The Wizard Behind Wicked: For Good with Director Jon M. Chu

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club

Episode: "The Wizard Behind Wicked: For Good with Director Jon M. Chu"

Host: Danielle Robay (iHeartPodcasts & Hello Sunshine)
Guest: Jon M. Chu (Film Director)
Release Date: November 25, 2025

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Episode Overview

This rich and lively episode welcomes acclaimed director Jon M. Chu, the creative mind behind Wicked: For Good (the film adaptation of the musical’s Act II), as well as Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights, and more. Host Danielle Robay guides a warm, insightful conversation exploring Chu’s storytelling philosophy, creative process, handling of artistic legacy, and the resonances between books, musicals, and films. The discussion delves into how Wicked remains timely, complexities of adaptation, representation, identity, and the emotional heart of storytelling on and off the page.

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Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. The Enduring Power and Responsibility of Storytelling

• Jon M. Chu reflects on the true purpose of stories:
  • “I used to think that stories are escape and I think there's an element of that. But I actually think the job of a story is to take you out of your life but land you back at home.” (Jon M. Chu, 04:11)
• He sees storytellers as carrying a deep responsibility:
  • Chu discusses the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) not as just a villain, but a storyteller “gone too far… And then what point do you have a responsibility to the world that you're creating through your stories?” (05:44)

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2. Fairy Tales, the American Dream, and Intergenerational Hope

• Chu’s personal connection to the American Dream:
  • As the son of immigrants, growing up in his family's Chinese restaurant in Silicon Valley, Jon credits “generosity by people and goodness of people” for fueling his dreams—proof the dream “does exist… fairy tales can exist. Maybe the way in which we tell these stories can shift.” (07:19)

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3. Adapting Wicked: Navigating Layers of Legacy

• On the Complications of Adaptation:

  • The film is based on the musical, which is based on the novel (Wicked by Gregory Maguire), itself riffing on The Wizard of Oz, based on Baum’s book. Chu describes stepping into a “century of creative interpretation.” (11:06)
  • “It is the hallmark of a timeless story that it is always timely.” (Jon M. Chu, 11:42)
  • Each adaptation reflects cultural anxieties of its time—Baum’s novel at the turn of the century, Maguire’s post-9/11, Chu’s film made during COVID. (12:54)

• The film’s relevance to today:

  • “Home didn’t feel like home. It felt like a strange place all of a sudden… Those questions became very relevant to me.” (13:10)
  • “The only reason to make this now is to speak to the times that we're in.” (14:52)

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4. Artistic Choices: What to Keep, What to Change

• Translating Internal Monologue into Cinema:

  • Movie musicals’ unique power is to make the internal external through song, music, and movement. (16:15)
  • “One note can communicate what a paragraph never could... The way someone leans on a microphone says a lot... So you get movement. And that's not just dance. That's posture.” (16:15)

• Casting and Character Reinvention:

  • On Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande—how their specific histories, identities, and artistry radically reframe the characters of Elphaba and Glinda.
  • “The moment [Cynthia] sang was unlike an Elphaba I had ever seen before... That little thing is just like everything. So to me, that's so different than Idina. Like, it's just a different interpretation...” (Jon M. Chu, 33:24–36:09)

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5. Deep Questions Raised by Wicked: For Good

• Why fight for a home that may not want you?
  • Chu relates Elphaba’s journey to his own experiences, and to universal immigrant dilemmas: “Wouldn't she wonder, like, what happens to a place that thinks you're the bad guy?... That is the question that's at the core of Elphaba.” (25:04)
• Chu’s direction of emotional scenes:
  • The song “No Place Like Home” holds personal resonance—he draws from his own family ties, sense of belonging, and disappointment in the “America that I believe in with all my heart… breaks my heart that we can't be everything that I thought we were.” (28:03)

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6. Mediums and Personal Storytelling

• Storytelling Beyond the Screen:
  • Discusses his memoir Viewfinder: A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen—navigating between visual storytelling (film) and internal, structural writing (books). (44:09)
  • “Writing a book was... so different than anything I had ever done before. It made me realize that reading a book is a different mental state... it's an active experience happening.” (47:59)
• Influence of Family:
  • Charming anecdote: Jon’s mom prodded him to direct Step Up 2 when he was wavering, telling him, “Are you a storyteller or are you not? If you're a storyteller, you should be able to tell a story in any medium.” (46:13)

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7. Craft, Identity, and Advice for Aspiring Storytellers

• Finding your voice and medium:
  • “If you are a storyteller, what is the medium in which your storytelling is best at? And also it can evolve over time.” (50:43)
  • On recognizing his own story’s worth: “The thing that I have found the most power in my storytelling is that I have been telling myself a story my whole life, that one day I'm going to do this and that. And, oh, this is a tough moment. I feel like I'm on the bottom. But you know what? This is going to be a great chapter in my book.” (52:24)
• On synesthesia and auras:
  • Chu shares his quirky creative side—he sees people’s aura colors but isn’t sure what it means. “I just see colors when asked to see it… if you actually look and you got adjust your eyes and then you can kind of see it. So I don’t know what it means.” (54:28)

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8. Rapid Fire ‘Bookmarked’ Questions (55:32–56:59)

• Favorite books and influences:
  • Elphaba’s bedside table: “The Great Gatsby.” (Jon M. Chu, 55:40)
  • Most grateful book: “My Broken Language” by Quiara Alegría Hudes. (55:45)
  • Favorite biography: “Steve Jobs” and Build by Tony Fadell. (55:53)
  • Favorite fictional love story: “The Great Gatsby.” (56:17)
  • Favorite musical staging: “Hamilton.” (56:24)
  • Favorite page-to-screen adaptation: “Jurassic Park.” (56:33)
  • Favorite fictional friendship: “Wicked.” (56:44)
  • Book for aspiring filmmakers: Chu cheekily plugs his own memoir, Viewfinder. (56:51)
  • Most-gifted book: “The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.” (57:06)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Wizard as a complicated villain:
  “Maybe he's a storyteller that's just gone too far... at some point, we have to wake up and know that our stories affect the world that we live in.” (Jon M. Chu, 05:44)

• On maintaining optimism and the possibility of dreams:
  “If I can survive and I can flourish, then 100%, that I'm proof that the dream is still alive and that fairy tales can exist.” (Jon M. Chu, 07:19)

• On adapting a timeless tale:
  “It is the hallmark of a timeless story that it is always timely.” (Jon M. Chu, 11:42)

• On crafting “No Place Like Home”:
  “Why do I love this place that never loved me? … I think there's a difference between intention and completion. And we can't at this moment have a completion of the idea. It has to be cut off by the troubles of the present...” (Jon M. Chu, 27:04)

• Advice from his mother:
  “Are you a storyteller or are you not? If you're a storyteller, you should be able to tell a story in any medium… Show yourself that you can actually tell your story in this.” (Jon M. Chu, 46:13)

• On movement between mediums:
  “If you are a storyteller, what is the medium in which your storytelling is best at? And also it can evolve over time.” (Jon M. Chu, 50:43)

• Favorite quote from L. Frank Baum used in the film:
  “If we walk far enough, we shall sometime come to some place.” (Jon M. Chu, 36:59)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening & Introduction: [03:47–04:54]
• Who is the Wizard? Artistic Responsibility: [05:14–07:17]
• Belief in Fairy Tales, Personal Story & The American Dream: [07:17–08:44]
• Complexities of Adapting “Wicked”: [11:06–14:43]
• Making the Internal External — Music & Movement: [16:10–18:20]
• Deleted Scene with Jonathan Bailey: [18:22–19:17]
• Choice & Consequences in “Wicked: For Good”: [24:43–27:48]
• Directorial Emotion: [28:03–30:44]
• Adapting Iconic Characters: [32:55–36:49]
• ‘Bookmarked’ Rapid Fire Segment: [55:32–57:09]
• Memoir & Advice: [44:09–52:24]
• Closing Reflections: [57:10–59:44]

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Conclusion

This episode offers a deep, personal, and often inspiring window into the mind of Jon M. Chu: a filmmaker shaped by family, heritage, and the ever-shifting power of story. Whether musing on America’s promises, explaining the mechanics behind screen musicals, or sharing his mother’s blunt wisdom, Chu embodies the spirit of a modern storyteller, keenly aware of both his influences and the responsibility of shaping myth for the next generation. His vision for Wicked: For Good is one of timely resonance and personal transformation—a story built, like all the best fairy tales, to speak to both the moment and the timeless heart.

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Transcript

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

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[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

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[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club is presented by Apple Books. Hi, I'm Danielle Robay and welcome to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. This week we're taking a little trip to the magical land of Oz. And we're talking with the person tasked with reinterpreting a century's worth of storytelling. But don't worry guys, I think he's got this.

[Jon M. Chu]

I used to think that stories are escape and I think there's an element of that. But I actually think the job of a story is to take you out of your life but land you back at home.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Jon M. Chu is the mastermind behind some of our favorite film extravaganzas in.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

The Heights, Crazy Rich Asians, Wicked Part.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

1, and now Wicked For Good. And while John is obviously an incredible film director, he's also a writer, a dancer, a dad, an aura reader. You'll get what I mean in a.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Little bit, I promise.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

I really love the way John talked about all the ways we can tell a story on and off the page.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

So if you're in the mood for.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

A conversation that goes behind the creative process and sprinkles a little, you know what, a lot of magic throughout maybe defies gravity. You are so in the right place. Let's turn the page with Jon M. Chu.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Jon Chu welcome to the club.

[Jon M. Chu]

Thank you very much. It's great to be here.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

We're so excited to have you in the club officially. I have to start with probably the most serious question of our hour, which is, if you were to go to the wizard, what would you ask him?

[Jon M. Chu]

I would ask him, would you please get out of here, my friend? How far is too far for you, Mr. Wizard?

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Absolutely. He really is the enemy of the franchise.

[Jon M. Chu]

He is the enemy, but at the same time, Jeff Goldblum's fascinating character. I don't know if you've ever really interacted with him, but he's so funny. He's such a huge student of literature, of art, of movies. And so his philosophy on the wizard is like, maybe he's a storyteller that's just gone too far. Someone who's looking at entertainment. And yes, they want a villain. Yes, they want action and viol. And then what point do you have a responsibility to the world that you're creating through your stories? And so I love that, that this wizard is a little bit more complicated than usual. He's not a bumbling idiot. Maybe he's not meaning to do it. Who is meaning to do any of these bad things? But maybe it's someone who gets carried away, and at some point, we have to wake up and know that our stories affect the world that we live in.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

He also left me with the question, does he truly believe he's doing the right thing?

[Jon M. Chu]

Yeah, exactly. I think that's, you know, the. I don't know if people have seen the movie yet or not, but at this point, you know, at the end, he's. He gets sort of trapped by the machine itself and eaten alive in it. So, yeah, sort of metaphorically, but it's always something that I think about often as a storyteller, and especially now with kids. What are the stories that I was told as a kid that made me believe in the possibilities of America, of individuals, of community? And then now as an adult, how hard was it actually? Are those stories actually true? Should we be believing in fairy tales? Or is that just not good enough anymore? And what are the fairy tales that we want to pass on to our children? And do they. We want them to believe in the possibilities of our childhood stories?

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Do you, John Chu, believe in fairy tales?

[Jon M. Chu]

I believe in big dreams because I am the recipient of generosity by people and goodness of people from people who used to come into the Chinese restaurant that my parents owned and would give me camera equipment, monitors, computers, software. I grew up in the Silicon Valley. So they would give it to me because I was making videos, and I'm a product of that. And I'm a son of immigrants. This place of America, with the great hope of the American dream, going into the most American business in the world, doing the most American genre of movie, the movie musical that everyone says is dead. And I'm living the dream. I have five kids, and they're beautiful, and I got to do achieve it all. And no matter how hard it was, no matter how many times I felt like I could be a victim, that that's not anything that could hold me back, that the dream does exist. If I can survive and I can flourish, then 100%, that I'm proof that the dream is still alive and that fairy tales can exist. Maybe the way in which we tell these stories can shift. Maybe I need to give my kids a little bit of. Equip them with a couple more tools in their stories so that they can know that it's not gingerbread houses and yellow brick roads, but. But certainly the possibilities of optimism and innovation and dreams, I think, are 100% real.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

And I think you do that in.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Your work, regardless of the medium, because you've worked in film and television. You're a writer yourself. I do think you bring these complex stories to life. And I heard that you first saw the musical when it was still in workshop, before it made it onto Broadway.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

And you thought, someone will make this.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

A great movie someday.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Did you also think, I have to read this book?

[Jon M. Chu]

No. At that point, I'm not sure I knew it was a book. I just knew that it was Stephen Schwartz new musical. And so I think at that point it was. I was enamored by this sort of deconstruction of the American fairy tale. And I was going through college at that moment, so friends that I had grown up with were leaving my life. And I didn't know how to, like, categorize that or where to put that in my brain. And there's not a lot of movies or stories about friendships because it's not as romantic as romance. You know, this whole industry is about romance and love, and you get married is the end goal, and they live happily ever after. But friendships, man, oh, man, no. It is consistency. It is not romantic. It is. You show up for them and they show up for you, and it's over years, and maybe some float away, but the good ones stick around, and maybe the good ones stick around, and there is a time where that era ends as well. And how to say that that Actually is still valuable. So, yeah, I just. I love that we get to explore that in these kind of stories.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

I mean, friendship is at the center of Wicked. I can imagine that you dissected every part of friendship as you went through this. Did you revisit the book at all as part of your creative process?

[Jon M. Chu]

Not really. And that's complicated because there are legal rights to the book that this musical does not have. There are, you know, the way we interpret the movie, and this is sort of getting in the weeds. But we are based off of the musical, which is based off of the book. So I had to be very cognizant, but also aware that we can use the L. Frank Baum as source material and the Denslow drawings as source material, and I can use Wicked, the musical and the screenplay of that as stuff. So I couldn't. Even though I love Gregory Maguire's book, it wasn't about, like, digging out more from there. It was digging out the truth and the material of the musical itself.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

I'm so glad that you mentioned the complication, because for good is the film adaptation of the second act of the musical Wicked, which is based on the book Wicked, which came after the movie the wizard of Oz, which was based on the book the Wonderful wizard of Oz. And that is so many creative cooks in the kitchen, John. Like, that is a century of creative interpretation and. And a lot of storytellers shaping this world. What did it feel like to step into this legacy? And I guess even a more specific question is, there's so many creative fingerprints on this story. What did you hold onto as yours?

[Jon M. Chu]

Well, I saw a really funny tweet today, and I screen grabbed it just because I thought it was so funny. It says, scary how novels written 125 years ago, source material for a novel published 30 years ago, and a musical that premiered 22 years ago, could lead to a pair of movies that are more prescient and relevant than ever before. In 2025. Happy New York premiere to Wicked for Good. Like, it is insane. It is insane. But in a weird way, it is the hallmark of a timeless story that it is always timely. And the interpretations, what's nice is about each person who's interpreted the wizard of Oz kind of understands that for some reason, they understand the subversive nature of this story or what it can reflect back to a culture, maybe because it is the American fairy tale. So there's a lot of things that connect. When you say American fairy tale, what does that mean? So for me, when I looked at it, I knew that Wicked was written right after 911 at a time where America was going through great change and wizard of Oz was written during a time of great change at the turn of the century. And so I got this.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

That's interesting script.

[Jon M. Chu]

I got this script at. During COVID lockdown and I just had my first child. And it made a lot of sense to me that the world was crumbling all around me and that the American dream was. Was suddenly a facade or seemed like it. And oh my gosh, the adults maybe don't know what they're doing. And I had to grow up. We all had to grow up. Home didn't feel like home. It felt like a strange place all of a sudden. Like what do I need to feel home? And so those questions came very relevant to me. So I knew that if I were going to do this story that I had to. It had to be a reflection of where we are. That was the tradition actually that each artist that has come in and come into Oz and then as we were making it, when you cast Cynthia Erivo and she's singing the words of Elphaba, a woman who is green, that means something very different to Cynthia Erivo. And she's bringing her own decade long wounds and ideas to the table, right. That changes every word that we've known, that we've heard over and over again. Something has changed within me. Something's not the same. I'm through with playing by the rules of somebody else's game. Like to me that is just coming from her is it changed the whole musical for me. And then you have Ariana Grande who's. Yeah, she's somebody who is literally the most popular girl in the world and she's gonna sing popular and then she's gonna deconstruct that idea who of what it. What popular actually even means and how you can get lost in this when everyone wants you to be happy and be the light. How do you find your own light if you don't even know who you are yet? So I think for. For me it was the specificity of how do I make this personal to myself? Because it is the tradition of this story that its author or it's not necessarily author, it's interpreter find its role in their. In the life of that it's being made in.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

So was your rubric for deciding what you wanted to keep in 2025 your personal gut instinct?

[Jon M. Chu]

It was my personal gut instinct about what the role of the story has in our lives. Because I think that. Because this was about a story that we're told. We're told about what the Wicked Witch looks like and how she acts. And we're finding out in the story it is not the truth. And you're. You're with a wizard who is spinning stories for power. And you're being. You're telling the animals that when you discourage animals enough, it's. It's easy to keep anyone silent. And we're making a movie at a time where things are being silenced all around us. So, yeah, it felt like the only way, the only reason to make this now is to speak to the times that we're in. Because that's the best thing about a movie musical is it's almost always. The best ones are always subversive, whether that's Sound of Music or Singing in the Rain or Cabaret.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

In the book and in the libretto, there's a lot of internal dialogue and for characters, for a character like Elphaba, you're turning so much monologue into visual language in the film.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

And how did you decide what stays.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Internal versus what deserves to be seen?

[Jon M. Chu]

You know, we have the best tool to make the internal exterior, which is song. So Winnie, years and years ago, made many choices about what to take from the book and into the stage show. I got to take that and say. And then Stephen Schwartz got to externalize those. In music, the power of a musical is some people think, oh, it's like a show and dance. Oh, I hate musicals. Because it's just performance. Actually, it's not. You get deeper and more intimate with a character because you don't just have a soliloquy for a character. You get melody, you get a note. And one note can communicate what a paragraph never could communicate. And you get movement, which means the way someone leans on a microphone says a lot about what mood they're in, who they are. The way they aggressively look at the characters says so much, and I don't have to say one word of it. So you get movement. And that's not just dance. That's movement. That's. That's. That's posture. And so you have that, and then you have song, and then you have lyric. And lyric can say the exact opposite, what they're feeling. When Glinda is singing in the microphone, it couldn't be happier. That is an I want song. But everything she's singing about is the opposite of what she wants. So now I get to watch her sing what she, quote, unquote, says what she wants. But you see in her eyes, it's empty. It's complicated, as she says. And I that power of a movie musical. And when done right, when you understand every. Every tool that you have, you. You become more intimate and closer to these characters. I think that's why when people watch this movie, they feel so moved, is because we have permission from the audience to use these tools. They've accepted these tools. And if we don't use them to get us to care about a character more than. What are we using them for? For. For song and dance. You can go on. On TikTok and get all the song and dance you want to. So it becomes only more important as we use that language to. And in the book, you have the words and you have imagination. And so we get to. Then through this other avenues get to those similar places, actually.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Is there a deleted scene that fans.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Will never see, but you wish they could?

[Jon M. Chu]

I know there's a scene that everyone wants to see that we're not going to show them.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

What scene is that?

[Jon M. Chu]

There's a scene where in movie one, all the friends from school, including Johnny Bailey, they go out into this park and they have a great day together. It's like this beautiful bonding scene and we just didn't need it in the movie. It was just too extraneous. But there's a scene where Johnny takes off his shirt and starts chopping wood. And this guy, his eight pack looks amazing. I mean, I don't know.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Sexiest Man Alive.

[Jon M. Chu]

I think if he had that clip back, you know, a year ago, he would have got Sexiest Man Alive back then. So we didn't put in the movie. It was too extraneous. But that shot, people have heard about and they're like, they harass me every day on Instagram to share it.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

So you never know.

[Jon M. Chu]

But right now, I'm keeping it in the vault.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

I do think that People magazine should have had you, Coleman and Jonathan Bailey together and it was like the men of Wicked.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

That would have been my vote.

[Jon M. Chu]

Yeah, I definitely would not be invited to that cover. But that's a great idea.

[Anabe Sofa Ad Voice]

I love it.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Your wife would have been so happy, too. She would have had bragging.

[Jon M. Chu]

No, my wife would be like, what?

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

There's magic in books. The way one story can make you laugh, another can make you cry, and.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

The right one can stay with you.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Long after the last page on TikTok. That magic doesn't just stop when you turn the last page.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

It multiplies.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Readers are swapping their favorite genres, highlighting lines that feel personal and sparking conversations that travel across the globe. One person's review can put a forgotten classic back on the bestseller list. One reader's reaction to a plot twist can connect with millions who felt the exact same way. And one recommendation can grow into you joining a fandom you never knew you needed. This isn't just talking books. It's the book community on TikTok, where stories live on long after the last chapter, where discovery never ends and where your next favorite book is always just a scroll away. At Just Roll, they believe the kitchen is where joy lives with their refrigerated dough. There's no fussy proofing, no hours of waiting. Just big smells, big smiles and that first irresistible flaky bite, its tiny hands helping unroll the dough. It's laughing over a slightly wonky cinnamon swirl. It's pulling golden puffed layers out of the oven and hearing that perfect crispy crackle. They do the hard part, so you could skip straight to the fun. Just Roll Puff Pastry is made with non GMO high quality ingredients ready to roll with parchment paper straight from the fridge. No thawing, no stress, just golden bakery worthy layers every single time. With Just Roll, Every Bake is simple. From savory show stopping appetizers to sweet dessert masterpieces, this is a fresh way to bake. Familiar but better. Find Just Roll Puff Pastry in the refrigerated section of your grocery store or visit justroll.com to find a store near you.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Apple Books is the best place to read, listen to or discover the books you love without a subscription right on your iPhone. And now there's a very exciting heads up for listeners. Apple Books is the official audiobook and ebook home for Reese's Book Club, so it's easier than ever to explore each monthly book pick, plus author curated collections and more all in one place. Open the Apple Books app to explore a world of books and audiobooks. You can set goals and track your reading progress. Get great recommendations for your next read, or listen and enjoy it all on the go wherever you are. You can even share your books with up to five family members at no cost. Again, no subscription required. Visit Apple co reeseapplebooks to find out more. That's Apple co reeseapplebooks and read or.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Listen to Reese's current pick and browse.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Past selections today on Apple Books. Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton. We spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and with characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands but also in the world around you, in the fabric that's holding you close. Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for lazy weekend mornings with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like the books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into our everyday moments. Moments like following four adult daughters as they navigate love, loss and the legacy in the Most Fun We Ever had by Claire Lombardo, all while curled up in soft cotton joggers. Or sinking into the island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. A story that spans generations, Forbidden love.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

And a fig tree that remembers everything.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Wrapped in a hand stitched quilt, each.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Thread holding its own kind of memory.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something cotton. Not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton the fabric of our lives. Learn more at thefabricofourlives.com Life gets messy.

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[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

I've heard you say that Wicked. Part one is about choices and the bravery to make those choices and part two is about consequences and staying with those choice. And it explores some pretty heavy questions. Like why defend a home that doesn't want you? I love that question. What scene or moment do you think captures that?

[Jon M. Chu]

Yeah, it's something when I was doing in the Heights and there was this moment, Abuela Claudia in that movie. She's someone who came from another country and came to this country and raised her family, her neighborhood there and cared about them. But at a certain point it wasn't working for her. So she's making this decision to go back and I always thought that was so interesting. I always thought that was so complicated like, oh, you don't hear stories about people wanting to leave the United States. This Abuela Cloudy idea of going home after her whole journey here was. I don't know. It was so. I don't know, different than I've ever heard. And so when we were talking about Elphaba and what she would go through, and this is not necessarily in the stage show, but what was happening in Movie two was, wouldn't she wonder why she would even want to stay? Wouldn't she wonder, like, what happens to this, to a place that thinks you're the bad guy? And that question is so relevant when you actually bring it up, because that's an actual debate that's happening every day. That is the question that's at the core of Elphaba. Because eventually, whether she thinks, like, she's not her responsibility to fix this place and she leaves or something else, like, she does ultimately leave. And to use one of the most iconic terms, there's no place like home to make that point. Oh, that's, like, heartbreaking just in saying it out loud. And Stephen Schwartz is brilliant. He knew this moment, it was either gonna be a scene or a song to express this. And Stephen Schwartz, it's a song, and I know how it's gonna play out. And at first it was like, it's gonna be an anthem. And like, okay. But the question is very deep. And so he added this opening that was, why do I love this place that never loved me? Oh, that was so heartbreaking in itself. And then she goes on and she fights for it. She's like, no, no, no, but this is you. We have to. The other animals are like, I'm. We're. We're tired. We can't fight anymore. And she's like, no, we have to. And so it becomes this calling card. But she doesn't finish the last note and on purpose.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Why?

[Jon M. Chu]

Because I think there's a difference between intention and completion. And we can't at this moment have a completion of the idea. It has to be cut off by the troubles of the present, which is, at that point, the cowardly lion that comes in and interrupts her and blames her for things that she's done in her past. I think you can have the idealism, as we need to fight for this place, but the reality always crashes back in. It's not about an anthem. It's about a consistent living and fighting. What do they say? Like, independence feels like rejection until it feels like growth.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

You know, I think we. We always think about actors emotionally and where they are in a scene. But I don't know that I've ever thought about where a director was emotionally shooting a scene. Where were you emotionally when you, when you shot that?

[Jon M. Chu]

We're shooting no place like home. I mean, it's very personal question for me in terms of what is home? Because I grew up in a very close knit family in a Chinese restaurant that has very specific ideas about what America is and what our family should be and how close we should be. And I'm the one who left. They all live in the area still. I left. I came to LA to pursue this dream and I always struggle with them, so close with my family about what I'm creating, away from them. And now that I have five kids, like, my whole life is changing. Oh, my home is here. Those are my. Am I supposed to say relatives? No, that's my family too. Like, it's very confusing as an adult now. You're supposed to be like, where's the priority? But like, my wife is my priority. My kids are my priority. When you're that close with your family and they've survived for you and they've lived so much and sacrificed so much for you, it is really hard to even, like, maybe it's not a list. You know, my mom taught us, oh, you got to be number one, you got to do this and that. But maybe it's not. Maybe, maybe the whole thing is like, it's not a list. But I struggle with that. So. So when she's singing it, I. And I look at America and I think about this place I believe in with all my heart. And I see how bad we can be too. Yeah, it breaks my heart that we can't be everything that I thought we were. And so as she's singing it, I'm very, I'm very invested in that. It's not. I don't want her to blame anything and I don't want. I just want her to be like searching. And so that's sort of what I'm doing as I'm watching her perform. Of course I need to be very present to capture what she's doing. And I need to be aware that if I need to move the camera to get to juice something that she's doing, I have to be plugged in right where she is. So I'm usually really close to the camera. I'm usually like on the ground somewhere and I'm trying to feel everything that she's giving so that I can. Because the movie usually starts to speak back to you. She's doing usually something different on the day we have. She did all her singing live, both of them. So. So we have a pianist right off camera, and she has an earwig in her. In her ear so she can hear the piano. She can go off tempo if she wants, or she can go on tempo. The pianist is supposed to watch, follow her. And so I'm. I am also following her in a way. And as she's doing it, things are changing and I'm finding things so I can be like, oh, you hit this moment. Let me get a close up right here. So I can be. Hey, let me push the camera in just slightly here. Or if you walk into this light, right when you sing that, that lyric, you're giving. You're giving this sort of surrender. But if you walk into the light on that surrender, I think we're gonna. It's gonna, it's gonna enhance that idea. So it's just being present.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

I'm wondering if you think that fantasy books and musicals offer escapism or are they amplifying real life?

[Jon M. Chu]

I used to think that stories are escape. That was when I watched E.T. it took me to another planet and my jaw was on the floor in awe. And I think there is an element of that. But I actually think the job of a story is to take you out of your life, but land you back at home. I think that the job of the artist is to explore the dark places or the intricate, conflicting areas of the human species and our feelings so that people who need to put food on the table and give a roof over their children's head can. Can do that. And, and still, when they watch something or hear something or read something, can experience another part of their humanity that they know that they feel inside, but maybe don't have the time to process. And that's why I'm very sensitive. And I love actors and writers because they have to access these parts that are so deep and so scary and can spin you around and around and around. And some people call that, you know, dramatic and whatever, but, like, that's what we actually all feel inside. And that is what's running our lives. That is what's running how you look at the world. And so I, when I, when I'm working on a. On a movie, I'm. We're asking these actors to be emotionally available and in order to confront darkness, you have to like, sort of step into darkness. And so I try to be very sensitive that, that there are. They are our explorers of the. Of the internal. And so yeah, it's. Making a movie is very. We have to protect each other and hold each other's hands while we're going through it. And who. God knows who we're gonna find. And I think when you're in terms of escape, I think that it is escape to a place that's very close to our hearts, if anything. And wonder and awe is a part of that, I guess. Cause you wanna, like, pop out of your life, but leading always back to real life here.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

You know, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel had. They played these characters so iconically and theater kids came to know them so well. What conversations did you have with Cynthia and Ariana about making these parts their own? Because I can imagine it's hard.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Like, their.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Their performances were so recognizable. I think about that riff that Keke.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Palmer did all of awards season. And like, she's so cute.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

How do you make this. Like, it's almost an impossible task.

[Jon M. Chu]

Yeah. And I think that we auditioned a lot of people. It was a reason why it wasn't like, let's just go and make an offer to this person, that person. We didn't know the answer. I could not determine what is going to make the difference. Like, who's going to be. Who's going to understand this at a level of Adina or Kristen. Like, that wasn't a prescriptive thing I could figure out. It was like, we'll know it when we see it. And we didn't necessarily want stars. We knew Wicked was big enough, you could discover people. So let's go searching. And then you discover the technical aspect of the singing is really hard. So that you actually probably do need professionals who have, like, you know, been through the. Through the thing to pull it off. And then you're like, all right, then they have to be an actor. Like, you can't just sing. That is not good enough. Like, you have to connect the dots and you have to be able to do it, communicate it on screen, which is very different than on stage. We went through everybody. I mean, the reality is we wouldn't have made this movie if they didn't show up at our doorstep. And it was the very last doorstep. But Cynthia Rivo arrived and you're like, does she even want to do this? Does it have to be this? Because, you know, it could take over your life. It has taken over her life now. But the moment she sang was unlike an Alphabet I had ever seen before. Those words spoke to me in ways I'd never. And I've listened to it. Over and over and over and over again. Wizard and I. I saw myself as a kid dreaming about being a filmmaker in my dorm room when she's saying, did that really just happen? And I. Then when she gets onto the. At that point, it wasn't a cliff yet, but I could feel like she, oh, she needs to be on a cliff here. When she sings that last note of the wizard and I and, and she stops and the birds fly over and there's a, there's a rainbow in the distance and that yearning. And yet when she turns back to walk away, you think, oh, she's not gonna, she's not ready for that yet. That she turns back and looks. One little look. And that's so typical Cynthia Rio. She looks back and you can tell that she's saying, well, one day I'm going to. That little thing is just like everything. So to me, that's so different than Adina. Like, I didn't. That's not competing with Adina. That's not anything. It's just a different interpretation of Elphaba. And yet we're using the bones of what Elphaba? What, what, what? This character that, that Adina dug deep into. So there's. We are, we are on the shoulders of giants and, and Kristen especially, like, she created these jokes and these things in, in workshops and however they create and now they're, they are Bible and so we try to stick to them. But at the same time, the Glinda that we were gonna choose had to be in a different way. When I saw Ariana and she came in, she was. The best way I can explain it is she was the real life Glinda. Like, as, as if I was reading, I was meeting the Glinda that the show was based off of because she wasn't doing an impression of Kristin Genoweth, she was just doing the spirit of it. And then I could give her improv about other things and I would. I was watching Glinda trip over a chair or reading and that was when I knew, okay, I like actors who can play, who can be president and live, because that's where we're going to play and we're going to make this unique to us. So anyway, I didn't know it would be this successful though, to be honest. They'd be Academy Award nominated actors and it's deserved in all the ways. But I don't think any of us could have predicted that.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

I always ask our guests what they've bookmarked this week and it can be something that you scrolled upon or something. You texted your friend a song, a poem, a lyric. What have you bookmarked this week, John?

[Jon M. Chu]

I bookmarked this week. Well, I love this book by my friend Jedediah Jenkins called Mother Nature. I think it's like such a beautiful book. He takes this car ride with his mom. They have very different ideas of religion, of the world, and yet they're so sweet together. And it's him not coming out to her, but him sort of confronting her, what he thinks, what she thinks about that in ways that she's not comfortable with. And it's just a beautiful story about two very opposite, opposite people. So I always love that book. But I think the thing that's been staying with me this week only because we've been promoting the film. Yes, I was like, what's the name of the movie? Yes, we've been promoting Wicked is this quote from the book itself that we put on the tin Man's outfit. But we never got a close up of it. But it was part of the. It's from the L. Frank Baum book. But it really motivated me on what the themes of this are. And it's a very simple thing. It's not romantic, it's not something you would normally quote. But I feel very connected to in the story of Wicked and where we are now. And it is if we walk far enough, we shall sometime come to some place. I just think that, that when I think about fairy tales and the story that we need to tell and equip our children with, it's like there is no grand thing you're waiting for. There will be grand things, but just keep walking and you will be at the place that you're supposed to be. And I love that it's just not some flowery idea that it's just it is life. Keep walking and explore and be curious.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

It's beautiful.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

There's magic in books, the way one story can make you laugh, another can make you cry, and the right one.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Can stay with you long after the.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Last page on TikTok. That magic doesn't just stop when you turn the last page, it multiplies. Readers are swapping their favorite genres, highlighting lines that feel personal and sparking conversations that travel across the globe. One person's review can put a forgotten classic back on the bestseller list. One reader's reaction to a plot twist can connect with millions who felt the exact same way. And one recommendation can grow into you joining a fandom you never knew you needed. This isn't just talking books it's the book community on TikTok, where stories live on long after the last chapter, where discovery never ends and where your next favorite book is always just a scroll away. At Jessroll, they believe the kitchen is where joy lives with their refrigerated dough. There's no fussy proofing, no hours of waiting, just big smells, big smiles and that first irresistible flaky bite. It's tiny hands helping unroll the dough. It's laughing over a slightly wonky cinnamon swirl. It's pulling golden puffed layers out of the oven and hearing that perfect crispy crackle. They do the hard part so you could skip straight to the fun Just Roll Puff Pastry is made with non GMO high quality ingredients ready to roll with parchment paper straight from the fridge. No thawing, no stress, just golden bakery worthy layers every single time. With just roll, every bake is simple. From savory show stopping appetizers to sweet dessert masterpieces, this is a fresh way to bake. Familiar but better find. Just roll Puff Pastry in the refrigerated section of your grocery store or visit justroll.com to find a store near you.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Apple Books is the best place to read, listen to or discover the books you love without a subscription right on your iPhone. And now there's a very exciting heads up for listeners. Apple Books is the official audiobook and ebook home for Reese's Book Club, so it's easier than ever to explore each monthly book pick, plus author curated collections and more all in one place. Open the Apple Books app to explore a world of books and audiobooks. You can set goals and track your reading progress. Get great recommendations for your next read or listen and enjoy it all on the go, wherever you are. You can even share your books with up to five family members at no cost. Again, no subscription required. Visit Apple co reeseapplebooks to find out more. That's Apple co reeseapplebooks and read or.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Listen to Reese's current pick and browse.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Past selections today on Apple Books. Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton we spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and with characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands, but also in the world around you, in the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for lazy weekend mornings with a book, breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss.

[Jon M. Chu]

Us.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

It's about ease, comfort and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like the books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into our everyday moments. Moments like following four adult daughters as they navigate love, loss and the legacy in the Most Fun We Ever had by Claire Lombardo, all while curled up in soft cotton joggers or sinking into the island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. A story that spans generations, forbidden love.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

And a fig tree that remembers everything.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Wrapped in a hand stitched quilt, each.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Thread holding its own kind of memory.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something cotton. Not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton the fabric of our lives. Learn more at thefabricofourlives.com Time for a.

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[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Okay, John, you spent your entire life telling stories through movement and through image, through song even. But you've also told a story through words in your memoir. It's called Viewfinder A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen. And that's a really different kind of storytelling. It's nonfiction, it's internal, it's completely non visual.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

What was it like to shift from.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Directing what we see to writing what you see?

[Jon M. Chu]

Yeah, it was difficult. It was a two year process. I was in between movies and Jeremy McCarter, my co author, was someone who was writing. He wrote the Hamilton book and he was doing the behind the Scenes for the in the Heights book and we were talking about my life growing up and he's like this is incredible. You were at the cusp in the Silicon valley in the 80s when the rise of the computer was coming. You were there, you were giving computers and digital photography before anyone your age should have it. You were then going into. You left this area and went to Hollywood when there was no YouTube or social media, it was still on film. And then there you, by the time you graduated, YouTube was happening and social media started to happen and you were at the cusp of all this, at the front lines of it all and you. And you're finding your cultural identity all at the same time, all the way accumulating to crazy rich Asians and then now wicked. And so it was just a really interesting like, yeah, I was a frontline person who saw old Hollywood switch to new Hollywood, switch from old technology to new technology in the Silicon Valley come and invade LA eventually. So we just had a lot of great perspectives and it was difficult to put my thoughts and my ideas into the words. I would write down, sort of free writing stuff. And Jeremy was really helpful saying, no, this go in this order. And this really connects in that. And so we just had a great time and every few days we would talk on the phone for a long time and then we'd share different writings. And he. So it was a really, it was a really cool experience to see story through that perspective.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

I loved learning about your family, particularly your mom. And maybe it's because I identify with that sort of relationship. My mom has been so instrumental in my career. Like she'll see things or convince me to do something. Will you tell us the story of how your mom convinced you to do Step up too and what she said to you?

[Jon M. Chu]

Yeah, you know, I graduated from college and I had. Steven Spielberg found me. He saw my short film and I. It's like I had won the lottery. I got to meet him, I got to go to his sets and I got movies set up at different studios around town. But after a few years, all of those movies fell apart. And suddenly, five years later, I found myself had not made a movie yet. And I thought it was over. I thought maybe I missed my opportunity. And so at that point my managers sent me scripts and they said, there's this one thing you can do. It's a direct to DVD movie based off of a dance movie sequel. And I was like, what? I was like, I was discovered by Steven Spielberg. I am not. That's not. I do films, I go into theater, movie theaters. And I told my mom and she's like, when did you become a snob? He's like, are you a storyteller or are you not? If you're a storyteller, you should be able to tell a Story in any medium, you should tell it in the back of your car, in a conference room, or around a fire, or on dvd. Show them. Show yourself that you can actually tell your story in this. And I was so motivated. I was like, you're right, Mom. I'm gonna make the best damn direct to DVD dance movie sequel ever. And so I rewrote the.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

The.

[Jon M. Chu]

The treatment of it and went in and pitched and. And then they decided to make it into a feature film. And that was. Became my first movie and made $150,000,000 worldwide. It was. It was. It was the start of everything. So I could get off of my overthinking and high horse and just tell stories.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Does she take credit?

[Jon M. Chu]

To this day, 100%, she'll take credit. Yes.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Did writing your own story change anything about your directorial process?

[Jon M. Chu]

That's an interesting question. I didn't think that deeply into that, but when I think about it, yeah, I know it did. I know it did. Because I think of story differently. Writing a book was. Because the structure was so different than anything I had ever done before. It made me realize that reading a book is a different mental state. The reader's relationship with a story is different than in a movie. And I know that's obvious, but at the same time, you don't know it until you're making the plumbing and. And then you're trying to interpret your story into a form. And there were moments where I thought it should be chronological. And it was very clear to. To Jeremy, he's like, no, no, no. This connects this way. And. And you got to skip. Jump here so that you can get to there. And I just. I just thought it was fascinating. And so. And also, you know, I guess we.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Can jump cut here.

[Jon M. Chu]

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. But also, it's an experience. You know, when you're reading, there is an experience, an active experience happening. It's not passive. So I loved learning a little bit about that and also freedom to explore. Like, there's this point where in the book where I'm trying to tell the audience how my parents met, but I don't know the real story. Like, my parents have told me many different stories, and they all sort of float around the same things, but I can't get actual facts from them. And so we. He's like, okay, here's the way you're gonna do it. Write it like a script in a movie and just like, give that to me and I'll ask you another prompt, and then you write that scene of that and so I did that. And it was so much easier to try to explain or make sense of my, my parents story in that way and gave me.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Because you think in film.

[Jon M. Chu]

And I, and I, and I. And it forced me to think about how I think of my parents or what I thought of them when they were young. And I became. I felt like I was there with them when they're on the beach and my mom is sitting there with her girlfriends and this group of guys in, in their suits, walks across the beach in, in. In Santa Cruz with their shoes on and how these girls sort of laugh at these guys. I just, it just put me in a space. And it was really fascinating to do that exercise.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

It kind of sounds like you were describing Greece in that moment.

[Jon M. Chu]

I mean, it does have a thing. My mom was like, my mom always describes it as she was studying Russian. She was, she was like doing her homework for class in Russian. And then these guys came along and there was like music playing in the beach and there was like barbecues going. So it was very visceral, actually.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

So you've done TV and film and books. How do you see these different mediums informing one another in your work?

[Jon M. Chu]

I see myself as a storyteller, like my mom always insisted. And so I see. I think the medium in which they are expressed can be whatever medium they need to be. Maybe it could be even a podcast. But I, I think that, you know, when you go into film school, you're locked in because it's the only thing, you know, like, oh, I want to be a director. But when you get to film school, you learn all sorts of aspects of what go into production. You learn editing, you learn sound design, you're learning, you know, cinematography. And maybe your storytelling plays better in editing. Maybe your storytelling is not a director's lifestyle. It's a very strange, weird lifestyle. And you have to have sort of a certain personality, I think, to actually live it. So I think that keeping your radar open of if you are a storyteller, what is the medium in which your storytelling is best at? And also it can evolve over time. So I think that's what's happening. I'm finding these new avenues in which to express the stories that I feel like fill my brain every day. And so it's been fun to exercise those sides.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

When did you know or how did you know you were a storyteller?

[Jon M. Chu]

I think I was always a storyteller, for sure. I mean, I grew up in a restaurant, so everything. It's a house of stories. I Say this in the book, that it's like everywhere people were telling my dad about their newest company or about the gossip about their family, and my dad was sharing them with the gossip of my family. And so it was a. Everyone was there, two share.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

And if I may impose my opinion, I think it's also because you come from a long story and you're so aware of it.

[Jon M. Chu]

That's so interesting. I think that's a good point. I don't know if I was aware of my story as being anything other than my life until much, much later. I think I always felt like my story was boring. I think I always felt like, oh, gosh, nobody wants to know about the kid who has a loving family in a restaurant and went to Phil, decided to go do film school, and somehow was given cameras and software, didn't pay for them, and just started making movies and then got discovered by Spielberg. Like, it felt like nobody wants to know that story. And yet looking back at it, there's just so many moments of unknowns. And I think the thing that I have found the most power in my storytelling is that I have been telling myself a story my whole life, that one day I'm going to do this and that. And, oh, this is a tough moment. I feel like I'm on the bottom. But you know what? This is going to be a great chapter in my book. Oh, my gosh. He just said no. But this. Wait until we get a yes. Then this is going to be a great day in that story. That is the most powerful thing that I've. I think I've been able to use.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

To survive at all as a fan. Something that I think is so glorious is that you're doing Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, all the places you'll go. I'm gonna admit something embarrassing. Every year for my birthday as a kid, I asked to go see Joseph in the Technicolor Dreamcoat. I saw it seven times in theater.

[Jon M. Chu]

Wow.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Donny Osmond was my childhood crush. Which is weird. Most people's childhood crush was John Stamos or something.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Not mine.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Donny Osmond.

[Jon M. Chu]

That's so funny.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

But it's gonna be so psychedelic for you. What's the difference between your superpower and synesthesia? Because I heard you can see people's aura colors.

[Jon M. Chu]

I knew this was gonna come up. I don't actually know what it means. That's why I don't, like, bring it up that much. I just see colors when asked to see it. But again, people like to try to interpret. Oh, it means this or that. And I'm like, I don't know. I haven't looked it up. I don't know. And so like Cynthia and Ari would always do it to me. So I just see when I look at somebody I can see it's sort of like focus where like, you know, if you're not focusing on the foreground stuff then you don't really see it in every day. But if you actually look and you got adjust your eyes and then you can kind of see it. So I don't know what it means.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

This is so cool.

[Jon M. Chu]

And I don't know when it changes or why it changes, but it's going.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

To be amazing when you shoot that film.

[Jon M. Chu]

And it doesn't like, you know how people. I wish I could do the thing where people hear a note and they see colors or like hero number or they say I did. That doesn't. I don't know what that even means. I don't know how that's possible.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

It's unbelievable. Well, I just have one minute left with you, so I'm going to put 60 seconds on the clock. We're going to do speed read and see how many rapid fire literary questions we can get through.

[Anabe Sofa Ad Voice]

Are you ready?

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Ready.

[Jon M. Chu]

Okay, let's try.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Okay, we'll do our best. 3, 2, 1. What do you think would be on Elphaba's bedside table to read?

[Jon M. Chu]

Ooh, the Great Gatsby.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

What book are you most grateful for?

[Jon M. Chu]

My Broken Language by Chiara Hudis Alegria, who wrote in the Heights.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

I know you said you love biographies. Do you have a favorite one?

[Jon M. Chu]

I mean it's so cheesy. But the Steve Jobs one I love just because of Steve Jobs. But. But there's a Chuck Jones one. I don't remember the name of it that I love. I don't know if it's considered a bio. It's not really. It's not a biography at all. But Build by Tony Fadal is like the sort of his philosophy of not just inventing the ipod, but of other from general magic and his journey.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Okay, your favorite fictional love story.

[Jon M. Chu]

Well, the Great Gatsby, but I already said that one.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

It's okay.

[Jon M. Chu]

I love the Great Gatsby so much.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Favorite staging of a musical.

[Jon M. Chu]

I think Hamilton is genius. I don't even watching it today, it's like.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

It's insane. What's your favorite page to screen adaptation.

[Jon M. Chu]

Only because this is like nostalgia. But I remember reading Jurassic park before it was ever a movie. And I was obsessed Fabulous.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Favorite fictional story between friends?

[Jon M. Chu]

Yeah, I guess I would say wicked. Let's say wicked.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Okay, last one. Your favorite book to recommend to aspiring filmmakers.

[Jon M. Chu]

There's a book called Viewfinder that I really enjoy. For every creative person that's starting.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Do it.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Personal plug. I love it.

[Jon M. Chu]

Why not?

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Last one. What is a book that you gift most often?

[Jon M. Chu]

Mystery of Harris Burdick.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Fabulous.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

John Chu, you are so interesting and I can only imagine how exhausted you are and you're still this smart and interesting. Thank you for sharing your time with us.

[Jon M. Chu]

Thank you. Appreciate you.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

Okay, friends, friends.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Before we wrap today's episode, I'm bringing back our monthly comfort segment from Cotton. Called the Book Nook. It's where we explore the rituals that make reading feel just right. And as you know, cotton is at the heart of so many of life's everyday comforts. Whether that's your favorite cozy sweater, a worn in scarf, or the sheets you slip into after a long day, cotton helps us feel grounded and at ease, which makes it the perfect companion for a good book wherever you read it. Let's hear from another bookmarked listener sharing their ideal reading setup.

[Listener Brittany]

Hey, Danielle.

[Anabe Sofa Ad Voice]

Hey.

[Listener Brittany]

Bookmarked. My name is Brittany and I'm calling from New York City, so I can read anywhere and everywhere. I mean, it's New York City. There are so many great places, but my favorite place to read is actually on the subway. I know it sounds like the hardest place to focus, but the way the train whirs as it speeds through the tunnels and the low drain of commuter chatter make for the perfect background noise. And when things do get a little too loud, you know, sometimes there's a crying baby. I can throw on my favorite reading playlist of acoustic guitar ballads, and it really drowns out that noise. Also, the luminous glow of the overhead lights make reading a a breeze during sleepy morning commutes when I forget my coffee. And if the train gets a little too snug for me to open my book, I can just throw on an audiobook instead and let the story consume me. Are there other people out there who enjoy a lively reading environment? Thanks for listening.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Happy reading, Brittany. I love this. Only in New York could the subway double as the perfect reading nook. There's something so real and alive about your reading ritual. The hum of the train, the chatter of passengers, the rhythm that somehow becomes its own kind of calm. I can just picture you tucked into your commute, book in hand, maybe in a cotton turtleneck or a soft sweater, tuning out the world one page at a time. It's such a great reminder that comfort isn't always about quiet. Sometimes it's about feeling at home, even in the middle of the rush. So, friends, keep your ideal reading setups coming. Where do you get lost in a book? What textures surround you?

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Soft sheets?

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

A cozy throw?

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Maybe your favorite cotton hoodie? Take me right into your reading ritual. Leave me a voicemail at 501-291-3379 or email a voice memo to bookmarkedresbookclub.com thanks to Cotton for bringing this segment to life and reminding us that comfort and style can go hand in hand. Don't forget to check the tag for cotton. And if you want to learn more, head to thefabricofarlives.com and if you want a little bit more from us, come hang with us on socials. We're at Reese's Book Club on Instagram serving up books, vibes and behind the scenes magic. And I'm Danielle Robay, R O B A Y Come say hi and DM me. And if you want to go 90s on us, you can call us. Okay, so our phone line is open open. So call us now at 501-291-3379. That's 501-291-3379. Share your literary hot takes, your book recommendations.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Ooh.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Please share those and questions about the monthly pick or just let us know what you think about the episode you just heard. And who knows, you might just hear yourself in our next episode. So don't be shy, give us a ring. And of course, make sure to follow Bookmark by Reese's Book Club on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows. Until then, see you in the next chapter. Bookmarked is a production of Hello Sunshine and iHeart podcasts. It's executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and me, Danielle Robay. Production is by Acast Creative Studios. Our producers are Maddie Foley, Brittany Martinez and Sarah Schlied. Our production assistant is Avery Loftus. Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutter are the executive producers for Acast Creative Studios. Maureen Polo and Reese Witherspoon are the executive producers for hello Sunshine. Olga Kaminwa, Sarah Kernerman, Kristen Perla and Ashley Rapoport are associate producers for Reese's Book Club. Ally Perry and Lauren Hanson are the executive producers for iHeart podcasts. Every reader knows the thrill of discovering.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

A book that feels like it was.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Written just for you on TikTok. That happens every day. Millions of people are recommending Fantasy Sagas thrillers, romances and hidden gems you might have missed. It's more than reviews, it's readers opening up about the stories that change their lives. TikTok is where your next favorite book finds you in a warm and welcoming place. And with millions shaping what's trending in reading, discovery feels endless. Join the community and start exploring stories on TikTok.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton. We spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands but also in the world around you, in the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for a lazy weekend morning with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like books we cherish, cotton leaves meaning into everyday moments. Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something cotton. Not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton the fabric of our lives.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Learn more at thefabricofourlives.com@just roll they believe the kitchen is where joy lives with their refrigerated dough. There's no fussy proofing, no hours of waiting. Just big smells, big smiles and that first irresistible flaky bite. They do the hard part so you could skip straight to the fun. Just Roll Puff pastry is made with non GMO high quality ingredients ready to roll with parchment paper straight from the fridge. No thawing, no stress, just golden bakery worthy layers every single time. With Just Roll, Every bake is simple. From savory showstopping appetizers to sweet dessert masterpieces, this is a fresh way to bake. Familiar but better find Just Roll puff pastry in the refrigerated section of your grocery store or visit justroll.com to find a store near you. Apple Books is the best way to.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Read or listen to the books you love without a subscription right on your.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Iphone and a heads up for listeners.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

Apple Books is the official audiobook and ebook home for Reese's Book Club so you can discover every exciting pick plus author curated collections and more all in one place. Open the Apple Books app to explore a world of books and audiobooks. You can set and track your reading goals and get great recommendations for your.

[Host 2 (Danielle Robay)]

Next read or listen again.

[Host 3 (Narrator/Promotions)]

No subscription required. Visit Apple Co Reese. That's R E E S E Apple Books to find out more.

[Liberty Mutual Ad Voice]

The day begins at the Chase Sapphire Lounge by the club. At Boston Logan Airport, you get the clam chowder. In San Diego, it's tostadas New York espresso martini. It's 10am why not? It's the quiet before your next flight, the shower that resets your day, the menu that lets you know where you are. This is access to over 1300 airport lounges and every Sapphire Lounge by the club. And one card that gets you in Chase Sapphire Reserve, the most rewarding card.

[Jon M. Chu]

Learn [e-mail] Sapphire Reserve cards issued by JP Morgan, Chase bank and a member FDIC, subject to credit approval.

[Host 1 (Interviewer)]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.