That Was Us

Welcome back to That Was Us! We’re so happy to be back after our hiatus. This is the first of three This Is Us episodes dedicated to each Pearson sibling. First up…Kevin Pearson!

We dive into the struggles teenage Kevin faces during the college application process and the life-altering news Jack has to deliver to him after his injury. Mandy, Chris, and Sterling break down how adult Kevin spirals after returning to his high school while on a bender, where he’s being honored—only to truly hit rock bottom. We also explore Kevin’s complex coping mechanisms and Chris opens up, sharing some vulnerable stories about his own past. Lastly, we answer the burning question on everyone’s mind: is Justin Hartley’s beard real or fake in this episode?! Plus, don’t miss a heartfelt fan letter that reminds us why this show resonates so deeply.

That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions.

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RE-RELEASE episode! This week, we revisit the fascinating conversation with the composer of “This Is Us,” “Only Murders in the Building,” and so much more… Siddhartha Khosla. The hosts talk about Sidd’s music being a “warm musical hug,” the reverse engineering that went into not only the writing of the show but scoring as well, how Sidd's upbringing inspired the soundtrack, what it was like being college roommates with This is Us creator Dan Fogelman and so much more! Performing his song, “Evergreen Cassette,” and bringing back all the feels, you don't want to miss this episode with Siddhartha Khosla!

That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions.

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RE-RELEASE episode! Before we get back to new episodes, we're continuing with our special re-releases for anyone who may have missed out on these fan-favorite episodes! This week, Jon Huertas, AKA Miguel Rivas, is with us! That's right, Jack's best friend and Rebecca's second husband. Jon chats about his audition process for the role of Miguel, the epic way he found out Miguel married Rebecca, how he handled negative comments about Miguel’s character, the prosthetics process, what Jon felt as an actor during emotional scenes, and so much more!

That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions.

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RE-RELEASE episode! We're looking back on some of our listeners' favorite episodes over the next few weeks and re-sharing them for anyone who might've missed the conversation! This week, we're starting with Susan Kelechi Watson aka Beth Pearson! We hear about everything from her audition process, what it meant to Susan to portray a modern black woman in America on television, the importance of a hair and makeup team who understands the individual's needs, the behind-the-scenes efforts that went into the portrayal and building of Beth's backstory, and so much more! Join us (again) as we reminisce and rediscover the anchor that is Beth Pearson.

That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions.

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That's a wrap on 2024, This Is Us fans! Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey through both the heartbreaking and hilarious moments of the show! We're sending a big Pearson-sized hug to all our amazing listeners! We're taking a little holiday break to recharge and prepare for more Pearson family deep dives. But don't worry, we'll be back with new episodes on January 21st! Until then, may your days be filled with warmth, laughter, and maybe a little bit of ugly crying (it wouldn't be This Is Us without it!).

That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions.

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This week on That Was Us, we break down that intense courtroom scene with Randall's adoption case judge (Delroy Lindo) and how his scenes in this episode sparked major discourse among This Is Us fans. We also discuss Kevin's "nightmare" confession to Sophie, how Mandy, Chris, and Sterling are surprised by the show's twists and turns, and what it is like to gain an audience's trust. Were you surprised by William's legal battles briefly intersecting with Jack and Rebecca's court case? Plus, special guest Debra Jo Rupp (the social worker!) joins us to share her memories of working on the show! 

That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions.

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Join us as we dive into "The 20's," an episode that explores the pivotal moments and defining experiences of the Pearson family in their twenties. We'll delve into Kevin's core wound, the personal romantic struggles Kate is going through, and the challenges and joys of parenthood for Beth and Randall— which leads Sterling, Mandy, and Chris to ask themselves and listeners: “What kind of answers did your children bring when they came into the world?”

Plus, we're joined by the talented Zoe Hay, makeup artist extraordinaire from This Is Us! Zoe shares behind-the-scenes insights and reveals the secrets behind those iconic Pearson looks. And for a bit of fun, we'll take a peek at some amazing This Is Us-inspired Halloween costumes from fans over the years.

That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions.

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Join us as we recap "Brothers," the episode that shows us the inner workings of not only Randall and Kevin’s brotherly bond (or lack thereof) but Jack’s complicated relationship with, surprise, his own brother! We'll delve into Jack's complex relationship with his father, the discovery of his brother Nicky, and the lingering impact of their childhood trauma. We'll also discuss Kevin's turn towards painkillers, the heartwarming breakthrough between Randall and Deja, and Ka-Toby sharing the excitement of Kate’s pregnancy together. And that's not all! The wonderful Caitlin Thompson, who plays Madison, joins us to share the inside scoop on how her character came to be on the show.

That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions.

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There's a lot that's still lingering for the Pearson family...and in this episode we dive into Kate, Kevin, and Randall's past to uncover what's eating away at them. From the kids battling chickenpox to the Pearsons confronting deeper issues like identity, racism, and generational differences, this episode had A LOT to cover. We discuss Kate’s pregnancy secret, Kevin’s fight to rise above his injury, and Randall piecing together how his race shaped his family dynamic. Plus, Rebecca’s complicated relationship with her mother takes center stage, leading Mandy, Sterling, and Chris to share their thoughts on complicated parent/child relationships and the delicacy of figuring out how to impart lessons onto children of their own. We’ll also share a heartfelt message from a listener who connected with the show through her work in the foster care system.

That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions.

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Join us for a special episode featuring the amazing Chrissy Metz, who captured our hearts as Kate Pearson on This Is Us! Chrissy opens up about her incredible journey from working as an agent to landing the role of Kate with just $0.81 in her bank account. She shares candidly about overcoming self-doubt, finding confidence, and the profound impact playing Kate had on her own life.

That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions.

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