Unqualified (podcast)

''Unqualified'' is an American advice podcast created and hosted by actress Anna Faris, featuring interviews with celebrities and cultural figures, followed by personal phonecalls to listeners asking for relationship and other advice. It was co-hosted by Faris's producer Sim Sarna until 2019. In 2017, Faris published a memoir under the same name as the podcast.

Concept

Faris was inspired to create the podcast after listening to '' Serial''. Explaining the evolution of the idea, she said:

I love to talk about relationships; that's all I want to talk about with my friends. And then I just thought, I kind of want a hobby, since y husbandChris has been shooting a lot. So I started asking around to some friends, and I asked this technical producer guy what equipment I should buy on Amazon. And I just started recording my friends when they would come over. And then with my dear friend Sim, we started flushing out the whole thing, which clearly there's still a lot more flushing out to do. It started out as a dinky hobby. It still is, for sure—we don't make any money. We would love to at some point, but we want to know a little bit more what we're doing first.

Format

Each episode has two parts. In the first, a guest interview, Faris sometimes incorporates ad libbing or improvisational comedic sketches with the guest and posts questions centered on hypothetical relationship or dating situations. In some segments, she plays the character of Karen Sarducci, a disaffected studio executive with pronounced vocal fry who often makes reference to her privileged, brilliant sons, Milo (Paul Scheer) and Ventimiglia (based in name on actor Milo Ventimiglia), who are often vacationing abroad or at music festivals such as Coachella.

Former producer Sim Sarna used to participate in the second part of the show, which consisted of Sarna, Faris and the guest placing a phone call to a listener who has a relationship or personal dilemma and seeks "unqualified" advice. Since Sarna's leaving, the segment has been conducted primarily by Anna and guests.

Persons involved

Hosts and recurring persons

*Anna Farismain host; also plays various characters during improvised segments.
*Michael Barrettexecutive producer
*Rob Holyszexecutive producer
*Jeph Porterexecutive producer
* Kasper Bræin Selvigproducer

Production services

* Rabbit Grin Productio
Rabbit Grin Productions

Former host and producer

* Sim Sarnaformer producer and co-host (no longer involved as of the March 7, 2019, episode).

Characters

*Karen Sarducci (Anna Faris)an insouciant studio executive who interviews actor guests about potential film ideas
*Donavan (Sim Sarna)Karen Sarducci's put-upon assistant, who often tried to engage in the general meetings but was promptly told to 'shut the F**K up'
*Milo (Paul Scheer)spoiled and verbally-abusive son of Karen Sarducci
*Chad (Anna Faris) an emotionally manipulative and oblivious boyfriend who engages in self-defensive arguments with female guests
*Kayla (Anna Faris)an imposing and desperate aspiring actress who attempts to ingratiate herself with show guests

Episodes

*First Episode was originally with Allison Janney, but was later removed supposedly due to explicit content.

Accolades

*Winner: Shorty Awards (2017) for Best Podcast
*Nominated: iHeartRadio Podcast Awards (2019) for Best comedy Podcast

Notes

References

External links

* {{Official website, https://unqualified.com/

Audio podcasts
2015 podcast debuts
Shorty Award winners
Advice podcasts
American podcasts