

That Was Us
Mandy Moore, Chris Sullivan, and Sterling K. Brown
This Is Us stars 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.With new episodes out every Tuesday, join your favorite family back in the living room to examine our past, cherish our present, and look to the future. That Was Us...
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 4, 2025 • 49min
Hard Truths | "Number Two" (S2E9)
In this week’s episode, we follow Kate’s journey and the moments from childhood that shaped her into the woman she is today. From secretly dreaming of attending the Berklee College of Music to navigating life’s toughest heartbreaks, this episode gives us a greater understanding of why Kate is guarded. Mandy, Chris, and Sterling discuss how parents provide more than just physical shelter—they shape emotional security, too. Plus, we unpack Ka-Toby’s heartbreaking miscarriage, how they process grief in entirely different ways, and the powerful wisdom Rebecca shares with Kate about truly feeling her pain before it consumes her.That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith.Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 28, 2025 • 55min
Nowhere to Run | "Number One" (S2E8)
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.Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 14, 2025 • 1h 34min
RE-RELEASE - Siddhartha Khosla and Us | Composer
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.Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 7, 2025 • 53min
RE-RELEASE - Jon Huertas and Us | Miguel Rivas
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.Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 31, 2024 • 54min
RE-RELEASE - Susan Kelechi Watson and Us | Beth Pearson
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.Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 24, 2024 • 38sec
Holiday Hiatus | That Was Us Takes a Break
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.Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 17, 2024 • 1h 6min
Agree to Disagree | "The Most Disappointed Man" (S2E7) with special guest Debra Jo Rupp
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.Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 10, 2024 • 1h 9min
20/20 Vision | "The 20's" (S2E6) with special guest Zoe Hay
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.Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 3, 2024 • 1h 14min
Brother Bonding Gone Wrong | "Brothers" (S2E5) with special guest Caitlin Thompson
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.Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 26, 2024 • 1h 1min
Lessons, Layers, and Love | "Still There" (S2E4)
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.Follow That Was Us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and X! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


