Episode notes
This week on That Was Us, we’re joined by one of the most pivotal people behind This Is Us: casting director Josh Einsohn. Josh reflects on 25 years in casting and shares how he got his start in production, what led him to feel passionate about casting, and how This Is Us ultimately changed his life forever. In this episode, Josh chats about: * His 25-year journey in casting and how he got his start * The role Tommy Lee Jones played early in his career * Working on The Polar Express and The West Wing * Partnering with Tiffany Little Canfield to cast This Is Us * Bringing Jon Huertas onto the…
Podcast
That Was Us
Mandy Moore, Chris Sullivan, and Sterling K. Brown · Film & TV · English
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 bef
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5 May 2026 · 1 hr 30 min
Uncle Nicky Meets The Twins | "One Small Step" (511)
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…
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28 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Jennifer Morrison and Us | Cassidy Sharp
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…
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21 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Parenting Woes | "I've Got This" (510)
This week on That Was Us, we’re chatting about This Is Us Season 5, Episode 10: “I’ve Got This.” This episode explores the pressures of pride, money, and what it really means to provide for your family. In this episode, the hosts chat about: * Survival vs. dreams and how priorities shift in different seasons of life * Lessons they learned from their time on set * Which This Is Us cast member couldn’t resist eating the prop food * Navigating finances, including making more money than your spouse * Deciding where to spend the holidays as your family grows They also break down the episode,…
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14 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 36 min
New Parents | "The Ride" with Director Jon Huertas (509)
On today’s episode of That Was Us, we’re breaking down This Is Us Season 5, Episode 9: “The Ride.” As new parents bring their babies home, the episode explores the fears, hopes, and expectations that come with the start of a new chapter for every Pearson family. Across timelines, it’s a reminder that the ride home is where everything begins. In this episode, the hosts chat about: * Sharing their own stressful ride-home and early parenting experiences * The emotional chaos of bringing newborns home across timelines * Jack and Rebecca’s trip home with the triplets * Jack’s anxiety about…
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7 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 37 min
The Next Generation of Pearsons | "In The Room" with Writer Vera Herbert (508)
On today’s episode of That Was Us, we’re breaking down This Is Us Season 5, Episode 8: “In The Room.” In this episode recap: * Randall and Beth FaceTime Madison while waiting for updates on Kevin * Kevin arrives at the hospital and tells Madison his family is his priority * Kate and Toby navigate the emotional realities of adoption and their relationship with Ellie, the birth mother * Rebecca and Miguel open up about life after Jack’s death * Esther and Nasir’s story reveals the invention of the Discrete Cosine Transform, the technology behind video calls like FaceTime Plus, Mandy Moore,…
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24 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Kevin Quits His Movie | "There" (507)
On today’s episode of That Was Us, we’re diving into Season 5, Episode 7: "There." The Pearsons confront the pressures passed down through generations as we revisit Jack’s childhood with his father, watch Kevin grapple with what it means to be a “good” dad in the middle of a crisis, and see Madison face the terrifying possibility of bringing the twins into the world alone. Plus, Mandy, Chris, and Sterling chat about their own memorable birth stories, Chris shares one of the most painful things he's ever done, and so much more! That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by…
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17 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 22 min
That Was Us LIVE! At The Wiltern in Los Angeles
This week on That Was Us, we’re bringing you a very special episode recorded live at the historic Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. In front of an incredible audience of This Is Us fans! It was an unforgettable night of conversation and live music with Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore, and Chris Sullivan, as we celebrated one of the most powerful elements of This Is Us: the music. We talked about the songs that shaped some of the show’s most emotional moments, and were joined by the show’s composer, Siddhartha Khosla, as well as the creator of the show, Dan Fogelman, to hear how the score came…
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10 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 24 min
Laurel's Story | "Birth Mother" with Writer Kay Oyegun (506)
On today’s episode of That Was Us, we’re diving into Season 5, Episode 6: Birth Mother. This episode uncovers the long-buried story of Randall’s birth mother, Laurel. Randall and Beth’s journey to New Orleans reveals inherited grief, unfinished love, and through Hai’s retelling of his love story with Laurel, Randall releases the pain he’s carried his entire life. Plus, we're also joined by one of the writers of this episode, Kay Oyegun! Kay breaks down the writer's room experience on This Is Us, how they broke down important storylines, what it was like discovering Laurel's backstory, how…
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3 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 40 min
The Email From Hai | "A Long Road Home" with Vien Hong (505)
On today’s episode of That Was Us, we’re diving into Season 5, Episode 5: A Long Road Home. The Pearsons confront long-held truths as Kate reckons with a painful chapter from her past, Kevin and Madison face growing uncertainty about their future, and Randall is shaken by new information about his birth mother that challenges everything he thought he knew. Plus, Mandy, Chris, and Sterling chat with Vien Hong who played the character of Hai! Vien talks all about his 20 year hiatus from acting, his family's brave journey to the States, what returning to acting through This Is Us means to him,…
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24 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 40 min
Kate's Secret | "Honestly" with Writer Elan Mastai (504)
On today’s episode of That Was Us, we’re diving into Season 5, Episode 4: Honestly. This episode explores how patterns repeat across generations: from Kevin confronting childhood pressures and insecurities, to Randall stepping into mentorship and turning an uncomfortable moment into purpose, and Kate and Toby navigating the early steps of adoption. Plus, Mandy, Chris, and Sterling have fun in the studio chatting about sleep training, how their style has changed, and of course they also welcome 504 writer Elan Mastai to the podcast! Elan talks about how this show came into his life, what it…
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