Show Notes
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
More from That Was Us
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.