Sometimes life changes in a way that quietly reshapes us, shifting what we hold close, how we move through our days, and how we understand love.

Jay Leno has been living through that kind of transformation. For years, Jay stood at the

center of American Late Night, hosting the Tonight Show for more than two decades, and becoming

one of the most recognized comics in the world. And through it all, his wife Mavis stood steady

beside him, supporting his rise while championing women and lifting up communities across

the globe. In 2024, Mavis was diagnosed with dementia, and ever since, Jay has embraced a different

kind of purpose, caring for her with unmatched devotion. In their moments together, he has

discovered something profound, a love held

together by patience, by humor, and by a vow he continues to fulfill every single day. In our

conversation, Jay opens up about caring for the woman who spent a lifetime caring for others,

the small glimmers that still break through, and the joy he still finds

in making Mavis laugh. Plus, he shares why this part of their story is just as beautiful as any

other. Jay and Mavis's story reminds us of the value of devotion, of courage, and of love that

endures, even as life changes around it.

I'm Hoda Kotby, and this is my podcast, Making Space.

J. Jay, first of all, just how are we doing?

I'm doing good, actually.

Yeah, everything's good.

I can't complain.

Comedy has been, obviously, the through line throughout your life.

What does comedy look like these days?

Where are you doing shows?

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