Former SNL Stars Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim Reunite for Emotional Podcast Reflection

Former Saturday Night Live cast members Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim have reunited. Their emotional conversation occurred on Nwodim’s Thanks Dad podcast. This comes just after both comedians exited the long-running NBC show ahead of its 51st season.

They shared intimate details about their instant bond and seven-year tenure on the show. The pair discussed the challenges and triumphs of working in the high-pressure environment of live television.

Inside Their Shared Dressing Room and Instant Bond

Nwodim joined the cast in 2018, a year after Gardner. They were assigned to share a dressing room. This intimate space became the foundation of their deep friendship.

“To have to share such an intimate space together for hours on end… it made us close quick,” Nwodim recalled. She noted that the situation could have easily bred resentment instead of camaraderie. Gardner echoed this, expressing honor for their hard work on both their careers and their friendship.

Celebrating Each Other’s Success in a Competitive Space

Gardner became emotional recalling Nwodim’s viral “Miss Eggy” sketch from April 2025. The segment aired during an episode hosted by Jack Black. Gardner described the moment as “beautiful to watch.”

“There’s a part of me, if I think about it, I’m like, but wait, I should want that for me, but you had it, and it was fucking awesome,” Gardner shared. She emphasized the joy of seeing her best friend succeed. Nwodim similarly expressed frustration that they couldn’t always “be winning together at the same time.”

Nwodim confirmed that SNL was “not the easiest place to work.” She praised Gardner as a “light in what can be such a challenging place.” Their friendship ultimately transcended the competitive nature of the show.

The heartfelt reunion between Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim highlights a genuine friendship that weathered the unique pressures of Saturday Night Live. Their emotional SNL reunion conversation offers a rare, humanizing glimpse behind the curtain of the iconic comedy institution.

Thought you’d like to know-

Why did Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim leave SNL?

Ego Nwodim announced her departure in September, stating it was time to “say goodnight” after seven seasons. Heidi Gardner has not yet publicly commented on her own exit, which was confirmed by network sources ahead of the new season.

What was Ego Nwodim’s “Miss Eggy” sketch?

It was a viral segment from the April 5, 2025, episode hosted by Jack Black. The sketch became a major talking point and was described by Gardner as the “moment of the year” for her close friend.

How long were they on SNL together?

Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim were castmates for six years. Gardner started in 2017, with Nwodim joining a year later in 2018, and both departed ahead of the 51st season.

What did they say about the SNL work environment?

Nwodim described it as “not the easiest place to work” and acknowledged it could be “challenging.” Both comedians highlighted the competitive and self-involved nature of the show, making their sustained friendship more remarkable.

Are they working on new projects together?

No joint projects have been announced. Their recent collaboration was the podcast interview itself, where they primarily reflected on their past experiences and celebrated their enduring friendship post-SNL.