Lindsay Shookus on 20 years with SNL, motherhood & reinventing yourself

She finally made it to her office on the 17th floor of Rockefeller Plaza, ready to take a pump break and her phone rings: 

She was needed back on set after Kanye West dropped a slew of expletives during his rehearsal…which was strictly forbidden on live television.

This story sums up the wild duality of Lindsay Shookus’s life as a Saturday Night Live producer and new mother after she had a child.

Lindsay spent two decades at the helm of one of the most iconic shows in TV history, navigating life as a working mother with a high-stakes role in the world of live television.

Lindsay’s career is packed with moments like this - but there’s so much more to her story.

In today’s episode, Lindsay joins us to share what it was like becoming a mother while her career as an SNL producer took off. 

She shares the lessons she learned on vulnerability, the leap she took after leaving SNL, and how she’s now building spaces for women to support each other. 

As an added bonus, she tells a few other stories about her celebrity encounters that made her job quite interesting.

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Allison: Hi, Lindsay. Thank you so much for joining me here today.

Lindsay: I'm so excited, thanks for having me!

Allison: This is gonna be so hard to fit in all of the things that I wanna fit in in the next 30 minutes. So I'm gonna dive right into it. There's so much that you have done throughout your career as a mother, your sort of post SNL career, but I wanna actually rewind the clock a little bit and start with you sort of setting the scene around, you started your career at SNL, you were there for 20 years. What was it like in the earliest days? What exactly is a producer at SNL?

Lindsay: Well, I want to be very clear I didn't start as a producer. I started as an assistant to a producer when I was 22. I always laugh like I moved to New York without a job and five weeks later I started as an assistant at SNL. So to me, the beginning was just a little bit like, how is this a job? Like, why didn't anyone tell me you could aim for this? Cause it really was, I always say like a little bit of luck and a little bit of drive that landed me there.

So I just, you know, the first couple of years I was just taking it in and really trying to like learn, know, like understand what it is. And I always say like, I was a job collector as an assistant. Like there had been a lot of people who were in my department who had been there for a long time and they were kind of getting sick of some of the younger stuff, the stuff that like, you know, show up at a shoot upstate at 6 a.m. And I was like, I'll do it, I'll do it, I'll do it. So I just kept collecting jobs nobody wanted. 

And I had a boss who believed in me, she kind of saw something special in me. And so yeah, I mean, I was just learning. And I also started in a time when it was like Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Jimmy Fallon, Tracy Morgan, Will Ferrell had just left. So I had these strong women that I was kind of coming up underneath. I mean, I just worked constantly. And I always laugh because I lived on 50th Street so I literally just walked one block back and forth every single day and that's about it.

Allison: And did you get involved in 30 Rock at that same period of time or was that after you got promoted to producer? Because at some point you were a producer on 30 Rock as well, right?

Lindsay: Yeah, but I'm realizing I did not answer your question about what a producer is. I got involved with 30 Rock because of Alec Baldwin. Alec Baldwin was going to that show and Alec and I had a nice relationship. And so I kind of went over there to kind of start just being someone who could help him. Cause it was such a demanding job. 

And then I kind of just, again, job collected. I was like, I can help with the photo shoots and the publicity and figuring out what kind of special guest stars we're gonna bring in. So it was, again, a little bit of a fluke of just having that nice relationship with Alec that led me to 30 Rock. 

Again, going back to the producer thing, there are so many different kinds of producers. You can be in the finances, you can be a creative writer producer, you can be a showrunner who really is based in creativity. 

I was a talent producer, so that was really about finding the hosts, finding the musical guests, really having my finger on the pulse of what was coming out, what were the TV shows, what were the films, what albums. I had an incredible team that helped me, because one person can't watch it all, and then also in charge of finding new cast members on the show.

Allison: As you're saying all of this, even before you directly answered the question, I'm like, okay, so producers doing everything, everything under the sun. Did you have a normal work week? Like what were your hours?

Lindsay: I mean, not normal for most people. What I would say is normal for us was like, every week we'd have a new host. So that person made each week different, but I always knew what a Monday was gonna be like, because we had a very distinct schedule. So Tuesdays were writing nights. I would be at work late. Wednesdays were read-throughs. We'd read about 45 sketches and try to figure out what was gonna be in the show. I'd be there around 10 or 11 p.m. Friday nights were late. So I kind of always knew.

If I was trying, I always joked about when I was dating post-divorce, I would be like Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. was the time I could go out. It was like trying to find someone who wanted to go out at 10. Meet me for a drink at 10. They'd be like, I'm asleep. So not normal, but it was the only thing I knew. My entire adult life, I was doing that schedule. So I kind of just created my life around that schedule.

Allison: Yeah, right. And back then pre-kids, pre-marriage, what did you envision for your long-term career trajectory?

Lindsay: You know, I don't know if I ever really stopped to think about it. I just like, it's like I got on the wheel and I was just like, here I go, here I go. You know, and I just kept going and it really worked out for me. And so I kind of was just like, work hard, build great relationships, stay on board. I knew I had a great job in New York City. I constantly was told how cool my job was, right? 

And so I just kind of got on board and then just worked my butt off to stay on it. And then I would do specials and all these other things. So I wasn't ever like, well, the future is like, I'm gonna create my own company and create seven different shows. I just was kind of like, be present, try and do this job. Once I became a mom, that was enough of a like, those two things combined. Who knows where it's going?

Allison: Right. I was gonna ask in those earliest days, not even earliest, but I guess pre-becoming a mother, to what do you attribute your success at work in that phase of life?

Lindsay: Yeah, I think beyond just working hard, I would say I was good at, and I didn't know this, but I was good at being able to assess someone's needs. Like a host would come in on Monday. I was a good listener. I was good at being able to really quickly build something with them and kind of figure out what they needed. I once heard a CEO say, listen with more than your ears.

Like I was able to kind of like, figure out what they needed and be able to be a bit of a chameleon to like give that to them. Cause don't forget when hosts will come in on Monday, you know, even though it could be the biggest star…anyone, it could be Ariana Grande, huge star, but like she's still a human being who has fears and needs and wants to be happy and wants to be good. And so, you you have to treat them like they're human beings. 

And I kind of just had a knack for like, building nice relationships with people. And so I'd really say that building trust, doing that quickly, working hard and being able to navigate the social part of SNL, which was like a huge part of the job.

Allison: And then you found out you were pregnant. Tell me about that.

Lindsay: Yes. Well, I found out I was pregnant and it wasn't necessarily a planned pregnancy. And I mean, I was married, I knew I wanted a kid, but it wasn't really a thought through thing. And at the time I was pretty high up in my department, but I wasn't yet a producer. And five or six days later, the woman who was running the talent department called me and she was like, Hey, I'm leaving and you're going to be in charge.

And the double whammy of those two things next to each other was like both two dreams. Like, my God, I want to be a mom and my God, I want to run this department and show everyone I can do it. But the combination of the two next to each other seemed so overwhelming to me. Like, how can you prove yourself in this position when you know, and nobody else does, that you are going to be having a baby in eight and a half months?

A lot of tears. A lot of pretending that I wasn't pregnant. I waited a really long time to tell anyone because I was, frankly, I was just kind of scared. I was scared of what people would think or if they thought I wouldn't…I wanted to prove myself in the job before people knew. So I really waited. I waited, I think I was like 21 weeks before I was like, hey, I wasn't just carrying a purse in front of my stomach for the past six weeks for no reason.

Allison: Mhm, so you had a good eight months to prove yourself before actually stepping away from parental leave. Do you feel that you were able to do that? And how did you strategize that time?

Lindsay: I mean first of all, I worked on my due date. I worked a 15-hour day in 4-inch heels until one in the morning on my due date. So no one could say I wasn't working hard. I remember even when I was 38 weeks, Adam Levine hosted and I remember being at the party until four in the morning, 38 weeks pregnant. So I worked.

Allison: My gosh. Hopefully not in 4-inch heels.

Lindsay: I think I would change, but by the way, I rocked a dress and a heel like for the show every Saturday. I think I just, you know, took advantage of the fact that I didn't have a child yet. I had a good pregnancy, I felt good. You know, I got myself out there. I tried to learn the job. I really was trying to just gather as much information as I could and I hired a great assistant and that was kind of it, you know? And then also like I did have those 10 years prior behind me. I had built up some street cred, as we might say.

Allison: Good for you. Right. This is gonna sound like a weird question, and I mean this in the best of ways, but did you take advantage of your pregnancy at all in a way that you were able to channel it into something that was super positive at work, whether it's building relationships faster or accelerating certain milestones?

Lindsay: That's a great question. I don't think so, because I feel like I was, I wasn't hiding it. Once I told people I wasn't wearing baggy clothes, like I was like, I was definitely trying to look cute. Like I wanted to be like, I can do this. I can rock this job. But I kind of wanted it to fade into the background. I didn't want to be like, I just didn't want to have that be the thing. 

I will say post motherhood, I definitely use it as a tool for building great relationships with other parents, other moms. That really helps build connection. Because you could have somebody who is so different from you, you could have never had anything else in common, but you're both moms. It gives you a common ground of some sort. So I would say I used it more after the fact, although I only took five and a half weeks off after I had my daughter. And so that was a blur. That time of my life.

Allison: Yeah, tell me more about that. Were you the first producer ever to take parental leave? Was this like uncharted territory? And so you had to sort of define that?

Lindsay: No, there were a few others, but there wasn't a well-defined policy. Honestly, in hindsight, I look back on that and that was a mistake. I thought I was being brave and I was showing people that I worked hard. I wasn't thinking about how it showed other people who worked underneath me that you couldn't take leave. 

Although I don't think we even had, we definitely didn't have a 12 week policy. I think we maybe had, at the time I think it was like a 6-week disability policy through NBC.

But I wasn't showing people that you should go home and rest. And I don't love that in hindsight, I would change that. But yeah, I think I was just doing the best I could. I just was like, it felt right. And so I came back as soon as I could. I only missed three shows. 

And I do remember coming back and and being at dinner, Melissa McCarthy was the first host back and she's just the greatest. ‍

Allison: I was gonna ask if you remember who the first host was.

Lindsay: My God. I could tell you the next…I'm like Rain Man. I could tell you everybody. Melissa McCarthy was the first host back and I loved Melissa. And I remember sitting, we always used to go to dinner every Tuesday night. We would have the same restaurant. It's today, Tuesday, yeah. So by the way, I bet they're at the same restaurant tonight. 

And I remember sitting next to her talking to her and I was like, yeah, I'm good at this. And this feels healing. Like I have another part of me that's not just the person who has been breastfeeding and pumping and formula feeding and breastfeeding and pumping and formula feeding and losing her coffee. Like, I'm more than that. And that was really a healing moment for me to be reminded.

Allison: Yeah. And I hear that from so many people that we work with that coming back to work, it's oftentimes such a mixed bag because you're feeling exhausted, maybe guilty, maybe missing the child, but also like so relieved to do something you're really good at that you know what to do versus at home when you're like, I have no idea what's going on or what I'm supposed to do. 

So you come back to work and within two years or maybe I guess, nearly exactly two years later, you win your first Emmy. Tell me about how that entire once you are a mother experience in your career, how did motherhood change that career? Did your ambition change? Did the way you worked change?

Lindsay: No, no, my ambition definitely didn't change. I didn't have time to sit around. Like that was the part of my life that there was so much sitting around at SNL and I was just like, I had to be so focused on like, I'd go to my assistant and I'd be like, what do I have to do? Because I was always trying to relieve a nanny. I was always running late from something. So I became really efficient.

I do remember having a moment, if I'm totally honest, of feeling a little resentful that motherhood was supposed to change my life and how much it changes mom's lives and not as much as the dad's. I mean, I worked through it and my co-parent, my daughter's father is an amazing, amazing partner in that. But still, it's just like no matter what, I remember being like, this is, I didn't clock that in my 20s. And so I was a little surprised. I was a little surprised by that.

Allison: Say more about that resentment. Do you mean like it was something that you sensed from society or that you felt like so much of the emotional labor was falling on you?

Lindsay: I think I was just like, okay, so let's start from the idea of like, you carry a baby. Like you literally carry a baby and your body gets completely, it just changes, right? Like I didn't even process the fact of how much that is, you know, and like how, just in how hard it is afterwards. You know, like what I, like what my body was still healing from when I went back to work and just, that there's a perception.

I felt no matter how people perceive it, and I think it's obviously changing in society, but I felt a little bit of shame for being a mom. You know, like I gotta prove that I'm cool. I gotta lose the baby weight. I gotta be back out there showing everyone that I'm still at it. You know, like I felt like this thing that I'm sure my ex-husband didn't think he had to do.

I can look in the mirror and say that was probably something I told myself too. I'm part of the problem, but I just remember feeling, there was a chip, a little chip where I was like, this isn't what I thought. I loved it. I loved being a mom, but I was like, this is, I didn't expect to have that, like the difference between being a woman and a man with parenthood.

Allison: Yeah, it's interesting to hear you talk about it because it sounds very similar to some of the feelings I had, but maybe slightly different because of the industry. Like I felt very resentful that I worked in tech at the time. And it was more like traditional motherhood bias, I felt. And I have no idea whether there was a bias, but I felt that I've been gone for three months, but all these other dads didn't take that time or split up the time, and nobody looks at them and asks, can she still hack it? 

And I deeply resonate with the way that you described, like I was such a workaholic and I believed that was the key to my success and then I could not work that way when I returned. And so I struggled with a lot of that lack of confidence. And I think it's so interesting when you see, and I know you have one child, we see a lot of people say when I had my second child, I didn't question myself because I knew like this is, you know, and that there's a lot of societal things that go on with this. So anyway, it's just so interesting to hear you talk about that.

Lindsay: I mean, I remember distinctly like, there was a show where Kanye West was a musical guest and it was the dress rehearsal. And, you know, I was pumping and I had terrible breastfeeding issues. But I was determined, you know, someone said like, tried to make breastfeeding into like an Olympic sport, you know, or like, I just give up, like, it's okay. But I was like, no, I will not. And so I had that, I had the hospital grade pump. I just carried it with me everywhere.

And I remember Kanye West was the musical guest and he was going on to do the dress rehearsal performance. So normally, during a performance, how much can go wrong? I went up to my 17th floor office, brought my pump. I was like, okay, I can pump. And I turned the feed on and I'm watching it. And it's like, Kanye just did a slew of expletives.And I just remember sitting there being like, the phone's about to ring. I'm gonna get a call. And it was just like three, two, one.  And I was like, mm-hmm. I'm slowly unhooking, I'm like, uh-huh, yep, I will be right there. I will be right there, you know? And just like that, you know? Like how much goes into that? 

It's so, it's just harder than you realize. Even just carrying the bag around. You're carrying an emotional bag and you're actually carrying a literal bag.

Allison: Right, filled with milk that you gotta get in the fridge ASAP. My gosh. So let's talk about, you're at, well, actually I have one question. I'm curious about the hosts, if there were any specific hosts, you don't have to name names, but if you have stories about that sort of parenthood and how that shifted your perspective with them, or if there was anything that you learned from any of the hosts around parenthood. Just because I imagine once you became a mother, you're now more aware of that role. And did you start to see the hosts who were parents in a different way and interact with them in a very different way?

Lindsay: I would say beyond just having an avenue for more connection, I think it kind of broke me down a little bit. It made me more vulnerable. Up until that point, I think I was really always trying to keep it together. Be cool, be calm. Don't let them see you sweat. Be perfect. Let people think you're perfect, even though nobody did. And then after, there was just so much…I just felt all this pressure that it eventually cracked me and I just, started being, I think just because I didn't have, it's like if you don't have enough, if you have no place to go, you just start to crack and I just, it really changed me.

And so I started being more vulnerable. I started letting people in more. I started talking about my own things, more stress. I'm not having my best day. I'm feeling a lot of fear because of, you know, being a first time mom. And then that ended up helping me build more layered relationships. I think, you know, obviously I think having the connection of a parent is always, you get it. 

It's funny, I met a woman in my lobby. I live in a huge building and we have a friend in common and she has an 18-month old. And it was just like, could instantly, was like, she was carrying a huge bucket of diapers on her, and she's got the stroller and the baby's crying. And I just was like, can I carry this? Let me carry the diapers. 

And I was like, girl, I remember. I remember the days where you're just like, they're endless. And so you just remember it. And every parent remembers it. So I found it just to be a bonus. A bonus for connecting with people. All types of people. I mean, Elon Musk has kids. No matter who it is, if they have a child, you just have a different thing. You have something else to ask about.‍

Allison: Right, yeah. So you left SNL in 2022. What was that decision making process like for you?

‍Lindsay: I mean, as you can imagine, it was wild because I had been there my entire adult life. I was 22 when I started. I left when I was 42. So it was incredibly scary. I mean, thinking back, I was just like, it was my whole family, my friends. You know, when I got married to my ex, my ex was from SNL. I met him on SNL. And so we had like 70 people from SNL at our wedding. Like it was just everything about my life was SNL. So I was really scared. And I would say it was a wobbly process. It wasn't like I was just like, everything's great, I'm ready. ‍

Allison: And you didn't know what was coming next, right? Like you specifically took a beat to figure out what am I gonna do?

Lindsay: No. I took a leap and a beat. And you know what, I have to tell you, one of my dear friends said this to me, I don't know, maybe two years ago, and I really believe it now, which is – one of my dear friends said to me, you don't know where it's all headed. And like, who knows what you could be doing in five years. And instead of that being scary, it's like a flipping of the switch of like, how exciting is that? It could be anything.

And what I have found since I left is that, first of all, I believe in the idea of goodness out, goodness back. My life has transformed and become so just incredibly rewarding. I'm doing so many things I love, so many different things. And there's some things I'm doing now that if you would have told me two years ago, I would have been like, there's no way. There's no way that would be there. And so I stand by that idea of when you shoulders back, palms up, you know, I have a friend who says, go where there's light and heat. The world is your oyster. So I believe there's a lot of things that could happen in the next five years and it used to scare me. And now I'm like, how lucky am I? It's exciting.

Allison: Say more about what you're working on now, because I want to make sure we reserve enough time to talk about that, because it's so cool.

Lindsay: Well, do you have seven days? Because my mother would say I'm doing too many things. I have kind of picked up a very portfolio lifestyle, I guess I would say. Some of the main things I'm doing, I'm working on a documentary, which isn't announced yet, so I won't talk about it. But we're doing a sports documentary. I have my women's community, Women Work F*cking Hard.

And then I'm doing so much public speaking. I just created this business. It's something that I've always loved and always wanted to do. And I've built this business over the past year and a half that's just taking me all over the world and talking and meeting so many people. And it's been the greatest gift. I've always loved getting on stage and then getting to do it in a really fun way and like writing and performing something. It's really...it's just been a really awesome blessing.‍

Allison: Let's talk about the speaking because when I heard about this, I was like, my gosh, I wish that I could get a private viewing of this. The 48-hour best friend. Say more about what it is and who your typical audience is. Cause I think that's also really interesting.

Lindsay: Yeah, well, I mean, it's basically like the idea was I had to build relationships so quickly. I had to make someone my best friend in two days between Monday and Wednesday when I was at SNL. So it's like, how do you do it? Like, what are the ways to do it? It's a lot of storytelling, a lot of like, you know, fun stories. But then it's actually like, how do you build trust? What I've learned through traveling around is that like everybody wants to be considered trustworthy, but like nobody really thinks about how, how do you do it?

So I kind of break it down into things that I think are really useful,and really accessible. They're not like, you know, you don't have to change your life to do these things. I tell a lot of fun stories and I make fun of myself a lot. But because everyone wants to be considered trustworthy, I've spoken to banks and salespeople and HR communities and athletes. I mean, I really, there's no one group because it's really kind of, if you need to build relationships, you gotta learn how to have good ability to build trust.

Allison: Right. And then Women Work F*cking Hard. What was the original impetus for forming that community?

Lindsay: So I did it with my best friend. We met on our first day of college. We started in 2018. It truly was meant to be a one-off. I was still at SNL and I had a friend who was a single mom trying to build this business in New York City and she was having trouble. And I was like, I know so many awesome women who would love to work with you. 

So I called Kristin, my best friend, and I was like, hey, I want to throw a party. I want to invite 50 interesting women, not our best friends. That was like my really big point was like, I don't want to just have a room full of…I want to put feelers out to people we don't even know. And let's call it Women Work F*cking Hard. And so it started that night. 

And, and there was like magic in the room and people, people kept being like, what's the catch? And, and we were like, the catch is find three women in this room that you haven't met before and figure out how you can help them. And that kind of just was the beginning of trying to help women change the way they think about helping other women, you know, and just putting it more to the forefront of your mind.

Like we all have incredible networks and resources and purchasing power and voices. What if you actually use them 15% more, 20% more? What if you needed, you know, you were going to buy an ornament and you're like, I'm gonna make sure it's women founded, you know? I mean, it's...

I will tell you, it becomes a little pressure during the holidays, because it's all I talk about. I'm like, I can't just go to Amazon. I'm like, always just like, it puts a lot of pressure on it, but like, I love it. We just had a holiday market last week where we had 12 women founders come into a space and sell gifts to our community. It's been a joy.

Allison: That's amazing. I mean, I have benefited so much from women who have helped me out along the way. And so I just think it's so incredible to think, because at this stage in my career as well, I can help a lot of women, but I also need a lot of help. And so it's cool to think about which angle you are going in and that you don't need to wait until you're super, super successful to be able to help those around you.‍

Lindsay: I mean, that's why we always have interns and we want young people, because we're like, start it young. I made $700 a week when I first started SNL before taxes. I didn't have the money to go and help people with my money, but I worked hard. You can also then help the people next to you. You can help the interns. If you're an assistant, you still have the interns. There's always somebody else you can help that's close to you. 

And we always say, you don't have to be the most connected or the richest woman in the room to help the people next to you. And so start it young. And for the women I talk to who are like, well, you know, women were the hardest on me in my career. I'm like, well, then don't you want to change it? Don't you want to be different? Because you now can. It's been seven years. We love it. It brings us joy. And we're just slowly finding impressive – but kind – or I usually say kind, but impressive. Because kind, kind comes before impressive because we don't want you if you're an asshole. No thanks. All right.

Allison: Yeah, I love it. Okay, we're almost at the end, but I did want to attempt some rapid fire questions. So if you hate any of these, we'll cut them out afterwards. But we're going to go really quickly through this. Okay. You may hate this first question. Your favorite celebrity host that you worked with.

‍Lindsay: I know it's supposed to be rapid fire. There's a million, but I'll just say, I'll say Martin Short.

Allison: That's a good one. Best advice you got from a co-worker or a host at SNL about parenthood?

Lindsay: Lorne Michaels. Figure out the thing that makes you feel like a good mom and do that. Don't do what other people do to make them feel like a good mom.Find your thing, because you can't do it all.

Allison: Ooh, that is a good one. I'm glad I asked that question. If you could go back and produce just one more SNL episode, what would it include?

Lindsay: Well, I was always chasing Tom Cruise. There was one time I literally was chasing him like in an ice skating rink. My bosses sent me down to the 30 Rockefeller ice skating rink to try and convince them to come upstairs. So I would have to say Tom Cruise because I really was chasing that for a while. A week after I had my daughter, I was calling his agent trying to get him because it’s the one that got away.

Allison: My gosh. The one that got away. Let's see. Most surprising teaching or piece of advice that you offer in the 48-hour best friend.

Lindsay: Remember small details. I just think there's such a magic in when people talk to you. We tend to not listen well enough. And so it's like really hold on to those, treat it like it's treasure. Because it makes people feel seen and it's such a great way to build stronger relationships. Remember their birthday, their kids name, where they went on vacation, what they're struggling with. And bring them back the next time you see them.

Allison: Love that. Something you have not done yet professionally that you would like to do in the next few years.

Lindsay: Write a book.

Allison: All right, last question. One person you have never worked with who you would really like to work with other than Tom Cruise, since you kind of answered that already. And it doesn't have to be a host, you know, SNL capacity. It could be just anyone that you would like to work with.

Lindsay: I need to say like Diane Sawyer. I mean, I just like, I don't know what Diane Sawyer and I are gonna do together, but I just think she's the epitome of grace and intelligence and you know, she's just so cool. So like, I don't even need to work with her. I just wanna have dinner with her. Can I do that? Can the question be, who do you wanna have dinner with?

Allison: Yeah.Right. Well, I tried to change it up a little bit because I was like, you're doing so many different things that I was curious which direction you would take that in. 

Well, thank you so much, Lindsay. This has been amazing. I was so excited to have you on because I also feel very strongly that hearing stories about people navigating tough, ambitious career paths that aren't necessarily like a straight line and clear on what you should do is incredibly inspirational. I think you've been very generous with being honest and vulnerable about your path. And so thank you very much for coming on today to share more.

Lindsay: I appreciate it. Thanks for having me. It was a fun time.