she created a safe space to tell-all… and bitch about the rest. (Her words, don’t worry.)
• Audience Hotline Segments. On her podcast, Heather began featuring a new segment: the Absolutely NOT-line. This official call-in voicemail invites listeners to leave messages sharing their rants, complaints, and hilarious takes for a chance to be played on the show! No topics are off limits as Heather listens, reacts, and, at times, calls listeners back. 
• Southern Family Humor and Impressions. Born and raised in Atlanta, Heather injects that Southern charm directly into her content. She frequently discusses (and impersonates!) Southern archetypes, poking fun at things like country clubs, Southern funerals, and Southern hospitality. (Take a shot for every time we said “Southern.”) Listen to “Gotta Yap a Little” for a perfect example of this energy in action!
• Chaotic Travel Stories and Luxury Vacation Commentary. Want a BTS sneak peek of what luxury vacations and cruises are like? There’s no one better to offer this perspective than Heather. With her very own Absolutely Knot Cruises, she takes listeners through what other celebrities don’t share. Think: over-demanding guests, theme nights, and luxury ship life. You can hear more in her episode “This Is Healing!”
• Celebrity Interviews That Feel Conversational. There are celeb interviews that feel curated, and celeb interviews that feel authentic. Heather McHanan offers the latter. On Absolutely Not, she features top-name guests like Jackie Shimmel, Jane Fonda, Jay Jurden, and Becky Robinson to have hilarious, genuine conversations. 

10 Best Heather McMahan Absolutely Not Podcast Episodes

F*ck Yo Couch

Live from the Dear Media studios in New York City, Heather is fresh off her appearance at “Netflix Is a Joke” fest and fully ready to unpack the chaos. In this episode, she recaps her LA show, dishes on awkward run-ins, and delivers the kind of unfiltered storytelling that makes Absolutely Not so addictive. 

And, of course, she features listener voicemails! But this time, fans call in with stories of everything from $20 underwear to reunions from Heather’s cruise crew. It’s the perfect mix of celebrity-adjacent chaos and classic audience-driven comedy.

Get Thee to Therapy with Nicole Byer

What’s better than listening to a solo Absolutely Not episode? An episode featuring comedian and Emmy-nominated host of Nailed It!, Nicole Byer. The two dive into everything from what it was like meeting in the New York comedy scene to dissociating while performing. 

Beyond that, they also have a super relatable conversation about corporate America… while laughing the entire time, naturally. (Trust us, it’s funnier than it sounds.) You can also expect a totally unhinged caller voicemail about having sex dreams with their boss. It’s one of those episodes that blends candid storytelling with nonstop comedic energy. 

Craving more humor-related content? Make sure to read our post, “What Happened to Chelsea Handler?” next! 

Well Endowed with Vivian Tu

When people hear the name “Vivian Tu,” they often think of her trailblazing presence in the personal finance space. And while we are obsessed with her brand, “Your Rich BFF,” we’re also living for her collab with Heather McMahan on Absolutely Not.

In this episode, you can learn all about online marketing traps, compulsive buying, and stick with us… W-2s. Somehow, Vivian and Heather manage to make personal finance feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation you’d have over cocktails. 

After you’re done laughing until you cry, we definitely recommend learning more about “Your Rich BFF.” Just tune into “THIS Is How You Build Generational Wealth ft. Vivian Tu” from She’s So Lucky!

Bamboozled in St. Barths

Traveling to an exotic island soon? (Or want to pretend like you are?) This episode of Absolutely Not will be right up your alley. Heather recaps her incredibly chaotic vacation in St. Barths while simultaneously exploring travel tips—and the importance of asking for itemized receipts abroad.

And, if you were ever curious about what the word “Bamboozled” actually means? She covers that, too. Because why not! This episode offers the exact over-the-top storytelling, observational comedy, and dramatic detail that turns first-time listeners into long-time fans. 

Parisian Butter Run

This episode is a direct follow-up on how Heather’s Parisian getaway with Jackie Schimmel went. And if you know Jackie Schimmel, you can probably assume the kind of stories you’ll find here. Think: adult gift decisions, never paying full price (like… ever), and Parisian wet coughs. Yeah, there’s a lot going on—but that’s what makes it so good!

After that, Heather takes a handful of voicemail calls about everything from grandparents during the holidays to bad holiday etiquette. (Looking at you, in-laws who absolutely take OVER Christmas time.) Heather does exactly what fans love her for: break down the everyday struggles in a hilarious, unfiltered way.

Craving a little extra Jackie energy in your life? Find it in “Deactivated Thrice & Thriving w/ Jackie Schimmel” from Not Skinny But Not Fat! Oh, and keep reading, because we have the perfect episode coming up.

Unwell B*tch

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to hang out with Alex Cooper and all of the housewives, Heather McMahan’s here to tell you about it. Back in Atlanta after the Unwell weekend in Vegas, Heather talks about flying to Sudafed, what Alex is like off-camera, and (finally!) meeting Erika Jayne—an RHOBH icon.

But this episode doesn’t stop there. Heather also talks about voodoo hexes, pet emergencies, and bathroom routine-related relationship dilemmas. It’s hilarious, entertaining, engaging, and the perfect listen for anyone craving peak Heather chaos.

Zoom Out with Jackie Schimmel

The moment you’ve all been waiting for: Jackie Schimmel and Heather McMahan in the same setting. It’s not just one of Heather’s best episodes because the two are insanely hilarious—they’re also super close. So, it genuinely just feels like you’re getting a front-row seat to the kind of effortless chemistry that only two best friends with zero filter can deliver. 

Together, they talk about the importance of zooming out, berating each other’s husbands, and offering unsolicited kindness to strangers. And, of course, in true best friend fashion, Heather gives Jackie a hard time for skipping her Absolutely Knot cruise. It’s an episode that we’ll never stop re-listening to.

Ep. 1 Jennifer Love Hewitt: We Know What She Did Last Summer

We’re throwing it alllll the way back to a 2019 episode, because this one’s good. Heather invites on the one, the only, Jennifer Love Hewitt. Or, as she likes to call her, her husband’s “biggest crush of all time.” Of course, the episode is effortlessly hilarious. But it’s also super vulnerable. 

Jennifer Love Hewitt and Heather McMahan get deep about themes like love, grief, family, and the pain of Hollywood. Plus, it offers the “nostalgia I didn’t know I needed” feeling, as the two talk about JLove’s role in the hit series, 9-1-1. It’s SO good.

Hope and a Prayer

Long-time fans of Absolutely Not LOVE Robin content, and this episode shows you exactly why. Heather unpacks a wildly eventful stretch of her life living with her mom with her signature mix of over-explaining, emotional honesty, and laugh-out-loud commentary. And, to be fair, it’s the little things that Heather’s SO good at making funny. 

Beyond this, the episode reminds you exactly why her solo content is sooo good. It’s less polished production, more catching up with your funniest friend. 

In Her Color Palette with Kelsey Cook

In this episode, Heather invites both a friend and a stand-up comedian. Kelsy Cook, to the studio. The two bond over hilariously random topics—survival jobs, millennial versus boomer behavior, and Crumbl cookie discourse—in a way that makes you reconsider your previous beliefs. 

And by that, we mean… WHO else could create a hilariously engaging conversation about SURVIVAL jobs? It’s definitely not your traditional, formal interview. But that’s exactly why we’re tuning in! 

Who Is Heather McMahan?

Heather McMahan is a comedian, actress, podcast host, and touring performer best known for her storytelling-based humor and highly engaged online audience. But her story didn’t begin by hitting up local open-mic nights and telling jokes from a script. Instead, Heather turned personal grief, life’s craziest moments, and her everyday struggles into something people could laugh with her at.

It all began when Heather’s father passed unexpectedly following a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2015. While some people turn to books about grief, Heather turned to comedy. She began sharing vulnerable yet hilarious stories on Instagram—an outlet that helped her cope with her loss while connecting with an audience that deeply resonated with her honesty.

Coining this niche as “Dead Dad Club content,” Heather began sharing stories about her dad’s passing. Think: being “too large” for a standard casket, his reaction when a preacher came over to pray for him, and nostalgic childhood memories that reflected his personality. 

Some may call it unconventional, we call it genius. This outlet ultimately allowed Heather to realize that it wasn’t just her dad’s memory she was sharing—it was his style of stand-up humor and comedic timing. And through this, something beautiful was born: the idea that honoring her father could look a lot like becoming the kind of hilarious storyteller he would have adored. 

While Heather got her start on Instagram, her reach extended far beyond that. Her willingness to transcend the norm and embrace her humor-driven personality is what fostered a massive, loyal community. One that would follow her to her hit Dear Media podcast, Absolutely Not, to appearances across television and film, to sold-out nationwide stand-up tours, and to her successful comedy specials.

Heather McMahan is the perfect example of turning hardship, grief, and heartbreak into connection, comedy, and undeniable success.

You can always count on Heather McMahan and Absolutely Not to legitimately make you laugh until you cry—regardless of which episode you’re tuned into. Sometimes, she’s sharing wild personal stories and ranting about things we ALL secretly hate. Other times, she’s offering a joyful take on life’s craziest moments, which we could all use to listen to. But ultimately, Heather somehow makes chaos feel like a shared experience we’re all lucky enough to laugh through together.

Looking to add even more binge-worthy listens to your line-up? Head to Dear Media, where our ever-growing lineup of Dear Media podcast hosts always has something new to queue up. And, of course, you can’t miss out on Dear Media IRL—our live events where we bring your favorite hosts to a city near you. Trust us, you won’t want to miss out on these conversations.