That Was Us

This week on That Was Us, we’re joined in studio by Faithe Herman, who grew up before our eyes as Annie Pearson on This Is Us. Joining the series at just eight years old and wrapping at fourteen, Faithe reflects on what it was like to spend her childhood on one of television’s most beloved family dramas, and how the cast became a second family along the way.

In this episode, Faithe chats about:

• Booking This Is Us as her very first TV pilot audition and the unforgettable callback process

• Growing up alongside Eris Baker and Lyric Ross and how their on-screen sibling bond became a real-life friendship

• What it was like working with Sterling K. Brown and Susan Kelechi Watson as her TV parents for six seasons

• Annie Pearson’s evolution from the quiet observer of the family to one of the show's most emotionally insightful characters

• The memorable scene with Ron Cephas Jones and why it helped her see Annie in a new way

• Learning the craft of acting as she got older and discovering a genuine passion for performance

• The emotional party popper scene and the lesson Sterling taught her afterward

• Expanding her career beyond This Is Us with projects like Shazam! and Watchmen

• Making the long commute from San Diego to Los Angeles

• Attending the SAG Awards as a kid and navigating growing up in the spotlight

• Sterling’s efforts to make sure Annie remained part of the show’s final chapter and why Annie’s appearance on the train meant so much

• Starting college, turning eighteen, and finding balance between school, adulthood, and her acting career

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.

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🍋 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.

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On today’s episode of That Was Us, we’re diving into Season 5, Episode 14: "The Music and the Mirror." As Beth questions her future after the collapse of her dance studio, Kate searches for purpose and confidence, Kevin reflects on the life he’s building with Madison, and Toby struggles with feeling lost after losing his job.

In this episode, the hosts chat about:

* Chris’s journey from competitive tennis to pickleball

* Mandy’s evolving relationship with music and finding her way back to singing

* Parenting, communication, and helping kids navigate big emotions and boundaries

* Beth’s emotional journey as her dance studio struggles through the pandemic

* Randall learning that sometimes support means showing up rather than fixing the problem

* Kevin’s disastrous movie screening and growing doubts about his future with Madison

* Rebecca and Kate’s emotional reconciliation and the healing of old wounds

* Toby’s struggle with unemployment, pride, and asking for help

They’re also joined by Abby Romeo and her mother Christine, from Love on the Spectrum, to discuss:

* How This Is Us helped them better understand one another

* Abby’s experience as a Gestalt thinker and why the show's flashback structure resonates with her

* The importance of openness and representation when talking about autism

* Abby’s songwriting process and how music helps her process her experiences

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.

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🍋 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 trying something a little different. Inspired by the heart of This Is Us and where we currently are in the rewatch with Kevin and Randall’s reconciliation, the hosts kick off a brand new “Group Chat” format centered around one big theme: siblings! From birth order and family roles to rivalry, resentment, and deep love, Mandy, Sterling, and Chris open up about their own sibling dynamics and the ways those relationships continue to shape who they are today.

In this episode, the hosts chat about:

* Their own sibling dynamics, age gaps, and the roles they played growing up

* How birth order can shape personality, ambition, and family identity

* Why siblings raised in the same household often feel like they had completely different parents

* The ways Kevin, Kate, and Randall mirror real-life sibling dynamics and coping mechanisms

* How trauma and major life events can permanently shape sibling relationships

* Caring for aging parents and how siblings divide emotional and logistical responsibilities

* Why the sibling who moves away often experiences family differently

* The lasting impact of family roles well into adulthood

* Whether siblings naturally grow closer with age—or drift apart

* “Hot takes” about siblings, including parent favorites, youngest-child privilege, and whether siblings are built-in best friends or built-in enemies

* The value of staying connected to family, even when relationships are complicated

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:

-This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit https://Betterhelp.com/twu today to get 10% off your first month.

-------------------------

🍋 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 breaking down This Is Us Season 5, Episode 13: “Brotherly Love.” As Kevin travels to Philadelphia to finally confront the unresolved tension between himself and Randall, the episode explores race, identity, jealousy, and the complicated realities of growing up as brothers who experienced the same childhood very differently.

In this episode, the hosts chat about:

* The meaning behind Philadelphia being called the “City of Brotherly Love”

* What real apologies and amends actually look like

* Thoughtlessness vs. overt racism and how those conversations show up in everyday life

* Choreographing fights, drunk acting, and Milo’s performance as intoxicated Jack

* Personal stories about early adulthood struggles, cheap meals, and figuring life out in your twenties

They also break down the episode, including:

* Young Randall imagining his “ghost kingdom” parents

* Jack taking Kevin and Randall to a taping of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

* Kevin’s resentment over Randall receiving “special treatment” as a child

* Kevin and Randall’s drunken spring break trip and explosive cab fight in college

* Randall explaining the emotional complexity of growing up Black in a white family

* Their argument about gratitude, adoption, and feeling like an outsider in your own home

* Kevin finally acknowledging his jealousy and Randall’s lived experience as a Black man

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.

-------------------------

🍋 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 breaking down This Is Us Season 5, Episode 12: “Both Things Can Be True.” As Kevin and Madison’s wedding approaches, the episode explores commitment, family expectations, and the complicated ways people learn to communicate with the ones they love. From Jack’s proposal plans for Rebecca in the past, to Kevin navigating unresolved tension with Randall in the present, the episode asks what it really means to show up for the people you care about.

In this episode, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan chat about:

* Asking for a partner’s parents’ blessing and whether that tradition still feels meaningful today

* Parenting dynamics and the emotional complexity of stay-at-home parenting

* The pressure parents can unknowingly place on their children

* Digital de-aging, wigs, and the behind-the-scenes magic

* Candy Corn: love or hate?

They also break down the episode, including:

* Miguel helping Jack rehearse his proposal to Rebecca

* Miguel defending Jack to Rebecca’s father and proving just how loyal of a friend he is

* Kevin struggling to ask Randall to be his best man after their explosive fight

* Nicky and Miguel clashing and feeling “replaced” by Jack’s death

* Madison opening up about what kind of wedding she actually wants

* Toby struggling with stay-at-home parenting while Kate starts her new job

* Beth navigating Tess and Alex’s relationship while trying to support Tess without judgment

* Randall attending a transracial adoptee support group

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:

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- 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.

-------------------------

🍋 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