Table of Contents
- When a Casual Podcast Moment Hits Home
- How Hacks Led Me to a Deep Temperature Conversation
- “Yes, I’m Cold” And the Whole Conversation Shifts
- Jean Smart Opens Up About a Lifetime of Feeling Cold
- Cold Isn’t Just "Cold" It’s a Mental & Physical State
- Hearing Someone Finally Say the Quiet Part Out Loud
- The Emotional Impact of Being Cold All the Time
- Want to Know What I Did About My Constant Cold?
- Warm Your Hands in Seconds with Toasty Touch
- What Being Cold Actually Feels Like vs. What People Assume
- FAQs
The Most Relatable Conversation About Being Cold That I’ve Ever Heard
When a Casual Podcast Moment Hits Home
I heard quite possibly the best conversation ever on what it’s like to have cold hands when everyone else thinks the temperature is fine. As someone who has Raynaud’s disease and gets uncomfortably chilly even in the hottest months of the year due to frigid AC, I’m still thinking about it days later. It was downright profound, and it came out of the most unexpected place.
How Hacks Led Me to a Deep Temperature Conversation
Ever heard of the hit HBO comedy Hacks? Rarely have I loved a show so much that I sought out its companion podcast, but Hacks is so good, I went searching for more after the season finale aired.
So there I was, listening to Hacks star Jean Smart discussing her role as the career-obsessed Deborah Vance, a fictional, very famous, aging comedian who is stuck in a rut creatively until she meets Ava, a spunky, “tells it like it is” twenty-something comedy writer.
In episode 4 of The Official Hacks Podcast, Jean is talking about her character’s motivations when the conversation veers.
“Yes, I’m Cold” And the Whole Conversation Shifts
“We should tell our listeners that Jean is wearing a sweatshirt that says ‘Yes, I’m cold,’” says Lucia Aniello, Hacks co-creator and co-host of the podcast.
Usually, if this kind of thing gets mentioned in an interview, it happens quickly and elicits no follow-up questions. Not this time.
“Let’s talk about you and temperature for a minute,” Lucia says.
All of a sudden I’m hyper tuned-in. Is someone actually going to talk about being cold in a not-glossed-over way?
Jean Smart Opens Up About a Lifetime of Feeling Cold
Jean explains that she’s been freezing her whole life. Her regular body temperature, which she says is about 97.4°F, is more than a full degree chillier than the standard 98.6. She doesn’t know why.
“I get cold all the time, and sound stages are notoriously cold,” the long-time actress says. “So I’m treated like the Queen of Sheba, and it’s kind of embarrassing actually, because my chair is surrounded by blankets and heaters.”
That’s when Lucia chimes in that she’s “constantly freezing” too.
Cold Isn’t Just "Cold" It’s a Mental & Physical State
“Here’s my feeling about cold and comedy,” Lucia says. “Ready for my hot take on this one? I think it’s almost impossible to be funny when you’re very cold because I think your brain literally shuts down, and you are in fight or flight, and your brain is saying ‘I need to survive. How can I think about being funny right now? We’re not in that place.’”
Meanwhile, an enthusiastic Jean can be heard in the background as Lucia speaks: “Thank you, thank you, yes, yes.”
Jean adds that while she gets cranky and uncomfortable when she’s too hot, “it doesn’t make me anxious. There’s something about being cold that makes me anxious.”
Hearing Someone Finally Say the Quiet Part Out Loud
Listening in podcast land, I’m blown away. I’d never heard anyone articulate so openly and insightfully the difficulties, frustrations, and embarrassments of constantly worrying about
As Jean and Lucia are bonding over their lifelong struggles to stay warm, fellow Hacks creator Paul W. Downs offers his thoughts:
“I think we register cold the same way we register pain,” Paul says. “So, you’re in pain when you’re cold. So, you know, I get that.”
Exactly, Paul. Thank you for another great insight on being freezing all the time and for delivering one of the most validating comments ever offered to people who are chronically shivering from someone who is not.
The Emotional Impact of Being Cold All the Time
The conversation continues.
Whenever Jean is feeling cold on set, “I am as well,” Lucia says. “I support you fully 100 percent.”
“Thank you honey and you as well,” Jean says.
What a refreshing couple of minutes. Jean and Lucia’s convo illustrates that it’s not the mere fact that you’re cold that’s concerning, it’s what being cold does to you physically and mentally.
Whether you’re trying to be funny or trying to do anything that requires thinking, having cold hands sucks. It’s more than a minor annoyance. It makes you take your mind off what you need or want to be doing. It makes you feel self-conscious, separates you from others, depletes your energy, floods you with stress, and forces your body into panic mode when you’re just trying to have a normal day. The nonstop struggle adds up.
I appreciated that Jean and Lucia didn’t shrug it off and that their coworker Paul tried to relate. Sometimes it helps to simply acknowledge that things are difficult and to talk about it. You feel less alone and less crazy, and there might be someone listening who needs to hear it.
Want to Know What I Did About My Constant Cold?
Interested in how my icicle fingers led me to take drastic measures? Check out “I Have Raynaud’s So I Created the Heated Gloves of My Dreams.”
Warm Your Hands in Seconds with Toasty Touch
Warm your hands and keep the world at your fingertips with Toasty Touch Ultra Thin Heated Gloves. Used all over the world by mail carriers, factory workers, people with Raynaud's syndrome — anyone who wants to warm their hands in seconds for hours without trapping them in bulky gloves.
What Being Cold Actually Feels Like vs. What People Assume
| Common Assumption | What It Really Feels Like |
|---|---|
| “You’re just a little chilly.” | Cold can feel painful, a deep, uncomfortable ache that’s hard to ignore. |
| “Grab a jacket, you’ll be fine.” | Layers often don’t help when your hands lose circulation. |
| “Everyone gets cold sometimes.” | Some people feel cold constantly, even in warm rooms or summer AC. |
| “Just focus, you’re overreacting.” | Being cold interrupts focus and triggers fight-or-flight mode, making it hard to think. |
| “You’re being dramatic.” | Cold can cause anxiety, embarrassment, and real physical discomfort. |
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FAQs
Why do some people feel cold even when others don’t?
Many people naturally have lower baseline body temperatures or conditions like Raynaud’s, which cause blood vessels in the hands and feet to constrict more easily. That reduced blood flow leads to cold, painful fingers even in rooms that feel “normal” to everyone else. Stress, air conditioning, and even mild breezes can make the sensation worse.
Why does feeling cold make it harder to think or function?
When you’re very cold, your body goes into a mild fight-or-flight response. Instead of helping you focus, your brain prioritizes warmth and survival. As the Hacks creators said on the podcast, being cold feels similar to experiencing pain, your body diverts energy away from creativity, problem-solving, and concentration so it can deal with discomfort.
What can I do to stay warm if I’m constantly cold?
Layering clothing, keeping warm blankets nearby, and using heated products (like Toasty Touch heated gloves) can help.