That Was Us

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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On today’s episode of That Was Us, we’re diving into Season 6, Episode 7: Taboo. As the Pearsons gather for Thanksgiving, Kate and Toby confront lingering tension and Rebecca makes an important decision about who will care for her as her illness progresses.

In this episode, the hosts chat about:

* Their competitive nature and love of board games, especially Taboo

* Their own relationships with food growing up and how those relationships have changed as parents

* The challenges of navigating food and body image within families

* The complicated dynamics of spending Thanksgiving with family

They also break down the episode, including:

* Rebecca choosing Kate to be in charge of her care if anything happens to Miguel, and Randall’s reaction

* Rebecca and Miguel’s hilarious and revealing game of Taboo

* Kate and Toby’s conflict over parenting and food

* The different Thanksgiving timelines, including Rebecca’s childhood experiences with food and body image

* Miguel telling Rebecca he needs to move to Houston and admitting that she’s his favorite person

* Rebecca realizing that her feelings for Miguel have changed

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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Support Our Sponsors:

- 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…another favorite segment of the pod, Chat Was Us! This time, we’re talking about something at the heart of so many This Is Us stories: marriage, partnership, and what it means to build a life together. And for this conversation, Mandy, Sterling, and Chris have brought along their spouses! Together, the six of them get candid about love, commitment, compromise, and all the ways a marriage evolves over time.

In this episode, the conversation covers:

- How each couple knew they wanted to build a life together

- Whether marriage was always something they imagined for themselves

- The memories they each hold onto from their wedding days

- What they remember most about the first year of marriage

- The ingredients they believe make for a successful marriage

- How you navigate the fact that two people can change dramatically over the course of a marriage

- The role compromise plays in a healthy partnership

- How having children can change a marriage

- The importance of continuing to choose each other through different seasons of life

- And a few fun marriage superlatives along the way!

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

On today’s episode of That Was Us, we’re diving into Season 6, Episode 6: Our Little Island Girl, Part Two. Beth steps into her calling as a mentor, Kevin faces the consequences of his choices, and the Pearsons reckon with the people and experiences that have shaped who they’ve become.

In this episode, the hosts chat about:

* The TV shows and movies they’re watching right now, including Furious, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Widow’s Bay, Ted Lasso, and Good Luck, Don’t Die

* Their thoughts on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, including Samantha Morton’s standout performance

* The mentors and teachers who shaped their careers and why teachers are so important

* Redefining what success can look like and why there’s no one path to a fulfilling life
They also break down the episode, including:

* Beth finding her purpose at a dance academy

* Beth mentoring Stacy and helping her get back on her feet after a difficult performance

* Beth confronting her former dance teacher and making peace with her past

* Kevin confessing his infidelity to Sophie and the fallout that follows

* Beth’s future as a mentor and Stacy’s success as a dancer

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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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.

- Once you try Magnetic Me clothing for your little ones, you’ll never want to go back to buttons or zippers! New customers can get 15% off sitewide at https://magneticme.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 joined in studio by Lyric Ross, who grew up before our eyes as Deja Pearson on This Is Us. From booking the role at just thirteen to navigating life and her career as a young adult, Lyric reflects on her years on the show, the challenges that shaped her, and the person she’s becoming beyond Deja.

In this episode, Lyric chats about:

• Moving back to Los Angeles after returning to Chicago following This Is Us and what she hopes to find in this next chapter

• Getting her start as an actor in Chicago and the childhood moment that first sparked her love of performing

• Booking This Is Us at thirteen and Sterling’s memories of knowing she was the right person to play Deja

• The work ethic her mother instilled in her and learning to trust herself as a performer

• Cutting her hair for Deja and the complicated experience of navigating beauty, identity, and self-esteem as a young Black girl

• Her journey from struggling with low self-esteem to seeing her own beauty and finding confidence through her faith

• What it means to see herself as a child of God and how her faith has shaped her identity

• Working with Joy Brunson and Asante Black and the challenges and rewards of some of Deja’s most emotional storylines

• Why watching herself on screen is still one of the hardest parts of being an actor

• The qualities she admires in Deja, including her boldness, bravery, and self-assurance

• Navigating the transition from child actor to young adult and searching for more mature, challenging roles

• Continuing to build her career beyond This Is Us, including her role in Ironheart on Disney+

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:

- Find the fall pieces you’ll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://Quince.com/twu. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too.

- Explore viral bestsellers and products of healthier hair of ALL types from Bask and Lather. Go to https://baskandlatherco.com.

- Go to https://MySkylight.com/THATWASUS for $30 off your 15 inch Calendar

- Go to https://kachava.com and use code THATWASUS for 15% off your first order.

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

🍋 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