Welcome to Unstyled. I'm your host, Christine Barberick, co-founder and global editor-in-chief of Refinery 29.

Each week, I invite a notable person to come in and talk with us as we explore the funny, inspiring,

sometimes heartbreaking tales of life, work, and love, as told through the things that we wear.

Even if you don't know Pamela Adlon's name, you definitely know her work. For more than 20 years, she's been one of the most prolific voiceover artists in animation, playing tough girl Ashley Spinelli on the 90s classic recess,

and winning an Emmy for her portrayal of the sweet, slightly dim, Bobby Hill on King of the Hill.

Next, she played hilariously foul-mouthed Marcy on Californication,

and Prickly Pam on Louis.

Finally, in 2016, she reached the brass ring

nearly every actor dreams of, creating her own show, the comedy drama, Better Things,

in which she plays Sam Fox, a working actress, and divorced single mom of three, and in real

life she's the mom of three daughters as well.

But her long-awated dream show hit a major roadblock when its co-creator, Louis C.K., admitted to sexual misconduct in 2017. Despite their longstanding collaborative relationship, Pamela eventually

cut ties with Louis, fired the manager they formerly shared, and publicly

expressed support for CK's accusers. The next month, she was forced to evacuate her home in Los Angeles

due to wildfires. The string of events left her devastated and suddenly very unsure of her

show's future. And as Pamela put it, I was shaking for six months.

Eventually, she emerged determined not just to save her show,

but to find a better way to do business.

She hired four new writers, women and men, to replace Louis.

She turned her editing room over to an all-women team.

She organized a crew walkout in solidarity with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. She's not just one of the few women showrunners,

but one of very few of any gender to direct, produce, write, and star in her own series,

...