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Nwodim departed &34;Saturday Night Live&34; in September after seven seasons. Ego Nwodim announces her next move, will reunite with Heidi Gardner after their SN

Nwodim departed "Saturday Night Live" in September after seven seasons.

Ego Nwodim announces her next move, will reunite with Heidi Gardner after their SNL exit

Nwodim departed "Saturday Night Live" in September after seven seasons.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

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October 24, 2025 10:59 a.m. ET

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Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner at the American Museum of Natural History's 2019 Museum Gala. Credit:

Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner might not be making viewers laugh on *Saturday Night Live* anymore, but they're still finding ways to work together.

The second season of Nwodim's award-winning interview podcast, *Thanks Dad*, is set to premiere next week, and the first guest of the new installment is none other than the comedian's fellow *SNL* alum.

Gardner will join Nwodim to dive into their journey becoming best friends at *SNL*, Gardner's mom's wacky ex-boyfriends, their love of Jack Black, and FaceTiming naked in the shower. (Just the usual girl things.)

Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner on 'Saturday Night Live'.

Will Heath/NBC via Getty

Season one of the *Thanks Dad* podcast featured A-list guests, including Andy Cohen, Randall Park, Kyle Mooney, and Bill Burr. The new season, which marks the first under iHeartMedia and Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network, will go beyond the original premise of interviewing famous fathers. Standout guests include Tamron Hall and Miguel, promising fresh perspectives and meaningful dialogue.

"I'm so thrilled to be partnering with iHeartPodcasts, Will Ferrell and Big Money Players for season two of *Thanks Dad*," Nwodim said in a statement announcing the news. "This season, I'm speaking with a broader range of guests, while staying true to the heart of the podcast — to connect, inspire and bring some joy."

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It's only been a month since Nwodim announced she wouldn't be part of *SNL*'s 51st season, two weeks after Gardner revealed her exit in late August.

"The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight. But after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL," Nwodim wrote on Instagram when she shared the news.

She continued, "I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support, and friendship. Week after week on that stage taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I will carry those memories (and that laughter) with me always."

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Sherri Shepherd urges 'SNL' to cast another Black woman after Ego Nwodim's exit: 'It is an emergency'

As * *previously learned, Nwodim chose to depart to pursue other opportunities, including the continuation of her podcast. In the short span of time since her announcement, Nwodim has already landed a new gig; she'll be performing a comedy show at Lincoln Center Theater's Claire Tow Theater in New York City.

The show, which marks Nwodim's first time performing Off-Broadway, will be directed by Zhailon Levingston and is set to run from Nov. 19 to Nov. 23.

Nwodim's act will come as part of Lincoln Center Theater's *The Comedy Series*, which will also feature works from Jerrod Carmichael, Vir Das, and Sam Jay throughout the remainder of 2025.

Ego Nwodim attends 'SNL50: The Homecoming Concert' on Feb. 14, 2025.

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

She also recently wrapped production on Matt Spicer's *Little Brother*, an upcoming Netflix comedy film opposite John Cena, Eric Andre Michelle Monaghan, Christopher Meloni, and Sherry Cola.**

*Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim* premieres Oct. 28 with new weekly episodes on Tuesdays, available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. **

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