How did Deja find her way to the Pearson family? This week, we find out the answers to all your questions surrounding Deja and the two other generations of women that shaped her journey as we discuss episode 217, “This Big, Amazing, Beautiful Life.” Mandy, Chris, and Sterling talk about the masterful weaving together of flashbacks to the present-day storyline in the show, the HOT TAKE about “Goodnight Moon,” and the parallel of this episode’s title to those on the journey to recovery. Plus, the ...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 15 min
This week, dynamic directing duo and Executive Producers on This Is Us, John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, join the podcast! It feels like a family reunion with Mandy, Chris, Sterling, John, and Glenn as they reminisce about memories on set and what it was like working together. John and Glenn talk about what life was like before This Is Us and how they got started in their careers, world building on the show and how their directing style informed the show’s “peak behind the curtain” feel viewers cam...
Apr 08, 2025•1 hr 11 min
This week, Mandy, Chris, and Sterling dive into This Is Us episode 216, Vegas, Baby, where Kate and Toby’s joint bachelor/bachelorette trip brings surprising revelations for everyone. The hosts talk about Jack’s love language over the years after watching the kids’ heartfelt (but chaotic) attempt to throw Jack and Rebecca an anniversary celebration, they break down what it was really like behind the scenes filming in Vegas (from fan encounters to deleted scenes), plus Chris gives everyone a new ...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 15 min
On this week’s episode, the hosts talk about episode 215, where we see the Pearson family through the perspective of the family car throughout the years and how they’re starting to deal with their grief in the aftermath of Jack’s death. Mandy, Chris, and Sterling reflect on their own family car memories, coin the term "Jack-oquy" to describe Jack’s heartfelt monologues, talk about Rebecca’s fear of bridges, reflect on Jack’s wish for everyone to be “okay,” AND they welcome special guests, Showru...
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Season 2Ep. 17
We have a very special guest joining us this week for the infamous 214 “Super Bowl Sunday” episode, This Is Us Creator Dan Fogelman! Dan joins Mandy, Chris, and Sterling to chat about the episode where it’s finally revealed how Jack Pearson dies. They break down all the episode details, plus how this episode came to be in the writer’s room, what they did (and didn’t) plan before Season 1, the great lengths the cast and crew had to go to to keep this episode’s secrets under wraps, and so much mor...
Mar 18, 2025•2 hr 35 min•Season 2Ep. 16
This week Mandy, Chris, and Sterling chat about first kisses, how dogs teach us how to die, and the magic of the writers on This Is Us. They break down 213, That’ll Be the Day, where Kevin takes a major step in making peace with his past, Randall learns the hard way about the realities of being a landlord, and Kate’s visit to a dog shelter brings unexpected surprises. Plus, the talented Lena Waithe, who guest-starred on 213, makes an appearance on the podcast this week! That Was Us is produced b...
Mar 11, 2025•2 hr 30 min•Season 2Ep. 15
This week on That Was Us, Mandy, Chris, and Sterling discuss the importance of the “strays always find who needs them” theme running through the episode, from William’s cat Clooney to the lost pieces of each character’s past. Kate finally sees Madison, Kevin finally sees the sacrifices Jack made, and Randall realizes William’s lost love is the view from his window – but at the heart of this story is Randall’s desire to connect with William and his former life. Plus, the hosts also chat with Oliv...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 14
This week on That Was Us, Mandy, Chris, and Sterling break down all the family dynamics and emotional layers happening when the whole Pearson family visits Kevin at rehab and goes through therapy together. They chat about how introspection is uncomfortable and how motherhood can be the most rewarding but most challenging time. They also discuss “The New Big Three” (not to be confused with the That Was Us Big Three) and how Toby, Beth, and Miguel banded together in this episode. That Was Us is pr...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Get excited because This is Us Co-Showrunners Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger join us to share their experience leading the beloved series for all six seasons. They take us behind the scenes of their creative process, from how episodes were assigned to writers to their synergy with creator Dan Fogelman. We also dive into the art of bringing humanity to every episode, the challenge of handling actor improvisations, and the debate over incorporating COVID into the show. Plus, they reveal which ...
Feb 18, 2025•58 min•Season 2Ep. 12
In the third and final episode focused on the Pearson siblings, we follow Randall as he revisits childhood memories, feels the impact of having Deja in his life, and contemplates how his life might have changed if just one thing had happened differently. Sterling chats about all the scenes from this episode that made him emotional, while Mandy and Chris discuss how the show made them think about how their life could’ve taken many different turns. Plus, the talented Niles Fitch, AKA 17-year-old R...
Feb 11, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 11
In this week’s episode, we follow Kate’s journey and the moments from childhood that shaped her into the woman she is today. From secretly dreaming of attending the Berklee College of Music to navigating life’s toughest heartbreaks, this episode gives us a greater understanding of why Kate is guarded. Mandy, Chris, and Sterling discuss how parents provide more than just physical shelter—they shape emotional security, too. Plus, we unpack Ka-Toby’s heartbreaking miscarriage, how they process grie...
Feb 04, 2025•53 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Welcome back to That Was Us! We’re so happy to be back after our hiatus. This is the first of three This Is Us episodes dedicated to each Pearson sibling. First up…Kevin Pearson! We dive into the struggles teenage Kevin faces during the college application process and the life-altering news Jack has to deliver to him after his injury. Mandy, Chris, and Sterling break down how adult Kevin spirals after returning to his high school while on a bender, where he’s being honored—only to truly hit rock...
Jan 28, 2025•58 min•Season 2Ep. 9
RE-RELEASE episode! This week, we revisit the fascinating conversation with the composer of “This Is Us,” “Only Murders in the Building,” and so much more… Siddhartha Khosla. The hosts talk about Sidd’s music being a “warm musical hug,” the reverse engineering that went into not only the writing of the show but scoring as well, how Sidd's upbringing inspired the soundtrack, what it was like being college roommates with This is Us creator Dan Fogelman and so much more! Performing his song, “Everg...
Jan 14, 2025•2 hr 33 min
RE-RELEASE episode! Before we get back to new episodes, we're continuing with our special re-releases for anyone who may have missed out on these fan-favorite episodes! This week, Jon Huertas, AKA Miguel Rivas, is with us! That's right, Jack's best friend and Rebecca's second husband. Jon chats about his audition process for the role of Miguel, the epic way he found out Miguel married Rebecca, how he handled negative comments about Miguel’s character, the prosthetics process, what Jon felt as an...
Jan 07, 2025•52 min
RE-RELEASE episode! We're looking back on some of our listeners' favorite episodes over the next few weeks and re-sharing them for anyone who might've missed the conversation! This week, we're starting with Susan Kelechi Watson aka Beth Pearson! We hear about everything from her audition process, what it meant to Susan to portray a modern black woman in America on television, the importance of a hair and makeup team who understands the individual's needs, the behind-the-scenes efforts that went ...
Dec 31, 2024•53 min
That's a wrap on 2024, This Is Us fans! Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey through both the heartbreaking and hilarious moments of the show! We're sending a big Pearson-sized hug to all our amazing listeners! We're taking a little holiday break to recharge and prepare for more Pearson family deep dives. But don't worry, we'll be back with new episodes on January 21st! Until then, may your days be filled with warmth, laughter, and maybe a little bit of ugly crying (it wouldn't be...
Dec 24, 2024•38 sec
This week on That Was Us, we break down that intense courtroom scene with Randall's adoption case judge (Delroy Lindo) and how his scenes in this episode sparked major discourse among This Is Us fans. We also discuss Kevin's "nightmare" confession to Sophie, how Mandy, Chris, and Sterling are surprised by the show's twists and turns, and what it is like to gain an audience's trust. Were you surprised by William's legal battles briefly intersecting with Jack and Rebecca's court case? Plus, specia...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Join us as we dive into "The 20's," an episode that explores the pivotal moments and defining experiences of the Pearson family in their twenties. We'll delve into Kevin's core wound, the personal romantic struggles Kate is going through, and the challenges and joys of parenthood for Beth and Randall— which leads Sterling, Mandy, and Chris to ask themselves and listeners: “What kind of answers did your children bring when they came into the world?” Plus, we're joined by the talented Zoe Hay, mak...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Join us as we recap "Brothers," the episode that shows us the inner workings of not only Randall and Kevin’s brotherly bond (or lack thereof) but Jack’s complicated relationship with, surprise, his own brother! We'll delve into Jack's complex relationship with his father, the discovery of his brother Nicky, and the lingering impact of their childhood trauma. We'll also discuss Kevin's turn towards painkillers, the heartwarming breakthrough between Randall and Deja, and Ka-Toby sharing the excite...
Dec 03, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 2Ep. 6
There's a lot that's still lingering for the Pearson family...and in this episode we dive into Kate, Kevin, and Randall's past to uncover what's eating away at them. From the kids battling chickenpox to the Pearsons confronting deeper issues like identity, racism, and generational differences, this episode had A LOT to cover. We discuss Kate’s pregnancy secret, Kevin’s fight to rise above his injury, and Randall piecing together how his race shaped his family dynamic. Plus, Rebecca’s complicated...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Join us for a special episode featuring the amazing Chrissy Metz, who captured our hearts as Kate Pearson on This Is Us! Chrissy opens up about her incredible journey from working as an agent to landing the role of Kate with just $0.81 in her bank account. She shares candidly about overcoming self-doubt, finding confidence, and the profound impact playing Kate had on her own life. That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Thre...
Nov 19, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Join us as we revisit the episode where Jack takes a brave step toward recovery, Randall embarks on a journey to find his birth mother, and Deja adjusts to life with the Pearsons. We'll discuss the emotional challenges of working on a deeply moving show like This Is Us and how the cast and crew navigate those intense moments on set. Plus, we'll delve into Deja's story and the power of finding your place in a new family (specifically the Pearson family!). And guess who's joining us? The amazing L...
Nov 12, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Join us as we revisit the episode where Kevin does a memorable taping of "The Manny," Kate finds her voice (literally!), and Randall and Beth consider expanding their family. We'll dive deep into Kate's struggle with self-doubt and the complex mother-daughter dynamics between her and Rebecca, sharing our own relatable experiences with parental relationships. Plus, we'll explore the ripple effects of fostering and how it impacts the entire family ecosystem, offering "a lesson for living," as Ster...
Nov 05, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Another year, another birthday, and the Big Three are turning 37! That’s right, we’re talking about the season two premiere of “This Is Us.” Big life changes are transpiring, including perhaps the biggest to come: Jack’s death. It’s in this episode that we get a closer look at when and how Jack might have died. Here to catch up with us and provide his POV on the matter is Logan Shroyer, aka Teen Kevin. Ready? That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions and Sara Wehrheim. Follow That Was U...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Here with us to celebrate Season One of This Is Us is Executive Producer and Director of 32 episodes of This Is Us, Ken Olin. Join us as we attempt to recap the best moments of season one... emphasis on "attempt" because, with Ken Olin, we can get carried away. You know the conversation will be interesting, and we know you'll love Ken Olin like we do by the end of the episode. And then? Get ready for Season Two of That Was Us.
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 24
It’s the episode you’ve all been waiting for… Milo Ventimiglia, aka Jack Pearson, is in the house! And you know what? ENOUGH SAID. Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X!
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 23
The season one finale of “This Is Us” has us worried about the future of Jack and Rebecca… In today’s episode of “That Was Us,” we catch up with Sam Trammell, aka Rebecca’s old boyfriend and bandmate, Ben, whose surprise kiss kicks off a punch to the face, the end of the band, and the biggest fight between Jack and Rebecca yet. Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X!
Oct 08, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 22
In the aftermath of William’s passing, Tess and Annie throw a Fun-eral (emphasis on “fun”), while Randall considers how to honor William's life. How do we honor the legacy of loved ones no longer with us? How do we grieve and move on without their physical presence? Join us as we recap the episode, and welcome Denis O’Hare (Jessie, William’s partner) as our special guest... All the way from France! Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X!
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 21
In Memphis, we said goodbye to William Hill, but as we know, his story continues on through the fabric of the Pearson’s lives. We also remember Ron Cephas Jones, whose stunning portrayal of William left us with infinite lessons, wisdom, and broken hearts. Join us as we recap the episode, share its impact on our lives, and catch up with Jermel Nakia, aka Younger William. Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X!
Sep 24, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 20
What would Jack Pearson do? In the moments before Kevin is due to take the stage on the opening night of his play, he asks himself this question. The answer had all of us crying. We watched Kevin run to his brother, Randall, who is still at the office, curled up on the floor, in the midst of a breakdown, and just hold him. A beautiful moment for brothers who have not had an easy going relationship, and a full circle moment for Kevin, to do the right thing. We also examine the other Pearson relat...
Sep 17, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 19
