Molly Cavanaugh
Molly Cavanaugh is a writer, podcaster, performer, and chaos translator—able to take even the most unhinged moments of modern life and alchemize them into stories that crack us up and crack us open. A New York-trained actor with a degree from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, she cut her teeth performing at Second City, iO, and The Annoyance Theater in Chicago, learning from the best and holding her own in an improv world built on guts, timing, and truth. Molly spent nearly two decades co-hosting a top-rated morning radio show, navigating politics, pop culture, and parenting—all before 10am.
Her true magic shows up in the small stuff: the time she secretly bought a prom dress and then nearly got kicked out of prom, a kitchen-table confession from her son, Declan, that he’s “meant to entertain,” or her daughter, Mara, telling her—completely seriously—that Molly was “meant to be a teenager.” That same voice—funny, frank, and always ready to pull meaning out of mayhem—found a devoted following during her eight years as a columnist for the Omaha World-Herald, where she tackled life’s messy middle: the forgotten lunchboxes, the backseat meltdowns, and the late-night grocery store showdowns. Whether she’s writing about motherhood, marriage, or Midwest weather trauma, Molly brings humor, honesty, and uncanny relatability to every moment. Her work—on the page, on-air, or now through her new podcast—invites audiences to laugh with her, sit in the mess, and maybe see themselves a little more clearly in the process.
These days, Molly writes, hosts, and creates from her home in Chicago, alongside her husband Peter—who is equal parts patient, funny, and frequently name-checked in her work—and their two whip-smart kids. She’s also fiercely loved by Murray, a 16-year-old cat with impeccable timing and a sixth sense for when Molly most needs company, judgment, or someone to sprawl across her laptop. Molly is currently thrilled to be the co-host of The Big Party Show podcast, bringing her signature voice to a brand-new space and a growing audience of listeners who love to laugh through the chaos
Long story short:
Molly Cavanaugh is a writer, podcaster, and performer who translates everyday chaos into deeply funny, often touching stories. She spent nearly two decades on-air as a morning show co-host and wrote a weekly column for the Omaha World-Herald for eight years, blending humor and heart in stories about prom-dress misadventures, kitchen-table confessions, and backseat meltdowns. Now based in Chicago, she lives with her husband Peter, their two kids Declan and Mara, and her devoted 16-year-old cat Murray—and is thrilled to be stepping into the world of podcasting with *The Big Party Show*, bringing her wit, warmth, and a little bit of mischief to a brand-new platform.