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The Moth

Presenting Office Ladies: Work Friendship

19 Jun 2026

Transcription

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

Chapter 1: What does a work friendship mean to Jenna and Angela?

3.507 - 24.142

At The Moth, we talk a lot about the moments that change us. The big pivots, the grand adventures. But often the most transformative parts of our lives aren't the things we do, but the people we do them with. The ones who know our coffee orders, our childhood secrets, and exactly which version of a bad day we're currently having. Today, we're doing something special.

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24.523 - 43.554

We're sharing an episode from our friends over at Office Ladies. Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey spent years playing characters who weren't exactly best friend material to one another on screen. But off camera, they built a bond that has spanned decades. In this episode, they're honoring the history that shaped them and the future they're still building together.

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44.035 - 49.444

You can find Office Ladies everywhere you get your podcasts. And stay right here for more from Jenna and Angela.

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55.702 - 64.874 Jenna Fischer

I'm Jenna Fisher. And I'm Angela Kinsey. We were on The Office together. And we're best friends. And now we're doing the ultimate Office Lovers podcast just for you.

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65.275 - 86.64 Angela Kinsey

Each week, we will dive deeper into the world of The Office with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes details, and lots of BFF stories. We're The Office Lady 6.0. Hello. Hi there. Welcome to Office Ladies 6.0. Today we have a really special episode. I know we say that a lot, but I love this one.

86.78 - 93.548 Angela Kinsey

We've always wanted to do an episode around best friendship, and this is in honor of Best Friends Day. That is June 8th. Yes.

94.069 - 103.839 Jenna Fischer

National Best Friends Day is this Sunday, June 8th, and we thought it would be fun to celebrate. So we asked you all to write in about your best friends, and we're going to share some of your letters.

Chapter 2: How did Jenna and Angela's friendship evolve over time?

103.979 - 129.162 Jenna Fischer

They were so wonderful to read. If you want to be in a good mood, they should put together a book of just people sharing a story about their best friend because it made me so happy. And also, Angela did a little deep dive on office friendships, but I thought I could kick things off with some stats about Best Friends Day. You know I love a stat. Did you know there are actually two Best Friend Days?

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129.142 - 129.663 Angela Kinsey

No.

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130.383 - 133.506 Jenna Fischer

One is national, and one is international.

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134.287 - 149.282 Angela Kinsey

Okay. That's always a little confusing, you know, if you're on the social media and you do the hashtag, and you see people doing National Best Friends Day or whatever it is, National Cat Day. You did international, and then you're like, oh, crap, which one is it? Well, I'll tell you now.

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149.462 - 170.649 Jenna Fischer

Okay. This Sunday, June 8th, is National Best Friends Day, and that was established in 1935. Okay. By our United States Congress. How about that? I didn't even know that they were the ones who did that. Yeah. They wanted to honor the bonds of friendship and recognize the positive impact that friends have on our lives.

171.33 - 197.069 Jenna Fischer

And they chose June 8th because it is generally a time of good weather across the whole country, making it a pleasant time of year to spend time outdoors with your friends. Wow. So I think they're wanting you to get outside, everybody. And do something with your BFF. Exactly. Then in 2011, the United Nations declared July 30th as International Friendship Day.

198.071 - 221.55 Jenna Fischer

And this was to recognize the importance of friendships in promoting peace and understanding among communities and nations. Well, I like both of those. And then, you know, there's a lot of ways you can celebrate Best Friends Day this Sunday. But Cassie, I think you would like this way. The New York Public Library made a list of 15 novels about friendship to read with your bestie.

221.971 - 236.128 Jenna Fischer

That sounds awesome. Yes. They said these novels feature a range of friendship stories from lighthearted and affirming to explorations of how friendships can break apart and come back together. So we can put a link to them in stories.

236.829 - 238.211

Yes, please.

Chapter 3: What are some memorable stories about best friends shared in the episode?

318.328 - 330.871 Angela Kinsey

Number two, Michael and Dwight. And I would say yes. I mean, that's who Dwight wanted to be his best man. Exactly. Number one on the list of best friends at the office. Any guesses?

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333.768 - 335.651 Angela Kinsey

No. Who's left?

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336.251 - 337.733

Is it Kelly and Ryan?

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338.094 - 340.857 Jenna Fischer

That's the only person I could think of. No.

340.898 - 357.314 Angela Kinsey

This is the everyone unanimously online said the number one best friendship on The Office. Michael and Holly? No, but that's good, Sam. That is really good. That's really good. Jim and Dwight. I know. That's what they said. They had their ups and downs.

Chapter 4: What statistics about friendship are discussed?

357.334 - 379.614 Angela Kinsey

But in the end, you know, Jim says, oh, my gosh. Remember that line? He's like, I can't believe I'm saying this. I miss Dwight. I mean, they sort of had this weird dude on and off again friendship. But this is up for discussion because I feel like they left a few really big ones off the list. I think Andy and Daryl became good friends. Pam and Michael. Yes.

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379.635 - 380.035 Jenna Fischer

Pam and Michael.

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380.055 - 402.132 Angela Kinsey

Thank you. Yes. And then, you know, I do like that they say Angela, Oscar, and Kevin, but I think Angela and Oscar had their own true friendship. Yes, I agree. And then I would say they left off one. If they're going to put Phyllis and Angela on there, I think there's a frenemies category for Angela and Pam. But see what I mean? There's so many, like, friendships there.

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402.112 - 413.314 Angela Kinsey

That grow over the years of the show and people watch that and they feel it. And I think it's so wonderful that one of the biggest takeaways from watching The Office are these friendships that people connect to.

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413.354 - 430.515 Jenna Fischer

And the friendships represent the very wide range of friendships. This is true. Which includes, I think, the category of frenemies or it includes like, you're sort of like, how did this person become my friend? But they are, you know, like it kind of covers all the different categories.

430.615 - 435.126 Angela Kinsey

Or the friend that drives you crazy and you prank, but you end up planning their bachelor party.

435.587 - 460.813 Jenna Fischer

Exactly. Well, we got a letter, speaking of frenemies, that I wanted to read. It's from Allison S. in Edmonton, Canada, who said, my best friend is named Lauren. We worked together as dance teachers. When she was first hired, I did not like her. She was given some classes I wanted to be teaching, and I felt an instant rivalry.

460.853 - 478.835 Jenna Fischer

Luckily, with time, her charm cleared away any thoughts of rivalry and forced me to admit she was awesome, and I was thrilled when it seemed we could instead become friends. Our friendship took off when we helped each other box dye our hair in her bathtub and realized we both did a terrible job.

478.855 - 479.976 Angela Kinsey

Oh my gosh.

Chapter 5: How do cultural differences influence friendship dynamics?

603.954 - 627.398 Angela Kinsey

Next one. Ready? How would you describe yourself? Talented, above average, relaxed, inspirational, cool, resourceful, sweet, smart. Okay. All right. What is your place in the office? Are you the moral support, the queen, the best, the boss, the prankster, the snacker, the comedian, the glue?

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627.418 - 642.857 Jenna Fischer

Okay, Angela, I need to know what you're pressing. Why? Because I just need to know the answer. I need to know your assessment of yourself on this question. Okay. I would say I'm the glue. Sam, Cassie, how do we feel about her answer?

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643.117 - 646.804

I put I'm the glue. I put I'm the glue.

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646.824 - 653.175 Jenna Fischer

Oh my gosh, I'm the queen. But Angela, I had you as the snacker. Oh.

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653.816 - 656.38

I probably put you for moral support.

656.44 - 663.452 Jenna Fischer

Thank you. I would have thought of you as moral support or the snacker, but I've decided to be the snacker. Queen. That's good.

663.793 - 667.017

Well, the queen and three glues is perfect.

667.037 - 689.891 Angela Kinsey

Is that how we do office ladies? That keeps us all going. Okay. What's your dream job? Model, actor, multimillionaire, athlete, CEO, painter, entrepreneur, or vocalist? Okay. I put entrepreneur. Are we sharing now? Why not? Okay. It makes it more interesting, I think. Okay. Sam, what did you put?

690.712 - 691.453

Athlete.

Chapter 6: What insights are shared about maintaining friendships as adults?

737.196 - 739.478 Angela Kinsey

Oh, my God. I found out who I am.

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739.498 - 761.389

I found out who I am. Okay. I kind of already knew who I was going to be paired with, and it makes complete sense. Okay. Go, Sam. I am with Pam. Me and Pam could take art lessons together. We're both kind and have a great sense of humor. I like that. Cassie, who are you? Michael. You and Michael probably met at an improv class, which you both failed. You love to make people laugh.

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762.573 - 764.438

You both failed. We definitely did.

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764.806 - 781.983 Angela Kinsey

Mike doesn't make any sense to me. Who are you? Maybe I hit a wrong button. Jim. You're Jim? It says you and Jim would be best buddies. You love to prank your coworkers. I do not. You hate pranks. I hate pranks. And you like to relax with your family at the end of the day. That part's true.

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782.143 - 794.624 Jenna Fischer

Well, and you are the likable everyman of the office ladies group, Angela. Well, okay. So that tracks. Guess who I'm friends with? Wait, wait. Ryan, entrepreneur? I'm with Jan.

796.547 - 797.389 Olivia Maher

I'll take it.

797.409 - 799.873 Jenna Fischer

I'll take it. That's a good one.

801.335 - 806.423 Angela Kinsey

Yeah. Oh my goodness. That was so fun. Okay. I'll put the quiz in our stories too.

807.112 - 830.392 Jenna Fischer

Well, listen, before we go to break, I wanted to share something. This is a personal share. I want to share that I am on the cover of USA Today's and Media Planet's Future of Cancer Care campaign. It's like a little magazine, you know, that they put inside the newspapers. I'm on the cover. Wow. It's in honor of National Cancer Survivors Day, which was this past Sunday, June 1st.

Chapter 7: How do Jenna and Angela celebrate Best Friends Day?

977.807 - 1001.592 Jenna Fischer

And I assumed that it wouldn't bother me. I thought, I don't care. I have tons of scars from my surgery, from under my arm, around my breasts, I have scars. And none of them bother me. So I just assumed that the port scar wouldn't bother me. You don't like it. I don't. And some people will get like a tattoo over it. Have you considered getting a tattoo? I don't want a tattoo over it.

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1001.793 - 1026.619 Jenna Fischer

I feel like that's just going to make me see it more somehow. But you did consider getting a tattoo. I did consider getting a tattoo. Not there, but just to sort of like... In honor of this experience. Yes. But then I got a fake tattoo for Lee's movie and I didn't like my fake tattoo. Like, I liked it, but I didn't like that there was, like, something that kept catching my eye.

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1026.719 - 1028.061

What was your tattoo going to be?

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1028.081 - 1036.814 Jenna Fischer

Well, I thought that I might want to get a little drawing of the antique bell that I rang after I finished chemo. Oh, okay.

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1036.834 - 1037.175

I like that.

1037.415 - 1039.839 Jenna Fischer

Yeah. Yeah. Or a butterfly.

Chapter 8: What impact does friendship have on personal growth?

1040.099 - 1064.837 Jenna Fischer

These were my two options. But I'm getting neither, as it turns out. And I'm also not getting a tattoo over my port scar. But yeah, it's just that like all the other scars, I can avoid them somehow visually. Like I don't see them, but this one, every time I get out of the shower, there's porty scar. And then like... I wanted to wear a sundress when we went to Hawaii and it's like, there it is.

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1064.857 - 1085.817 Jenna Fischer

And I just let it hang out. Like, I'm not going to like change how I dress or change anything because it's there, but it bumps me. And I, I don't know, maybe that'll go away eventually. And I know that a lot of people try to pump me up and they're like, it's your battle scar. You're a warrior. And I'm trying to frame it that way in my head.

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1085.857 - 1101.027 Angela Kinsey

You know, I just think it's new. And you don't love change. Like what? You need a little bit of time. I guess I do. And you'll have time with it and it'll be fine. Yes. You'll get used to it.

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1101.563 - 1123.408 Jenna Fischer

Well, anyway, you can look for the magazine Inside of USA Today. It came out in Chicago this past weekend. It's going nationwide this coming weekend. But you can also find it online. We'll put a link to the article in our show notes. And Angela, will you swipe it up in our stories? Of course. I also have it linked in my bio on Instagram.

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1123.428 - 1128.313 Jenna Fischer

So if you have someone going through a cancer journey, maybe it'll be of service to them.

1128.732 - 1157.608 Angela Kinsey

Well, I just love all of that. And you know what? We're going to take a break. And when we come back, we're going to share our very first friendship stories and some of yours. Yes. Well, we're back and I'm going to go first. I'm going to talk about my very first best friend. She's still a dear friend of mine to this day.

1157.774 - 1175.096 Angela Kinsey

Her name is Karinsa, and her mom, Karina, and my mom were best friends in Indonesia. They played tennis together, and we were always at each other's houses. She has a big family with lots of older siblings, and there was just always so much, like, hubbub in her house, and I just loved it.

1176.058 - 1186.431 Angela Kinsey

And her mom, Karina, is Dutch, and she introduced me to my favorite thing, which is mayonnaise with French fries. Oh, yeah. Do you guys eat mayonnaise on your French fries?

1186.934 - 1187.875

Yeah, absolutely.

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