That Was Us

This week on That Was Us, we’re so excited to welcome actor, director, and producer Ken Olin to talk about his time working on This Is Us and the many roles he’s played behind the camera! Ken reflects on his transition from acting to directing, how his approach has evolved across shows like thirtysomething, Alias, and Brothers & Sisters, and what it means to lead a creative team while keeping the focus on the writing and performances. In this episode, the hosts chat about: * Ken’s experience as a producing director on This Is Us and how it compared to his work on Alias and Brothers & Sisters * His transition from acting to directing and how he got his start behind the camera on thirtysomething * Ken’s directing philosophy and why he prioritizes the writing and actors over camera work * The cultural impact of This Is Us and its emotional storytelling * The New York Times’ list of the 100 greatest TV shows of the 21st century — and This Is Us being left off * The show’s Emmy nominations and recognition for its cast and crew * How celebrity culture has changed from the ’80s and ’90s to today, particularly with the rise of social media * Ken’s political activism and presence on social media * The cast’s appreciation for Ken’s direction, mentorship, and emotional support * Behind-the-scenes stories from filming, including the challenges of shooting an episode near Van Nuys Airport with airplane noise And a friendly reminder, you can catch new episodes of That Was Us every Monday, a day early, exclusively on Hulu. Available on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts on Tuesdays like usual! That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith. ------------------------- Support Our Sponsors: - For 15% off your first unique gift, visit https://uncommongoods.com/THATWASUS. - Give the gift of quality this holiday season. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. And when Quince asks where you heard about them, let them know it was That Was Us. It’s the best way to support the show. - Thank you Tin Can for sponsoring! Go to https://tincan.com/THATWASUS for $10 off your first order. - When refreshing your home this holiday season, Wayfair delivers exactly what you need. Head to https://Wayfair.com to shop all things home. - Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at https://freestyle.world/THATWASUS with code THATWASUS. That's a full month of premium diapers delivered to your door for just $49/month for your first 3 months. ------------------------- 🍋 About the Show: The stars of This Is Us, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan, dive back into the world of the Pearsons, reliving each episode and all the life lessons that came with it. Together, they dig in and dig deep, have the tough conversations, bring in very special and familiar guests, share never-before-heard behind-the-scenes moments, and feature listeners in highly anticipated fan segments. Join your favorite family back in the living room to examine our past, cherish our present, and look to the future with new episodes of That Was Us every Tuesday. Executive Producers: Natalie Holysz and Rob Holysz Creative Producer: Sam Skelton Production Coordinator: Andrew Rowley Video Editor: Todd Hughlett Mix & Master: Jason Richards About Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com. » SUBSCRIBE to Headgum: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeadGum?sub_confirmation=1 » FOLLOW us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/headgum » FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/headgum/ » FOLLOW us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headgum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of That Was Us, we’re diving into Season 6, Episode 9: The Hill. As Kate and Toby struggle to reconcile the lives they want with the future of their family, a visit to San Francisco forces them to confront just how much they’ve changed. Meanwhile, flashbacks to the Big Three’s childhood reveal Kate’s long-standing struggle to imagine a future for herself and the courage it takes to take the next step. In this episode, the hosts chat about: * Their recent travels, family updates, and funny parenting stories * The meaning of being a “hipster” and what makes someone cool * How friendships and social trips can look different for men and women * Mandy Moore’s experience directing the episode, including coordinating the pool scenes with child actors and navigating a COVID scare during filming They also break down the episode, including: * Young Kate’s struggles with body image and feeling overwhelmed at the pool, and her difficulty picturing a future for herself as a teenager * Kate and Toby’s growing differences as they realize they want different things for their family * Kate imagining “Old Toby” during intimate moments and struggling to reconcile who he used to be with who he is now * Kate discovering that Toby turned down an LA job offer without telling her, leading to a climactic argument about their family’s future * Kate’s decision to pursue a new opportunity and take a step toward building a future on her own terms And a friendly reminder, you can catch new episodes of That Was Us every Monday, a day early, exclusively on Hulu. Available on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts on Tuesdays like usual!That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith. ------------------------- Support Our Sponsors: - For 15% off your first unique gift, visit https://uncommongoods.com/THATWASUS. - Explore viral bestsellers and products of healthier hair of ALL types from Bask and Lather. Go to https://baskandlatherco.com. ------------------------- 🍋 About the Show: The stars of This Is Us, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan, dive back into the world of the Pearsons, reliving each episode and all the life lessons that came with it. Together, they dig in and dig deep, have the tough conversations, bring in very special and familiar guests, share never-before-heard behind-the-scenes moments, and feature listeners in highly anticipated fan segments. Join your favorite family back in the living room to examine our past, cherish our present, and look to the future with new episodes of That Was Us every Tuesday. Executive Producers: Natalie Holysz and Rob Holysz Creative Producer: Sam Skelton Production Coordinator: Andrew Rowley Video Editor: Todd Hughlett Mix & Master: Jason Richards About Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com. » SUBSCRIBE to Headgum: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeadGum?sub_confirmation=1 » FOLLOW us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/headgum » FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/headgum/ » FOLLOW us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headgum/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on That Was Us…we’re back with another favorite segment of the pod, Chat Was Us! This time, we’re talking about a topic that was at the heart of so many This Is Us stories: mental health. From Randall’s anxiety to Kevin’s addiction and Kate’s struggles with body image, the show explored the many ways mental health can shape our lives. Mandy, Sterling, and Chris get candid about their own experiences, the habits they’re working on, and the tools that help them navigate life’s challenges. In this episode, the conversation covers: * How they approach mental health check-ins and reflect on their own habits * Overthinking conversations and replaying interactions long after they happen * The importance of alone time and learning to protect the time they need to recharge * Why asking for help can be difficult, even when you know you need it * How they handle worst-case scenarios and the stories they tell themselves when things go wrong * Setting boundaries, saying no, and navigating people-pleasing tendencies * Learning to talk about difficult feelings instead of keeping them bottled up * How their understanding of mental health has evolved over the years * Recognizing when others are struggling versus recognizing those same patterns in themselves * The tools they rely on to maintain their mental health, from therapy and meditation to exercise, sleep, and journaling * What they’ve learned about mental health through playing their This Is Us characters * A game of guessing which This Is Us character said some memorable lines about mental health And a friendly reminder, you can catch new episodes of That Was Us every Monday, a day early, exclusively on Hulu. Available on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts on Tuesdays like usual! That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith. ------------------------- Support Our Sponsors: - Ready to clean out your closet and make some extra money? Download the Vinted app for free and start listing. With no seller fees, you keep every dollar you earn. - Get 40% off select Lola Blankets products at https://Lolablankets.com by using code THATWASUS at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets. ------------------------- 🍋 About the Show: The stars of This Is Us, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan, dive back into the world of the Pearsons, reliving each episode and all the life lessons that came with it. Together, they dig in and dig deep, have the tough conversations, bring in very special and familiar guests, share never-before-heard behind-the-scenes moments, and feature listeners in highly anticipated fan segments. Join your favorite family back in the living room to examine our past, cherish our present, and look to the future with new episodes of That Was Us every Tuesday. Executive Producers: Natalie Holysz and Rob Holysz Creative Producer: Sam Skelton Production Coordinator: Andrew Rowley Video Editor: Todd Hughlett Mix & Master: Jason Richards About Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com. » SUBSCRIBE to Headgum: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeadGum?sub_confirmation=1 » FOLLOW us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/headgum » FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/headgum/ » FOLLOW us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headgum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of That Was Us, we’re diving into Season 6, Episode 8: “The Guitar Man.” Sterling K. Brown and co-host Ryan Michelle Bathe are joined in studio by the episode’s co-writer, Jake Schnesel, to discuss the making of the episode. As Kevin takes his twin babies to the family cabin on his own, he struggles with his confidence as a father. Meanwhile, Cassidy experiences an unexpected trauma response, and Nicky helps Kevin understand that sometimes the best thing you can do for someone is simply be there. In this episode, the hosts chat about: * Jake Schnesel’s journey from assistant to writer, and how Dan Fogelman encouraged him to pursue his own writing career * The differences between writing for a drama like This Is Us and a comedy-mystery like Only Murders in the Building * The pressures and fears of working in a comedy writers’ room * Parental guilt, grand gestures, and a fan’s special trip with her daughter to see the hosts live * Ryan’s hilarious mispronunciations and Sterling’s stories about her language mishaps They also break down the episode, including: * Kevin taking his twins to the cabin alone and learning to sit with the discomfort of being a new parent * Cassidy’s PTSD-related car accident after what seemed like an otherwise good day with her son * Nicky sharing his own experience with trauma and teaching Kevin that he doesn’t need to fix everything for Cassidy * The Pearson siblings saying goodbye to their childhood home at the pool, as Kevin grapples with feeling like he doesn’t belong in the deep end * Kevin discovering a new sense of purpose through building homes for veterans and connecting with his father’s legacy * Justin Hartley’s voice memo reflecting on Kevin’s journey and his experience working with Milo Ventimiglia as director And a friendly reminder, you can catch new episodes of That Was Us every Monday, a day early, exclusively on Hulu. Available on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts on Tuesdays like usual! That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith. ------------------------- Support Our Sponsors: - Thanks to Article for sponsoring this podcast! Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit https://www.article.com/discount/twu and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout. - Shop now at https://Fabletics.com/THATWASUS to get 70–80% off everything when you sign up as a new VIP. Take a quick style quiz and be sure to select THATWASUS when prompted to unlock this offer. Don’t wait to start checking everyone off your list. - Machine Washable Rugs, Made Better. For a limited time only, our listeners get 10% off + free shipping at tumbleliving.com/THATWASUS #Tumble #ad ------------------------- 🍋 About the Show: The stars of This Is Us, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan, dive back into the world of the Pearsons, reliving each episode and all the life lessons that came with it. Together, they dig in and dig deep, have the tough conversations, bring in very special and familiar guests, share never-before-heard behind-the-scenes moments, and feature listeners in highly anticipated fan segments. Join your favorite family back in the living room to examine our past, cherish our present, and look to the future with new episodes of That Was Us every Tuesday. Executive Producers: Natalie Holysz and Rob Holysz Creative Producer: Sam Skelton Production Coordinator: Andrew Rowley Video Editor: Todd Hughlett Mix & Master: Jason Richards About Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com. » SUBSCRIBE to Headgum: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeadGum?sub_confirmation=1 » FOLLOW us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/headgum » FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/headgum/ » FOLLOW us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headgum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on That Was Us, Sterling and co-host Ryan Michelle Bathe are joined in studio by Caitlin Thompson, who played Madison on This Is Us. From Madison’s evolution from comedic relief to a fully realized character, to the realities of navigating Hollywood as a woman and a mother, Caitlin reflects on her years on the show, her transition from acting to writing, and the experiences that have shaped her both personally and creatively. In this episode, Caitlin chats about: * Her transition from acting to writing and how her feature script Ohio Girl became her calling card as a writer * Her writing process and why she needs to feel personally invested in the stories she tells * Madison’s evolution from comedic relief hiding behind a mask to a fully dimensional character who found her voice * The meaning behind the saying “every baby comes with a loaf of bread” and how it connected to Caitlin booking a series regular role on This Is Us * The challenges of filming Season 5 while navigating postpartum life, breastfeeding, and COVID protocols * How motherhood changed her perspective * The unrealistic expectations placed on women in Hollywood * The extra demands women face in auditions, from wardrobe expectations to the pressure to fit a certain image * Filming the overlapping dialogue scene between Kevin and Madison and why it became a defining moment for her as the character * Finding creative fulfillment and community as a mother, including writing and making time for herself * Using The Brick to limit social media and how stepping away from her phone has helped her stay focused And a friendly reminder, you can catch new episodes of That Was Us every Monday, a day early, exclusively on Hulu. Available on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts on Tuesdays like usual! That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith. ------------------------- Support Our Sponsors: - Go to https://kachava.com and use code THATWASUS for 15% off your first order. - Make your bed your favorite place to be this season with Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. And when Quince asks where you heard about them, let them know it was That Was Us. It’s the best way to support the show. - Thank you Tin Can for sponsoring! Go to https://tincan.com/THATWASUS for $10 off your first order. - Find pieces made for real life, and get even more value with Wayfair Rewards. Join Wayfair Rewards today to get 5% back on every purchase. Head to https://Wayfair.com to shop all things home. ------------------------- 🍋 About the Show: The stars of This Is Us, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan, dive back into the world of the Pearsons, reliving each episode and all the life lessons that came with it. Together, they dig in and dig deep, have the tough conversations, bring in very special and familiar guests, share never-before-heard behind-the-scenes moments, and feature listeners in highly anticipated fan segments. Join your favorite family back in the living room to examine our past, cherish our present, and look to the future with new episodes of That Was Us every Tuesday. ------------------------- Executive Producers: Natalie Holysz and Rob Holysz Creative Producer: Sam Skelton Production Coordinator: Andrew Rowley Video Editor: Todd Hughlett Mix & Master: Jason Richards About Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com. » SUBSCRIBE to Headgum: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeadGum?sub_confirmation=1 » FOLLOW us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/headgum » FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/headgum/ » FOLLOW us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headgum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices