Michael Urie guests on Monica Lewinsky’s podcast to talk about finding a better path to success

This week on Reclaiming, host Monica Lewinsky sat down with Michael Urie—actor, producer, and director whose career has been shaped by sharp comedy, emotional range, and a deep love of the stage and screen. In this conversation, Michael reflects on the lasting impact of Ugly Betty, what it meant to play a character who resonated so deeply with audiences, and how those early television years helped define his voice as a performer. He opens up about his unconventional path into acting—the power of the ACT after bombing the SATs—and how that second chance ultimately led him to Juilliard, along with the expectations and stereotypes that often come with elite training. Make sure to check out Michael in season 3 of Shrinking premiering on Apple TV+ on January 28th.