Ego Wodom has kept us laughing on Saturday Night Live for the past seven seasons.

She's played everyone from Dionne Warwick to the fan favorite Lisa from Tomecula.

But before she hit the big stage, she grew up in Baltimore.

Her mom always dreamed she'd be a doctor.

Ego had other plans and set her sights on becoming an actor. She was pre-med and earned a degree

in biology at the University of Southern California, but it was her very first improv class

at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater that would change everything for her and help

her find her voice. In 2018, she joined the cast of Saturday Night Live and has entertained viewers

with their standout impressions and roster of hilarious characters. And as Saturday Night Live

celebrates its 50th anniversary, it's clear that Ego has made her mark on the beloved

franchise. I sat down with Ego to chat about her early memories of making people laugh,

the life lessons improv taught her, and how her journey led her to Saturday Night Live.

I'm Jenna Bush-Hager. Welcome to my podcast, Open Book with Jenna.

Thank you. Bush Hager. Welcome to my podcast, Open Book with Jenna. Ego, I'm so happy you're here.

Jenna, I'm so happy to be here.

This has been so fun hanging with you.

Yes, I'm having a ball.

It's been a blast. And I got to meet your mom and one of your brothers. How did you guys track them down? I was like, how did they get here?

Okay, so talk to me because your mom is from Nigeria. She's from Nigeria. She was born in Nigeria. She was born in Nigeria, raised in Nigeria, went to college in London, and then moved to the states and, you know, got married at some point in there, went to medical school after the four of us.

She's just like superwoman, and I'm not so much, but she's just, she's amazing.

She's lived a life.

And what was she like as a mom?

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