Reign with Josh Smith

Ep 125: Will Ferrell & Harper Steele


Listen Later

I am so excited for you to listen to this week’s incredible guests, Will Ferrell and Harper Steele. 


You will of course know Will for his movies, ‘Anchorman’, ‘Elf’, ‘Zoolander’, ‘Blades of Glory’, ‘Step Brothers’ and ‘Barbie’ - to name just a few! But this might be the first time you have heard of Will’s long-term comedy writing partner, Harper Steele.


Will and Harper met on the set at ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 1995, when Will got his big break and Harper was in the writers room. Fast forward 30 years and after collaborating on so many comedy sketches and movies including ‘Eurovision’, their friendship entered a new chapter when Harper sent Will an email saying she was coming out as transgender. 


After years of being each other’s allies - including joint early failures at SNL - Will came up with the idea of filming ‘Will and Harper’, a Netflix documentary movie which follows them going on a road trip across the USA to talk about Harper’s experiences, and see how Harper now navigates the former bro-heavy environments she used to love, as transgender woman. The movie is incredibly funny, moving, and essential viewing for everyone, so please watch it during the holidays with your family for some much needed education on the trans lived experience. 


Today their road trip rolls into London, and we talk about the power of vocal allyship (and finally we have found a male ally willing to speak up!), how Harper became very aware of her safety for the first time, the universal nature of body image concerns, and the alarming anti-trans policies Donald Trump promises to impose in his second term as President. 


This episode is a real testament to the power of friendship, and the true joy that can come from being your authentic self so I hope this chat encourages you, no matter how you identify, to live your life the way you want to and find the people who encourage you to live that life proudly! If anything in this episode resonates with you, as always I would love to hear from you, you can get in touch across social media @joshsmithhosts - I always love talking to you. Love, Josh x


P.S. In this episode you will have heard me chatting about my book book ‘Great Chat: Seven Lessons for Better Conversation, Deeper Connections and Improved Wellbeing’ which is out now and you can get your hardback/ digital or audio book here: https://geni.us/GreatChat Whether you are already confident at chatting or are socially anxious this book really is for everyone and I hope it inspires you to turn even everyday conversation into a self development practice for your wellbeing and the good of those around you, too. 


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Reign with Josh SmithBy Colour It In Studios Ltd.

  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4

4.4

45 ratings


More shows like Reign with Josh Smith

View all
Radio 1's Screen Time by BBC Radio 1

Radio 1's Screen Time

75 Listeners

SheerLuxe Podcast by SheerLuxe

SheerLuxe Podcast

96 Listeners

In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast by Backstage

In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast

173 Listeners

Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware by Jessie Ware

Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware

1,632 Listeners

Happy Place by Fearne Cotton

Happy Place

1,362 Listeners

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

1,372 Listeners

Alan Carr's 'Life's a Beach' by Keep It Light Media / Travesty Media

Alan Carr's 'Life's a Beach'

529 Listeners

Comfort Eating with Grace Dent by The Guardian

Comfort Eating with Grace Dent

205 Listeners

Radio Times Podcast by Radio Times

Radio Times Podcast

33 Listeners

Dish by S:E Creative Studio

Dish

551 Listeners

Sidetracked with Annie and Nick by BBC Sounds

Sidetracked with Annie and Nick

36 Listeners

Miss Me? by BBC Sounds

Miss Me?

296 Listeners

Spill by Spill

Spill

2 Listeners

Glad We Had This Chat with Caroline Hirons by Wall to Wall Media

Glad We Had This Chat with Caroline Hirons

116 Listeners

Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud by Bella Freud

Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud

141 Listeners