That Was Us

with Sterling K. Brown and Mandy Moore and Chris Sullivan

A This Is Us Rewatch Podcast

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That Was Us

A Childhood Tragedy Changes Everything | "The Challenger" (601)\ 7/14/2026

This week on That Was Us, we’re breaking down This Is Us Season 6, Episode 1: “The Challenger.” Through the lens of one of America’s most shocking tragedies, the episode explores how children process grief, fear, and uncertainty. From the Challenger explosion, to Randall’s need to save others, to Rebecca’s growing memory loss, this episode reminds us that the moments we never fully understand as kids often stay with us forever. In this episode, the hosts chat about:

• The surprising return of Pop-Tarts (including the new protein-packed versions)
• Their own childhood lemonade stand successes (and failures)
• Talking to young children about death, grief, and mortality
• How kids process difficult events differently at different ages
• Getting older, staying healthy, and confronting our own mortality

They also break down the episode, including:

• The Challenger disaster and why it became such a defining moment for a generation
• How Kevin, Kate, and Randall each react differently to the tragedy
• Rebecca's fear that Randall will spend his life trying to save everyone around him
• The origins of Randall's "catcher in the rye" instinct to help people in need
• Randall's encounter with the man who burglarized his home and his decision to help rather than punish
• Rebecca's growing memory concerns and the significance of the missing word "caboose"
• The heartbreaking PET scan results that reveal plaques forming in Rebecca's brain

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.

That Was Us

Chat Was Us | Romantic Love\ 7/7/2026

This week on That Was Us…we’re back with another Chat Was Us! Inspired by the many love stories that have defined This Is Us, from Jack and Rebecca to Beth and Randall, the hosts gather for another Group Chat episode centered around one big theme: romantic love. From first crushes and first heartbreaks to soulmates, red flags, and the realities of long-term partnership, Mandy, Sterling, and Chris reflect on how their understanding of love has evolved over the years. In this episode, the hosts chat about:

• How their definitions of romantic love have changed from their teens to middle age
• Their first experiences with romantic love and the awkward, unforgettable stories that came with them
• Whether soulmates really exist or if lasting love is a choice you make every day
• How movies, rom-coms, and pop culture shaped unrealistic expectations about relationships
• The impact of films like The Notebook, Say Anything, and Love Actually on how we think about romance
• Why kindness, intelligence, and emotional availability become more important with age
• The allure of "bad boys," the friend zone, and how dating priorities shift over time
• First heartbreaks, devastating breakups, and the lessons they still carry today
• How heartbreak can create walls, mistrust, and fear in future relationships
• Why friendship may be the strongest foundation for lasting romantic love
• The hosts' own "Raise a Flag" game, covering topics like staying friends with exes, sharing locations, saying "I love you" too soon, slow texting, work spouses, and emotional affairs
• The balance between autonomy and safety when it comes to location sharing with partners and family members

Plus, along the way, the conversation takes a few unexpected detours into aging, pickleball, preschool graduations, raising teenagers, and all the ways life continues to shape how we love. 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.

That Was Us

Kevin and Madison Call Off Their Wedding | "The Adirondacks" with Chris Geere (516)\ 6/30/2026

This week on That Was Us, we’re breaking down This Is Us Season 5, Episode 16: “The Adirondacks,” with special guest Chris Geere AKA Phillip! What begins as Kevin and Madison’s wedding day quickly becomes one of the most emotional turning points of the series, as long-buried fears, hard truths, and questions about what love really means come to the surface. As some relationships move forward, others are forced to confront whether love alone is enough. In this episode, the hosts chat about:

• The realities of co-parenting and finding a path forward after a relationship changes
• The shocking flash-forward that reveals Kate’s future husband
• And a special interview with Chris Geere, who joins the podcast to discuss playing Phillip, navigating fan reactions, joining This Is Us during COVID, and learning that his character would eventually change the course of Kate’s story

They also break down the episode, including:

• Madison’s childhood flashbacks and the experiences that shaped her self-worth
• Madison asking Kevin the question he can’t answer: “Are you in love with me?”
• Toby accepting a job that will take him away from home several days a week
• Phillip refusing Kate’s resignation and encouraging her to continue pursuing her passion for teaching
• Deja learning about Malik’s college acceptances—including Harvard—and what it could mean for their future
• Beth helping Tess alter her bridesmaid dress so she can feel more comfortable being herself
• Rebecca finally apologizing to Randall for keeping his birth parents from him
• Rebecca asking Kevin to build the house Jack always dreamed of building for the family
• The unforgettable final flash-forward revealing Kate and Phillip’s wedding, Randall’s rising political future, and the next chapter for the Pearson family

That Was Us

Kevin and Madison's Bachelorette Parties | "Jerry 2.0" (515)\ 6/23/2026

This week on That Was Us, we’re breaking down This Is Us Season 5, Episode 15: “Jerry 2.0.” As Kevin heads to the cabin for his bachelor party, old relationships, future plans, and big questions about love come bubbling to the surface. From rom-com fantasies to real-life commitments, the episode explores what happens when the life you imagined doesn’t quite match the life you’re living…and whether love is enough to bridge the gap. In this episode, the hosts chat about:

• Long-distance relationships and the difficult balance between career ambitions and romantic love
• Whether grand romantic gestures are truly romantic—or sometimes a form of love bombing
• The pressure modern relationships place on partners to be everything to each other
• Marriage, divorce, and the uncertainty of knowing whether you’re choosing the right person
• Why some relationships can end without being considered failures

They also break down the episode, including:

• Kevin’s Jerry Maguire-inspired mission statement and the future he envisioned with Sophie
• Sophie’s unexpected phone call and Kevin’s emotional decision to finally let go of the past
• Nicky declaring Kevin “Jerry Maguire 2.0” and forcing him to confront his doubts about marrying Madison
• Toby’s confession about the pressure he feels after losing his job and the San Francisco opportunity that could change everything
• Madison’s hilarious bachelorette party, complete with Kevin masks, ghosting stories, and a very awkward surprise guest
• The newlywed game that exposes how differently Kevin and Madison envision their future
• Beth confiding in Rebecca about her fears of returning to the professional dance world

That Was Us

Faithe Herman and Us | Annie Pearson\ 6/16/2026

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

That Was Us

Beth Closes The Ballet Studio | "The Music and the Mirror" (514)\ 6/9/2026

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

That Was Us

Chat Was Us | Siblings\ 6/2/2026

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

That Was Us

Kevin & Randall Reconcile | "Brotherly Love" (513)\ 5/26/2026

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

That Was Us

Jack's Proposal to Rebecca| "Both Things Can Be True" (512)\ 5/19/2026

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

That Was Us

Eris Baker and Us | Tess Pearson\ 5/12/2026

This week on That Was Us, we’re so beyond excited to be joined in studio by actor Eris Baker, who grew up playing Tess Pearson on This Is Us! Eris reflects on her journey from child actor to USC film production student, opening up about balancing school and set life, stepping into storytelling behind the camera, and how playing Tess shaped both her personal life and creative voice. In this episode, Eris chats about:

• Booking This Is Us at just 10 years old after filming a Target commercial
• Growing up on set alongside the cast and forming lifelong bonds with the Black Pearson family
• Navigating school while working and missing out on a traditional high school experience
• Choosing USC’s film production track and her dream of becoming a creative producer and director
• Writing and directing her own short films and the emotional response one of them got from Sterling
• Working as a PA on Dan Fogelman’s series Paradise and hustling for internships at production companies
• Saying yes to Tess’s coming-out storyline at age 12
• Cutting her hair for the storyline and how it impacted her confidence entering high school
• Preparing emotionally for Tess’s coming-out scene with support from Sterling, Susan Kelechi Watson, Ken Olin, and Dan Fogelman
• Her close friendship with Lyric Ross and Faith Herman both on and off screen
• Where she imagines Tess, Deja, and Annie would be today
• Why she hopes to one day run her own production company

That Was Us

Uncle Nicky Meets The Twins | "One Small Step" (511)\ 5/5/2026

This week on That Was Us, we’re breaking down This Is Us Season 5, Episode 11: “One Small Step.” Centered on Uncle Nicky’s journey to meet Kevin and Madison’s twins, the episode explores how the smallest steps can lead to the biggest changes—and how the stories we tell ourselves can shape an entire lifetime. In this episode, the hosts chat about:

• Media saturation, smartphones, and the idea of going back to a simpler “brick” device
• The importance of setting intentional boundaries with technology—for yourself and your kids
• How limiting choices can actually lead to more clarity and happiness
• Challenging your own “core belief” stories and the narratives that hold you back
• The difference between routine and rut—and how to break out of it
• The loss of shared cultural moments and what brings people together today

They also break down the episode, including:

• Nicky’s emotional journey from isolation to connection
• His first flight since Vietnam and what it represents
• Cassidy helping Nicky prepare for the trip—and confront his fears
• Nicky’s arrival in California and his misunderstanding about the twins’ baptism
• Flashbacks to his relationship with Sally and the life he almost chose
• The moon landing as a symbol of hope, possibility, and connection
• His attempt to reconnect with Jack after the war and why he ultimately walks away
• Kevin and Madison welcoming Nicky into their home
• Nicky’s powerful monologue to the twins and the meaning behind “you two are my moon”
• The emotional final moment with Kevin discovering Nicky in the nursery

That Was Us

Jennifer Morrison and Us | Cassidy Sharp\ 4/28/2026

This week on That Was Us, we’re thrilled to be joined in studio by actor and director Jennifer Morrison, who brought Cassidy to life on This Is Us. Jennifer reflects on her journey from acting to directing, the challenges of transitioning from fantasy to grounded drama, and how This Is Us unexpectedly changed her life in a very real way. In this episode, Jennifer chats about:

• Playing Cassidy across Seasons 4–6 and navigating her place within the Pearson family
• The love quadrangle between Cassidy, Kevin, Zoe, and Nicky
• Transitioning from Once Upon a Time to the grounded realism of This Is Us
• Why she still had to audition for the role—and what that experience taught her
• Her evolution from actor to director and why she feels she has more to contribute behind the camera
• The intensity of shooting 100 scenes in 12 days
• The challenges of proving herself as a director after years of acting
• Her early experiences directing short films and her first feature, which sold to Netflix
• Her time on House and the demanding pace of network television
• Growing up in a marching band–focused household and how it shaped her work ethic
• The surreal story of buying Dan Fogelman’s house after feeling an unexpected connection to it
• What makes great writing so impactful for actors and why This Is Us scripts felt like a gift.

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.