Jenny Mollen on Her ‘Do It for the Plot’ Life: ‘I Will Chase a Plot Till the End of the Earth’
Stop having boring Tuesdays—the author and actress reveals the secret to turning every day into an adventure
Key Takeaways
- Embrace the story: Jenny Mollen explains how 'chasing the plot' turns chores into adventures.
- The power of connection: Mollen reveals her deep longing to be known by everyone she meets.
- Winning over grumpy strangers: Why turning a 'b-tchy' interaction into a win is Mollen's goal.
Actress and bestselling author Jenny Mollen recently sat down for an episode of the podcast What Matters with Liz, and what she shared about her relentless pursuit of human connection is the kind of honest, slightly self-deprecating talk that makes you feel a little less alone in your own people-pleasing tendencies.
If you’ve ever found yourself charming the woman behind the counter at the pharmacy, lingering a beat too long to make small talk with a stranger or wondering why on earth you care so much whether the dry cleaner likes you, Mollen’s confession is going to feel like looking in a mirror.
Watch Episode 15 right here! ‘What Matters with Jenny Mollen: Connection, Humor & Grit’
‘I will chase a plot till the end of the earth’
That’s how Mollen opened up about her need to truly know the people she encounters. And she means everyone.
“I don’t think people listen to other people that often and I really want to know,” she said. “I think it’s also so like disarming. I also deeply want to be liked.”
It’s a confession most of us would probably whisper to our closest friend, if we admitted it at all. But Mollen said it out loud, and she didn’t dress it up.
She even acknowledged that the people closest to her don’t quite understand the impulse. “My assistant’s always like, ‘Why do you want people to like you so badly?'” she shared. “Like, ‘Can’t you just like go to the dry cleaner and leave? Why do you have to like know her?'”
The answer, of course, is that for Mollen—and for so many of us—there’s no such thing as “just” going somewhere. Every interaction is a chance to connect.
The deeper truth behind the need to be liked
What makes Mollen’s reflection so resonant is that she didn’t stop at the surface-level admission. She kept digging.
“I have that like it’s also like not a great trait because it gets in my way often,” she said. “But I want to know people because I also like want to be known by them. Like I want to have that connection. I think I’m longing for that connection.”
There it is. The thing underneath the small talk and the smiles and the eagerness to charm a stranger. The longing to be known.
The Rite Aid story every woman will recognize
If the first half of Mollen’s confession was tender, the second half was pure comic gold—and arguably even more relatable.
“People who don’t want to connect with me are my favorite,” she admitted. Yes, you read that correctly. The harder someone resists her charm, the more determined she becomes.
“Like when there’s a really angry, b-tchy woman at I don’t know my local Rite Aid, I’m going to make you love me. You’re going to love me. Just wait.”
Anyone who has ever set their sights on softening up a grumpy stranger knows exactly what she’s talking about. The challenge of it. The mission. The quiet little thrill of finally cracking through.
Mollen even laid out her game plan, which is honestly inspired. “I’m going to start with bringing coffees in, then to move into some Alice + Olivia samples. We are gonna be best friends at the end. I’m not even gonna pay for my prescription probably.”
Strategic gifting. Designer samples. A slow-burn friendship arc with the woman who scans your blood pressure medication. It’s ridiculous, it’s hilarious and somehow it’s also a little bit aspirational.
Why this kind of honesty matters
There’s a reason Mollen’s words have struck a chord. So much of what we see from celebrities feels filtered, polished and tightly managed. Hearing her freely admit that she’s a little bit obsessed with being liked—and that she knows it sometimes gets in her way—feels like a small act of rebellion against the perfect public image.
It also gives the rest of us permission to laugh at our own tendencies. The over-explaining. The follow-up texts. The way we replay a slightly awkward exchange with a cashier in the car on the way home.
The desire to connect, to be seen, to be known by the people around us isn’t a flaw to be hidden. It’s one of the most human things about us. So the next time you find yourself charming the woman at the pharmacy counter, take heart. You’re in very good, very honest company.
What Matters with Liz airs every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts, with highlights and behind-the-scenes clips shared on Instagram and Facebook.
Also, be sure to subscribe to the What Matters With Liz free newsletter from Woman’s World Editor-in-Chief Liz Vaccariello. Every week, you’ll get real talk about health, money and entertainment, plus uplifting stories, practical tips and exclusive updates on Vaccariello’s new video podcast.
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