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Danielle Fishel
This is an iHeart podcast.
Kate Micucci
Guaranteed Human.
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Clayton Eckerd
I'm Clayton Eckerd. In 2022, I was the lead of ABC's the Bachelor.
Stephanie Young
But here's the thing. Bachelor fans hated him.
Clayton Eckerd
If I could press a button and rewind it all, I would.
Stephanie Young
That's when his life took a disturbing turn. A one night stand would end in a courtroom.
Danielle Fishel
The media is here. This case has gone viral.
Clayton Eckerd
The Dating Contract Agree to date me,
Kate Micucci
but I'm also suing you.
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Stephanie Young
I'm Stephanie Young. Listen to Love trapped on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Kate Micucci
Then she says, have you seen a photo of my son? And I'm like, who is this person?
Boys and Girls Podcast Host
Welcome to the Boys and Girls podcast. Arranged marriage is basically a reality show and you're auditioning for your soulmate. And who's judging? Only your entire family. I sacrificed myself to this ancient tradition hoping to find love the right way, and instead I found chaos, comedy and a lot of cringe. Listen to boys and Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Danielle Fishel
Give me money for cigarettes. Hello everyone. It is once again time for Teen Beat with Danielle Fishel. And lucky for this podcast, I am Danielle Fishel. And this is a podcast where I sit down with interesting people hoping to turn the tables, forcing them to share their own awkward teenage stories with me. Because as a child I performed for millions of people And a weekly salary trading in my prepubescence for a national sitcom fame. And so now, 30 years later, I look at it like this. I gave you my childhood. It's time we hear yours. And this week, I'm joined by a guest who in adulthood, paints on trash, plays the ukulele, and is one of the funniest people I know. So I can only imagine we're in for an incredible childhood. You've seen this adorable dynamo on TV shows like How I Met yout Mother, Scrubs, Raising Hope, and the Big Bang Theory, where she played Raj's love interest, Lucy. And she's a prolific voice actress, heard as Velma in the modern Scooby Doo franchise, webby Vanderquack on DuckTales. And she's even somehow the voice of Clayface in the Lego Batman movie. Not sure how that works. She was one half of the legendary musical comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates and released her debut solo album of music for kids called my hat in 2023. And now, yet another creative endeavor to excel in her first ever children's book, the Monster and Puppet show, was just released and is available everywhere. What is left for this pocket sized genius? The Teen Beat podcast, of course. Welcome to the show. Actress, artist, author, musician, comedian, and friend, Kate Micucci.
Kate Micucci
Hi. Oh, my gosh, Danielle, that was just like the most heartwarming intro and I thank you so much. That was so. That was really beautiful. Thanks for saying those kind things.
Danielle Fishel
You're so welcome. They are all true. You have led such an incredible, wonderful, beautiful life, and I can't wait to learn more about where it all started in your childhood.
Kate Micucci
I'm so excited to dive in. I'm just so thrilled to be here. It's great to see you, by the way. It's been a minute. So really nice to see you.
Danielle Fishel
Nice to see you. It has been a minute. I mentioned a few of your most notable voiceover roles, but I didn't even touch on Dogman or Angry Birds or Adventure Time. I mean, the list truly feels like it never ends. Were you a cartoon kid?
Kate Micucci
I was. I was very much a TV kid. And in fact, every Sunday, the TV Guide would come in the newspaper and my mom would hand me the TV Guide and say, here's your Bible. And then I would circle my whole week. And I loved old movies. And so, you know, but I also, you know, just everything, you know, and so I watched a lot, a lot of tv and I did watch a lot of cartoons. Scooby Doo being my favorite of All. And so when I got to actually be in Scooby Doo and play Velma, that was like, you know, truly a dream come true.
Danielle Fishel
Do you remember? Did you have to audition for it or did they offer it to you?
Kate Micucci
I did. I had to audition. And it was one of those things that came through. And it was when we were shooting the Garfunkel Notes TV show. And I was, you know, that time was like an impossible schedule. And I got the call that they wanted me to audition. And I thought, oh, my gosh, what a dream. I would love to have that part. And so I auditioned, and I remember being in my closet, you know, recording it and sending it in. And then they had some notes. And so I said, I really wanna get to these notes. I honestly don't know if I'll be able to get to them before next weekend. So the next weekend they waited for me, which was so nice. And then I went back into my closet, and then I remember getting the call. And I was at a park, we were shooting. And I got the call that I got. Velma and I did a dance around a tree. I was so excited.
Danielle Fishel
I love those moments where, like, something you from the time you were a kid, did it ever occur to you as a kid, like, hey, I. I could do that someone is playing these voices and I want to. Or could do that. Or then when it ended up coming true for you that you get to play Velma from your favorite cartoon, does it just feel like, how is this even my life?
Kate Micucci
Yes, I, I, I have those moments all the time. I wonder. I. You know, you've been doing this since you were a kid. So it was so much of your childhood that maybe it. It maybe doesn't seem as, like, fantastical or crazy. I don't know. But I'm sure you have those moments, everyone does, where you're like, how is this happening right now? But there are times with Scooby Doo where we would all be in the studio. Gray and Matt Lillard and Frank Welker. And, you know, I'm with these legends. And I would just close my eyes and I'd think, oh, my gosh, I'm with these voices. This is so crazy. And Frank Welker, who plays Scooby and Fred, has been doing it since the very beginning. So we all grew up listening to his voice and Scooby Doo, among a thousand other things. And. And I would just close my eyes and then I'd be like, oh, it's my line. Okay. And it was just the coolest feeling. So, yeah, I mean, there's definitely. I have those moments a lot. It's, you know, it's a cool thing. But, yeah, I'm sure. Do you have a good, like, do you have a moment where you're like, I can't believe this. I'm. I'm sure with, like, even Dancing with the Star many times, you're probably like, what is my life right now?
Danielle Fishel
Yeah. But, you know, though, I think the closest one I have for that was when I started hosting the Dish for the Style Network. I was such a huge fan of the Soup when I was, like, going back to Greg Kinnear. I mean, the very beginning of it. I have always loved the Soup. And so then when I heard, oh, they're going to do a similar show but on the Style Network and they want it to be hosted by a woman and they want you to meet for was like, what? I. I've never wanted a job more. I. I know this job. I'm familiar with this job. Like, I want this. It feels perfect for me. And so then when you accomplish the goal and you book, you know, you have the meeting and you. There's. There's always. For me, at least, it's always seemed like in every job that I've had that I've loved, there's always a moment where I think I don't have it, you know, or I really don't have it. Like, in that case, hosting the Dish, I don't. I did the meeting. They really liked me, but they had already had someone else on contract, and they were basically worried that contract wasn't going to work out because the person they had picked may be going to do a different show. She was in first position for. And so then they were like, oh, that show's not happening. She is going to host this show. And so I didn't have it. And, like, months went by of me feeling like I wanted it so bad and I didn't get it. And then it all changed and she did leave to go do a different show, and they called me and said, it's yours, and just. I couldn't believe it was my life. So, yeah, that's. That's. I was like, my God, when those moments happen, it's such a. It feels so good. I feel. I always feel like they're little signs that you're on the right path.
Kate Micucci
Definitely. I. I so agree. And I, like, even just as you're telling the story, I could feel your happiness and excitement about, like, like, we. Then you always have that that moment to like, just like, you know, if you're feeling down, you can remember that moment and be like, oh, right. Yes. Like, it's a. It's a. In so many ways. And yeah, I feel like, yeah, those little, like, happy little dances, you know, in our closet or whatever, like, those are the magic moments sometimes.
Danielle Fishel
Absolutely. I picture your dance around the tree akin to Nicole Kidman dancing after she finally divorced Tom Cruise.
Kate Micucci
Oh, my gosh, those photos are incredible.
Danielle Fishel
Those are the greatest photos. Yeah, they're just great. I don't even know that I believe that it's actually right after the divorce. I just. Whatever it was, she's so happy. I just love that for her, you know?
Kate Micucci
Yes. Yes.
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Wells Adams
Hey, this is Wells Adams with By Order of the Faithfuls podcast alongside my fellow faithfuls and co hosts Tamara Judge and Dolores Catania. The three of us have been watching this season of the Traitors and we've been inside that castle so we have insight. Unlike many others, this season of the Traders may be the best we've ever seen. Listen to By Order the Faithfuls on America's number one podcast network. I heart follow By Order the Faithfuls and start listening on the free iHeartRadio app today.
Danielle Fishel
I don't think I'm speaking out of turn when I say that you have always had a forever young aura about you. When you were a teenager, did you
Kate Micucci
look like a baby?
Danielle Fishel
I'm trying to imagine how you could possibly look younger than you do.
Kate Micucci
Thank you. It's funny because I just still. I mean, I think I hear people in their 80s and 90s talk about this where you still feel like you're in your 20s or something, but I think I do. I was trudging through the snow last night. I'm in New York City. It is just a beautiful snowstorm right now. And last night I was like, I've gotta go out. I've gotta go play in the snow because it was really good packing snow and. And I just was running through the snow by myself and I really was like, I feel like I'm 14.
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Kate Micucci
And then the coolest thing is I, you know, the great thing about the city is you just. People are friendly and they talk and I ended up making a 10 foot snowman with like 10 other people and it was this incredible night. And. But yeah, I do think, I think, well, to that point I think we're all kids. Like this was a bunch of grownups making a snowman and I don't know that. I mean, I think as I get older I'm more aware that I, the things that I make really come from that childlike place. It's, you know, it's not intentional. It never really was. It's just sort of naturally what happens when I make art or music. It just is, you know, if I'm, if it's coming from that core place in me, it's usually childlike in some way. Recently someone posted I love this, I should have like screen grabbed it because now who the. I don't know where it is, but it said that 12 year old is nearly 50 and I thought that's true. Yes.
Danielle Fishel
Wow. No, it is, it's so, it's. To me, it's so inspiring because it is very clear that you still have like a direct pipeline to your childlike self, to the child within you. And for so many of us as we get older, it becomes harder and harder to access that childlike part of us. And I was reading actually Captain Underpants to my six and a half year old the other night and we were in the chapter part of the book where he specifically mentions, you know, how adult. Anytime you get a group of kids together and they start having fun, I guarantee you within a couple of moments some adult will come over and tell you to quiet down and you know, stop doing that. And he was like, don't believe me? Go try it. Go in a corner with your friends and start giggling and having too much fun and just wait and see. And other as I'm reading is going, yep, yep, that's true. And I thought, yeah, like I, I don't have as direct access to that childlike part of me anymore and I don't like what do you think there's anything you do to continue to cultivate it or is it just naturally who you are?
Kate Micucci
I, I don't know. I, I think it probably is who I am in a lot of ways. I also really love trying to bring people in in moments that can be celebrated, even if they're like silly. Like I'm always the first to like, like start like cheering or clapping at something that might like, I don't know, like, they had a thing called Mulch Fest here in New York where they trim, they take all the Christmas trees. People bring the Christmas trees to a certain spot and then they bring these mulchers and they like hand out bags and they just, you know, the trees get chopped into mulch and it's called Mulchfest. I've never been to Mulchfest. I'm new to New York City. So I said, I have a six year old as well. And I said, let's go to Mulchfest. And he was like, yeah, Mulchfest. And I didn't know what it was gonna be. And it was for most of the time, just me and my son Mikey watching the mulcher. But then we, like, started cheering, like, as the tree. I was like, yeah. And then we just started making it a thing. And then more people started watching. And then, like, we made it a little moment. And then the guys who were doing the mulch were like, this is really funny. Yeah, this is great.
Danielle Fishel
By the way, things. It's helping us. It's giving us motivation to keep mulching these trees. Yeah.
Kate Micucci
So I don't know. I mean, that's just an example of like, I just, I think too, I just try to appreciate things and. But I don't know, as far as the kid, like, stuff, I. I hope. I always feel. I don't know, so far in my 45 years, I still kind of feel the same. So I guess I. Hopefully it will continue. The other day, I was walking down the street and there was this woman and she was. She had a cane and she was moving kind of slow. And I said, oh, hi, how you doing? And she goes, I'm great. And then like a couple minutes, a couple beats later, she turned to me and goes, isn't it funny? I said, I'm great. I've got a cane and I'm moving so slow. I said, well, you look great. And I thought to myself, she had this youthful way about her. And I was like, I hope I'm like her when I'm her age, you know?
Danielle Fishel
That's so sweet. I love too that she realized, like you, she probably hadn't thought, like, how am I? Or, you know. And then you pointed it out. And her natural response was, I'm great. And then she thought, I wonder what I looked like to that woman who asked. And what I looked like is an older woman walking slowly with a cane. And yet the truth is, I'm great. I love that it Was really sweet.
Kate Micucci
But yeah, I don't know, I feel like. And I'm sure, you know, having kids, I was always very excited to be a mom because I, I always wondered what I would make with my kid. And I also wondered like what I would be like with my kid. And it is a good way to tap in, you know. But yeah, Captain Underpants is a great lot of laughs in that one.
Danielle Fishel
Yes, there are. Well, for as young of an aura as you have, you also have very old fashioned taste. You play the ukulele, you had an educational focus on puppetry, and you are an expert in sand castle building.
Kate Micucci
Yeah. Sandcastle building. Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
I mention all of this to ask, were you a popular kid? No.
Kate Micucci
Shocking. No, I was not. Although I was kind of. I just kept to myself, you know, I was very shy. I spent every lunch I could in the art room, which is like one of those cliches you hear, but it was very true. And I kind of knew everyone and I was, I think, friendly. But I never got like asked to the party or, you know, any of that kind of thing. And I didn't want to. I think that was my protective way about being. I was like, oh, I don't want that anyway, so it was a way of protecting myself that I wasn't invited to things because I was like, well, I'm. I'm good, you know. Right.
Danielle Fishel
You were rejecting them rather than them rejecting you.
Kate Micucci
Yeah. Take that cool kids yet.
Danielle Fishel
But where did that like influence come from for you? Were your parents into those things? Like most, a lot of kids, at least my kids, all their reference for things that they're into come from pop cult, things that are cool in pop culture, what their friends are into or things that Jensen or I are into.
Kate Micucci
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
So like, where did those interests come from for you?
Kate Micucci
You know, I think I. I don't know. My mom was really great about taking my brother and I to the library. And I think that has a huge influence on me. The more I think about it as I get older because we'd always be getting books and reading a lot. And then my favorite thing about the library was the, the tapes. And I'd always go to the Broadway section. And a big Broadway nerd just like ate up all of the, all of the music I could get. And I just remember feeling like I could get lost in those, you know, those soundtracks and also a big film score nerd. And so I think in Hollywood, like that was always, like, for me, I would read People magazine and Entertainment Weekly. Those are my two Gateways into, you know. And my school librarian in high school used to save me those two magazines so that I'd get the old week old copies. She'd give them to me every week and I'd save them. And I think just like living in this pretend world, I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, yet I, like, dreamt of, you know, I dreamt of Hollywood. I never thought. I just loved. I loved the idea of it and I loved, you know, I loved movies and I saw everything I could. And I guess I lived very much in a pretend world, I guess, in a way. But I also was just genuinely happy making things. I was always painting and drawing and I had a really cool train set, but, like, to paint a picture. The Summer I was 16, the majority of my summer was in that basement making a train set. So I feel like that's really. That kind of says it all, I guess right there. But, like, even in the train set, I had, like my Hollywood imagination and like. Oh, and like, Jim Carrey, like, lived behind this, like, you know, it was just like I had, like, the famous people of the time living in my train set in my imaginary world.
Danielle Fishel
I love that.
Kate Micucci
Yeah. So I. Yeah, I think I wasn't. I didn't start dating really until I was 24. You know, like, I was a. When they say late bloomer, that's really, really late in the scheme of most people in life. But I've kind of always been a little slow to things, and I think that's okay, you know?
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, that is okay. I also. Well, I mean, compared to you, when I say I was. I was a little bit of a late bloomer in the sense that I didn't really want to experience. I mean, I had lots of crushes on boys, but I wasn't actually ready to act on any of those feelings until later than most. But I. All I wanted to do was focus on boys. Like, I just. I wanted to think about them all the time. I wanted to talk to them all the time. I wanted to write notes to them all the time. Um, but I had, you know, and then maybe hold hands. Uh, but compared to you, I think actually I was flying right along what you just described.
Kate Micucci
I was like, oh, man, I wish I was that brave.
Danielle Fishel
So brave. I do want to. I mean, I buried the lead a little bit here. Sandcastle building.
Kate Micucci
Oh, right.
Danielle Fishel
I'm dying to know where do you even pick this skill up?
Kate Micucci
You know, I worked at shutters in Santa Monica.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Kate Micucci
The hotel on the beach. It's a Beautiful hotel. My brother was a doorman there. And so I was about, I don't know, right around the time I started dating, I was 24 and my, my brother was working there and he said, I have heard they want to start doing sandcastle classes. And I told them, you're really good at making things in the sand. And this just came from being at the beach. Growing up with my brother, he just, I'd always make things in the sand. And I was like, yeah, I could do that. But you know, I was doing every odd job possible, like, so I was like, sure. And, and then we ended up like it was a weekly class. It ended up being really awesome. It was just. The funny thing about it is usually it was the parents that got excited about making things and the kids really didn't care at all. But so I ended up making sandcastles with a lot of parents. Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
You know, it's funny, I thought my kids would be very. I was excited to teach my kids, like, here's how you build a sandcastle. All they want to do is dig holes. Yeah, they just want to, they want to dig and like watch it fill up with water and then fill it back up or they want to be covered with the sand, which is like my nightmare. And I'm the one who wants to build a house, a sand castle. So I'm going to need you to teach me some skills.
Kate Micucci
Next time. Next, next time. I'm there. We can do it. Let's do it. Okay, great.
Danielle Fishel
Next time you visit la, we'll meet at the beach. So you could teach me how to build a sandcastle.
Kate Micucci
I'm super down.
Danielle Fishel
You would assume that that might be the strangest thing you had ever done to make ends meet. But then I stumble on watering banana and pineapple plants in Hawaii.
Kate Micucci
That was, yeah, I, that was more of a family gig, I guess you could say. My aunt and uncle lived in Hawaii on Big. They still do. They're on the big island. I grew up in the small town, like I had mentioned, never had been to Hawaii. And I had gone to a two year art school. My plan was to be a toy designer. And I love the movie Big. And I think there was a part of me that was like, I want a loft with a trampoline and a bunk bed. That's the dream. And I thought, well then I'll be a toy designer. But also I loved toys, so it kind of made sense for me. And so I went to a two year art school that had a great. It was like a Good gateway to then going to school to be a toy designer.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Kate Micucci
Here in New York. And then I. I just wasn't ready for the big city of New York City. I was, like, a little scared by it, I think. And my dad said, why don't you take some time off, because, you know, school is expensive. And trying to figure out the right school. I didn't want to make the wrong decision.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Kate Micucci
So my uncle. My uncle and aunt in. In Hawaii, and Audrey and Uncle Eddie, they're the best. They said, stay with us. So I slept. They had this, like, covered porch, and I slept in this giant chair that was my bed. And as my, like, way of repaying them for letting me stay there for. It was only three months, but it's a good chunk of time.
Boys and Girls Podcast Host
Yeah.
Kate Micucci
I did all of their. They had a huge farm of, like, banana plants and pineapple plants, and I did all the watering, so it was great. Wow. Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
That is so cool. I love when family, both for your parents and your aunt and uncle, for them to be so supportive to say one. I mean, a lot of parents hear that their kids just spent a bunch of money on school or that they spent a bunch of money on school, and then I still don't know what I want to do. And youth and the. The. The response is not, maybe you need to take time off. It's, well, well, then what have you been? You know, there's like, a different energy around it. But your parents really nurtured the idea that you needed to take your time and that you needed to really feel good about whatever was the next step for you. So they encouraged you to take that time off. And then for you to have an aunt and uncle to say, hey, come be with us for three months and figure it out and think about it. That's so cool.
Kate Micucci
Yeah, it was. You know, I think there's so much pressure put on kids to just, you know, they're expected to know what they want to be. And these days, I think everything's changing so quickly that who knows, like, what jobs are going to look like? Like, it's so hard to know what you want to be. And I still. Every day I'm like, what am I today? Like, you know, I'm very fortunate that I get to jump around and try a lot of things. And I know that's a really lucky thing, but I feel like, you know, it's always great to just be open kind of. And I think that was the idea in Hawaii, too, where I was just like, all right, universe, like, like, send me some signs. And it really. I got some signs while I was there. One being that my grandpa, who was also there at the time, bought me a ukulele, and that's when I started playing ukulele. So. And, you know, almost cliche that I started playing the ukulele in Hawaii, but it led to a lot of things.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, exactly. That led to so many things for you. Is that where you first realized you were a musician?
Kate Micucci
No, I grew up playing classical piano. So I think maybe the classical piano part of my life also feeds into my being just sort of a solitary person. But I grew up competing. My brother and I both competed with piano and, you know, was practicing. My mom really was very strict about it, and so we had to practice at least an hour a day. And, yeah, by the time I was a senior in high school, I was probably practicing close to three hours a day, and I. And then I just stopped for a while. I started taking it again in college. But I am just so grateful that I have that training, because I think my classical training, I don't have it. There's a few pieces I still have in my memory, but it's more that I apply it to a lot of other things that I do. Even just how I look at a script or a project, I see it like, I do music. In a way.
Danielle Fishel
I wish I could get my children to focus on anything for even close to an hour, but I apparently am not being strict enough because, whew, that would be an absolute fight. We try to just do homework or, you know, practice reading and writing for 30 minutes a day. And, boy, you'd think I was holding their hands to a fire.
Kate Micucci
I feel you. We are in the same boat, you and I. Yeah. My son does not want to do. I mean, the reading homework, if we get through it. And, like, as soon as we're done, it's like it's over. But I think. I wonder, like, you know, by the time I started playing piano at 4 and Mikey is 6, and I don't know, like, I don't know when I really, really hope that he'll have an instrument that he focuses on, but I still am. It's a big question mark as to how I'm going to try to have him do that. I don't know. My husband's a musician, so he's all around music, you know, But I. I don't know. I feel the same way. I want him to have a focus. Maybe it's not music. Maybe it's something else. But Right now, it's just flipping off the couch.
Danielle Fishel
Correct. All the time. All the time. The minute he comes home, my son throws his backpack down, rips off his shirt, and goes immediately to jumping off the couch, throwing the cushions on the floor, practicing wrestling. I'm like, okay, this is so much boy energy.
Kate Micucci
We need to get the kids together next. They said yes. Sounds like they'll really get along.
Danielle Fishel
I think they will. And then we have my other son, Keaton, four and a half, and he's right there with them. So I think. I think the three of them will have a blast together. You mentioned being from a small town. What was high school like for young Kate Micucci in small town Pennsylvania?
Kate Micucci
You know, again, I was pretty. Pretty shy and. But I have good memories of high school. I think middle school was really rough for me. I think that was a bad time. And looking back, I was. I, you know, I just think even. Just like, you know, it's that hormone shift and everything else. I was just kind of lost and sad and didn't know why. And then once I got to ninth grade, I think I. My body started evening out or something, so I started feeling like, oh, okay. And. And that's really when I was throwing myself into art a lot more and, you know, finding myself a bit there. But I feel like I have great memories of high school. It was just awkward, but it wasn't bad, you know. And, yeah, I think that I really loved my teachers. My senior year, they found mold in the high school, like throughout the high school and. And then. So I only had school for two hours a day, and that was a whole crazy thing. So my brother and I were ski instructors. So during the winter, we'd go to school for two hours, then go skiing. Like, there's, like, good memories there.
Danielle Fishel
Yes. By the way, ski instructor for high school. Sounds awesome.
Kate Micucci
Yeah, you know, we thought. I remember my parents saying, like, we thought, like, you know, get you in, like, the cool kid mix somehow. It really. My brother and I were like, really the nerdy ski instructors. But, you know, it was, you know, we were teaching little kids, like, I'm very good at skiing. Backwards, slowly.
Danielle Fishel
Okay, great. So that's the skill you took on from. Yeah. Okay. That's great.
Kate Micucci
It's a lot of, like, memories of, like, snot and cold gummy bears as rewards.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, yes, yes. And saying, pizza, French fries. Pizza, French fries as often as possible. When did your last name become funny to kids?
Kate Micucci
Oh, you know, it's interesting. That's such a good question, because I don't I think it snuck up on me. I think that, first of all, I didn't know that there was, like, you know, a dirty connotation to my last name until I was reading the play the Vagina Monologues, when I was like, I don't know, 25, and that word was in a long list of words. And I was like, oh, my God. That is what. But that is why. That is why they were. This moment, this moment, this moment. It was like a. In my mind. So. So, yeah, that became funny to me then because I was like, how did I miss that? But then, of course, I was a sheltered, sheltered kid. But I. I. Kids love to say my last name, and kids love to say my full name. So among. I. I really kind of realized it when I was babysitting a lot like, after college, I was babysitting to, like, pay my bills, and kids always said, Kate Micucci. Kate Micucci. And to this day, it's just a funny. It's a fun, funny thing. I don't know. But I love that people. I love that kids know my whole name. It's very cute.
Danielle Fishel
It is very cute. I mean, Jensen had a best friend growing up whose name was BJ Service.
Kate Micucci
Wow.
Boys and Girls Podcast Host
Wow.
Danielle Fishel
And none of them thought it was funny or knew it was funny until college. And I don't know how that's possible. But then in college, they were like. Jensen was mentioning him to somebody else, like, oh, well, my best friend, BJ Service. And they were like, you have a friend with the name? And he was like, yeah. What? I don't. What. And then obviously they were like, that's so funny. And he was like, what. How did none of us. I don't know how that. I just don't know how that's possible.
Kate Micucci
That is so amazing. And, and, and did he. He must have had a moment, bj, where he realized what it was. But I wonder for him what that was like.
Danielle Fishel
I know.
Kate Micucci
Yeah. He had my moment with the Vagina Monologues. There was something. Yeah, for sure.
Danielle Fishel
A moment where he goes, that's why they've been saying my name like that.
Kate Micucci
Yeah. Yeah. Oh, when you think about.
Danielle Fishel
I know we just talked about junior high, and also junior high was not my favorite time in life. I think it's just rough for everyone, no matter who you are. But would you have. Would you say you were a confident kid?
Kate Micucci
No. Well, it's funny. I think I was both things because I was. I really in. In social settings, I was not whatsoever. That middle school feeling. I still Talk about that middle school. There's a lot of times in life today where I'm like, oh, I feel like a middle. I'm in middle school right now. Like, there's this.
Danielle Fishel
That.
Kate Micucci
Ugh. It's so. Yeah, I don't think that I. I wasn't confident. However, when I had a chance to perform then I was like, in eighth grade, we had to do this presentations on presidents, and I got fdr, and I just did this whole performance where I dressed like Uncle Sam. I built this box that you had to put a quarter in. And then the music started, and I pressed my little tape player, and then I came out and was an animatronic Uncle Sam as I presented this whole story on fdr. And then I had a whole puppet sequence with fdr, and then he gets sick and he turns green and all these things. And I remember my teacher having to walk out of the room, and I thought, that's weird. And I was like, oh, he must be laughing. Like. Like, he had to probably leave to laugh. But I. In those moments, I was so excited and so confident because I was sharing what I had made. And I think that's still, to this day. What is. Like, my favorite thing is, like, I love making things, but I equally love sharing them. And, you know, I'd write a song in college, and then I'd run across the dorm and knock on a dorm, be like, you want to hear the song I wrote? Like, I was always just wanting to share this thing immediately. And so I think I had confidence to, you know, be an animatronic Uncle Sam. And I also knew that the kids were loving it. And I remember being done with my presentation, and then a kid said, if I put another quarter in, will you do that again? And I thought, oh, I did it. Like, so. So I think those moments, I definitely had confidence. But when it came to, like, anything social, forget it. Yeah. I didn't even like to ride the bus. I was really scared. I didn't. There were big kids on the bus. Like, it was scary to me. And my dad would drive me in his electric van. He has a electric company, Bushkill Electric. So we'd drive in his van, and we'd listened to Howard Stern, and I thought that was so cool, and that was making me cool. But then there were many times where he had to turn it off.
Danielle Fishel
Yes, exactly.
Kate Micucci
He was like, oh, God, you turn that off.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah. I think I might have caught something I wasn't supposed to hear. What was the most amount of trouble you ever got?
Kate Micucci
Into as a kid, you know, I just. I didn't. I was scared. I was so fearful. And I was such a. Like a people pleaser. I wanted to please my parents. I. I didn't. I mean, maybe the worst thing would be, like, not practicing the piano long enough or something, but that really. How lame is that? I never did. I was not a rebel. Not a rebel whatsoever.
Danielle Fishel
I love that. It's not even like I skipped practicing piano. You were, like, not practicing the piano for the full hour. You did it for 42 minutes and then. Yeah. And you were like, nope. That's the most amount of trouble I ever got into. Okay.
Kate Micucci
I sometimes do this thing where I go back and I'm like, if I could go back in time and do high school again or do middle school again, what would I do? And I'm like, I just wish I had. I wish I had socialized more. And I think that would have been like hanging out in a parking lot at the Walmart. But I wish I had done that. I didn't get that experience, but again, that's okay. But, yeah, I just wish I had had a little bit more outgoingness toward other people, because I do now. I love hanging out.
Danielle Fishel
Well. And even to hear you talk about how you'd make a song and then run down the hall and knock on the door, it's like when you felt inspired to connect with people, you would reach out and then it would always go well. So it's kind of surprising that that amount of feedback of, like, when I do go out of my comfort zone, it's always a positive that that feedback didn't make you inspired to do it in other scenarios. You just.
Kate Micucci
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
You just were very choosy about when you did it.
Kate Micucci
Yeah. Probably maybe a bit of fear of failing socially or something.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Kate Micucci
But I have a question for you because, you know, you were in LA as, like, what was the. Where did kids go? Like, where did teenagers go? What was like, the hotspot in LA at the mall. The mall? Which mall?
Danielle Fishel
The Topanga Mall.
Kate Micucci
Oh, how fitting.
Danielle Fishel
It was perfect. I was at the Topanga Mall every single weekend getting my vanilla bean ice blended from coffee bean. Going to Victoria's Secret, I, you know, was not. Had no reason for lingerie, but we would look at the bras, try on bras, me and my best friend Jamie. And then we'd wander around the food court, get food, you know, check in at the Charlotte Russe, see what there was.
Kate Micucci
Charlotte Russe?
Danielle Fishel
Yeah. It was the mall. The mall was pretty cool. And then, like in the Hollywood scene, Ed Dubevix.
Kate Micucci
Oh, yes. That was on La Cienega, right?
Danielle Fishel
Correct.
Kate Micucci
When I first moved to la, that was still there, but I think maybe for like, just a year, and then it went away. But that was. That was a cool.
Danielle Fishel
That was a cool hangout.
Kate Micucci
We.
Danielle Fishel
We loved. We loved that.
Kate Micucci
But, yeah, the mall.
Danielle Fishel
And it makes me very happy now because, like, a lot of things, you know, now we're moving into the nostalgia of the early aughts, but we have just been really inside a big 90s nostalgia craze. And as a part of that, I'm also noticing there are lots of young cools at the mall. I'm still at the mall every weekend. Yeah. Because it's my. It's what? What I know. And so I bring my kids to the Topanga Mall. Same mall, Very, very sheltered. Bring my kids to the Topanga Mall. We play at the arcade. We, you know, ride on the little train that's there.
Kate Micucci
We.
Danielle Fishel
We wander, we see movies. We go to the Topanga Social, which is now like the elevated version of the food court, and we just hang out there. And I'm pleasantly surprised by how many young people are at the mall.
Kate Micucci
That is so fast. Yeah. I mean, that mall is gorgeous, if you can call them all gorgeous. That's probably one of the most gorgeous malls. Like, I feel like I. Yeah, that makes sense. And it's still, like a comfort for you. And then you get to share that with your kids is pretty cool. Yeah, I think. Yeah. I always wonder. I daydream about probably in the time that I was daydreaming about Hollywood in the 90s, I think. What was it? What was it for someone like you, a kid in the 90s? And also, I should mention, I also lived vicariously through my so called life. That show was like. I dreamt of having a cool boyfriend like Jared Leto.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, so did I. Yeah, I was not that cool. Yeah, no, I. No, that. That was. You know, I joke a lot that my mom. It's not even a joke. My mom would not Let me watch 9 My 90210 or Melrose Place. My mom was very much like, oh, no, those kids are doing things you don't even need to know about. And so I always just had to pretend that I knew what my friends were talking about at school. And they were like, did you watch? Oh, my God, I can't believe Brenda. And I was like, I know. Like, I just had to pretend like I knew what was going on because I wasn't allowed to watch any of it.
Kate Micucci
So, yeah, I understand that. I didn't watch 90210 or like, any of what I would consider, like, yeah, like cool kid shows.
Danielle Fishel
Cool kid shows. Yeah. Yeah.
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Wells Adams
Hey, this is Wells Adams with By Order of the Faithfuls podcast alongside my fellow faithfuls and co hosts Tamara Judge and Dolores Catania. The three of us have been watching this season of the Traitors, and we've been inside that castle, so we have insight. Unlike many others, this season of the Traitors may be the best we've ever seen. Listen to By Order the faithfuls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
Danielle Fishel
So I want to talk to you now about the Monster and the Puppet show. I'm so excited. Your first kids book. As you know, we are huge fans of your art in our house. I am the proud owner of a Kate Micucci original, and now I get to introduce your work to my boys. So tell me, where did the idea for this story come from?
Kate Micucci
Well, thank you for saying that, you know, it really came from, you know, well, basically, Mo Willems, who I'm a huge, huge fan of, and I mean, he truly is. He's as wonderful a person as his books are, so funny and so cool. And he is that, you know, and when he was helping me figure out this book, along with his editor Tracy, who's become a great friend, he was saying, you know, you really need to have a story that matters and, like, you know, something that's true to you. And this book is a lot about protecting your energy and your creativity and, like, just really kind of being true to yourself in a way. And I think that is what I'm really proud of is I feel like even grownups, if they just need a reminder of that, even though this is a kid's book, it really does have that message. And yeah, so it really, it started with it start. This book morphed a million times before we got to where we are now. But that process alone was very fascinating and very, very fun. And I knew I wanted, you know, this, like, creature to be creating. It was like a monster creating, and I wasn't sure. And then it became a puppet, which is perfect because I am a. Just a big puppet person. Yes. Like I said, super cool. So I. It just kind of made sense. And my. I have this puppet, Camille, that I've had for 25 years now. And so she was really an inspiration for this idea of, you know, this creature finding a puppet, and then, you know, what comes out of that. But. And then I also am really proud. I don't want to give anything away, but there is, like, a fun little twist at the end. And I. You know, I keep saying it's sort of like, you know, Sixth Sense, but way different.
Danielle Fishel
I love that.
Kate Micucci
But, yeah. And Mo, I will say Mo was. Just to work with him was truly a dream. And I've always wanted to publish a book. I have so many books I've written and illustrated, and I've never done anything with them. So this is a dream come true that is happening, you know, at 45 now. So I'm really, really excited again. Late bloomer, I guess.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah. We are also a big Mo Willems house. My. We were gifted the Piggy and Gerald elephant and Piggy series by Paul Scheer when we first had Adler. That was their congratulations on your baby gift, and it was perfect. I have read every single one of them at least a thousand times. Both my children love every single one of them. And I was very excited to see that in your book, on the last page, there is a pigeon. And my kids look through every book and want to see where the pigeon is at the end of the Piggy and Gerald books. And there are only two in the whole series that, for whatever reason, the pigeon doesn't make an appearance.
Kate Micucci
Oh, really?
Danielle Fishel
And my children asked to skip those.
Kate Micucci
Wow. Oh, I'll try to get to the bottom of that for you, because I don't know which ones, but, yeah, I'll find out for you.
Danielle Fishel
I'm invited to a party. Does not have a pigeon appearance at the end. So do I. And I'm trying to think of what. I'll figure out what the other one is.
Kate Micucci
Yeah, let me know. I will.
Danielle Fishel
Because I have always wondered, like, how did the pigeon not make an appearance in these? And if I pull one out, Keaton will go, is that. Check the back. Is that one that doesn't have pigeon? And I'm like, no pigeons in this one. He's like, yeah. So it's. I was very excited to see that Pigeon made an appearance in yours.
Kate Micucci
It's an honor to have the pigeon. Yeah, it's just an honor to be, you know, associated with this world and that it's an elephant piggy. Like, reading book is like, I don't know. The whole thing has been so cool. It's.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Kate Micucci
Very exciting.
Danielle Fishel
I love that you're creating boundaries and setting boundaries for kids, and I love that you specifically said. It's even a good reminder for adults because I truly do not think I ever really mastered the concept of boundaries until I was in my 30s.
Kate Micucci
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
I. In my 30s, all of a sudden I started looking around going, why do I have all of these situations that pop up where eventually something makes me very uncomfortable? And I just realized, like, wow. I don't think. I don't think I was very specifically taught that I can and should create my own boundaries around things that I'm comfortable with. I think you mentioned being a people pleaser, being a child actor. It's almost impossible that you don't become a people pleaser and that you don't always look to others for what you should be doing to make them happy.
Kate Micucci
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
And so you're very rarely in touch with what you want or need or what makes you comfortable, but you can pretty much immediately tell what other people need and want for you to do. And so it was really the first time in my life I was like, oh, I can set boundaries. So I agree with you that although this is a book for kids, parents and children will have something to gain from this wonderful book. So I'm really excited for the world to be able to get their hands on it.
Kate Micucci
Oh, thank you. Yeah, I feel like, similar to you. I'm kind of new to being aware of it. I think having a kid really helps for. At least help me to go like, okay, this is time with my son as he's small, and it really makes you go, okay, what do I say yes to? What do. How. You know, because I, you know, it's great to be able to. To spend so much time and, and be there for him and. Yeah, I think. But also just in life, you know, regardless of. Of like a kid's schedule or whatever else, like, it's really good to know what you need as a person. Yeah, it's a. Yeah, it's. It's a hard thing to do.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, it is.
Kate Micucci
Yeah. It takes practice. I guess I'm not quite there yet, to be honest.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, it still takes practice and. Yeah, I agree. But. But at least recognition that we need them and we can do it is. Is good. It's like, it's in the forefront of our minds now. Since becoming a mother, you have released a kids book and a kids album. Did you expect to find so much inspiration in motherhood?
Kate Micucci
You know, I hoped I would. I. I like, you know, I dreamt of having, like, a room of Legos. Like, I, like. Like, I was like, I just want to, like, play Legos. And then it was, like, a reason to play. I mean, I still played Legos without having a kid, but I think I. Yeah, I. The kids album came about in kind of a. Like, I had really, really bad postpartum depression, and I had Mikey in 2020 and in January of 2020. And then I knew something was deeply wrong because I'm. I was just operating at a level that I wasn't ever accustomed to. It was really hard and bad. So I went to a doctor and who had been recommended to me for postpartum, and I said, I think I might need some medication or something to get me out of this fog. And the woman was like, no, you're fine. You just have the baby blues. And then we went into lockdown for Covid. And so I had postpartum for, oh, gosh, probably a year and a half. And I was writing songs for him. But actually, a lot of the songs on the record were also from 20 years ago. They're like songs I've been writing my whole life. And my husband was so sweet because he could see that I was struggling, and he said, why don't you we record your album? And luckily, he's a music producer, so. So Jake was like, let's just go. Let's just start recording. Let's just, like, see how that feels. And it was just a really sweet thing for him to do for me, because it. That was really when I could start to feel it shift, you know, my. Like, I was like, oh, right. I. I do this. I. I make things like, I can do this. And. And then also it was. It was at a point in the pandemic where we were able to have friends to come in and play different instruments, and everything just started feeling a little better. So my kids album kind of came out of that. And so in almost a different way of, you know, having a kid.
Danielle Fishel
Different type of inspiration.
Kate Micucci
Yes, exactly. But I'm really, like, making that album was just so much fun. And we were all in a. Like, we did it live to tape, so we were all in the same room, and I'm singing, and our friend Brendan was on Drums and my husband's on bass and my friend Sean's on guitar and we're just like in a circle and playing and recording and it felt so alive and like, just really fresh and fun. And I think I'm very proud of the album, so.
Danielle Fishel
You should be.
Kate Micucci
Thanks. But then, and then on the day that the album came out, I found out I had lung cancer. So that was a whole other thing.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, my gosh.
Kate Micucci
But then that brings a whole other, you know, appreciation for life. And I know you went through your version of that and how lucky are we? And, you know. Yeah, I know. It gives a whole new perspective on things, you know.
Danielle Fishel
Absolutely. How are you doing now? What was your treatment and how. How's everything looking for you?
Kate Micucci
I'm doing really great. I'm gonna knock on my head because, you know, it's like there's always that little fear in the back. But I did just have my six month scan last week, so I leave feeling like, okay, I'm okay right now. But I. I was diagnosed with lung cancer. I thought, that's insane because I've never smoked a cigarette in my life. That couldn't be. And, and you know, to this point, I've talked about this a little on, on like my Instagram and stuff, but I. They told me I needed to go to the lung doctor because they had found a spot when I got a routine heart scan. And they said, you, you, looks like you have something dangerous in your lung. And I just thought, there's no way. Like, I. I've never smoked a cigarette in my life. So I didn't go to the doctor and I let a lot of time go by. And then to my gp, my great doctor, just who's on top of it, he called me like months later and said, what are you doing? You haven't gone to the doctor. You need to go to the lung doctor. And I said, oh, really? Oh, okay. And thank God, because I, you know, and it. But they ended up taking 20% of my right lung out and that was all I had to do. I mean, I say all because, yeah, the recovery was. I kept being like, I'm fine, I'm totally fine. But I. I'd say it took a good six months to feel like I was kind of put together again. So I was very tired and. But that, that is a very lucky, lucky scenario that it was found early. It was able to just, you know, be taken out and I didn't need to do anything else. So, yeah, I've been cancer free basically since I had the surgery, and I. It's been two years now, so I. I feel very lucky. How are you and how is your health?
Danielle Fishel
Similar, Similar. I only had to have two lumpectomies in 20 days of radiation, so.
Kate Micucci
Oh, that's wonderful.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah. I didn't need chemo, and I have had multiple mammograms since my surgeries and no evidence of disease. So, yes, pleased to say, also, same boat. There's always that tiny little bit of fear in between. You know, they think. They call it scanxiety.
Kate Micucci
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
You know, around the time of getting it, another scan, you're always like. Because, like you, I had zero thought in my mind that there could be anything wrong. I had just had a mammogram the year before, and it was clear, like. And I was. You know, it was like, I'm in my early 40s. As far as I was aware, breast cancer doesn't run in my family. I had one aunt who had also the exact same thing I ended up being diagnosed with, but it was like she. Even the way she talked about it was like, it's barely even cancer. It's pre cancer. It's. It's. It's. So I. It wasn't in my mind that I would have any reason to have a concern. And so when you're like, wow, you can have zero concern and still have cancer. Yeah. So, yeah, there's still some anxiety around there, but. But ultimately, I'm in the same boat, healthy, doing well and. And cancer free.
Kate Micucci
So, yes, I'm so happy. I'm happy. So, yeah, talking about it is always a reminder, you know, we're so fortunate. And I think, you know, for me, I, like, I'm sure you probably felt the same way where it's like, okay, I still get to do this. I get to do this.
Danielle Fishel
Is.
Kate Micucci
I remember someone asking if I was really upset, and I was like, no, I feel like I won the lottery or something. Like, how lucky that this was almost a fluke in the way mine was found. And so, yeah, it just really is a great reminder that. To appreciate everything, you know, and, yeah, I'm so glad. I'm so glad you're doing well and likewise. Yeah. And for anyone listening who's putting off any doctors, just go. Go check it out. You know, do the blood work, do the things.
Danielle Fishel
That's exactly right. Schedule the appointment, make the time, prioritize yourself. It is. I would always rather know than not know. And there's so many things now with so many different types of cancers that the earlier you know, the amount of treat out there compared to even just 10 years ago. Yeah, it's night and day. So.
Kate Micucci
Yeah. And I always say to friends, like, just get. Like you said, get the information. Just like get all the information then. And then you have it and you know, and then you can. And hopefully everything's fine and if there's a little weird thing, then you'll go down that path and figure it out. Yep. Yeah. Just try to. Yeah. To stay on top of it is a good thing.
Danielle Fishel
Absolutely. There was no way I was gonna hang out with Kate and only do one episode. So this Friday, she's back for a bonus episode as we look to you, our listener, for an embarrassing childhood story sent via email. So make sure you have subscribed to the dedicated Teen Beat feed on whatever streaming service you use for podcasts. That way, whenever a new episode drops, it's in your library, no questions asked. And I'd love to hear your childhood cringe. So send a somewhat concise voice memo to teenbeatpodmail.com and next thing you know, we could be playing it on a future episode. Plus, Kate Micucci's first children's book, the Monster and Puppet show, is available now. Go pick it up. Maybe even get a few as gifts for the kids in your life. Learn more on her Instagram aitmicucci. Teen Beat is an iHeart podcast produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel, executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman, executive in charge of production, Danielle Romo, producer and editor Tara Sudbaksh. The theme song is by Mark Hopkins. Yes, that Mark Hoppus. Follow us on Instagram @teenbeatpod.
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Clayton Eckerd
In 2022, I was the lead of ABC's the Bachelor.
Stephanie Young
But here's the thing. Bachelor fans hated him.
Clayton Eckerd
If I could press a button and rewind it all, I would.
Stephanie Young
That's when his life took a disturbing turn. A one night stand would end in a courtroom.
Danielle Fishel
The media is here. This case has gone viral.
Clayton Eckerd
The dating contract.
Kate Micucci
Agree to date me. But I'm also suing you.
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Stephanie Young
I'm Stephanie Young. Listen to Love trapped on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Kate Micucci
Then she says, have you seen a photo of my son? And I'm like, who is this person?
Boys and Girls Podcast Host
Welcome to the boys and girls podcast. Arranged marriage is basically a reality show, and you're auditioning for your soulmate. And who's judging? Only your entire family. I sacrificed myself to this ancient tradition, hoping to find love the right way, and instead, I found chaos, comedy, and a lot of cringe. Listen to boys and Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
Wells Adams
Hey, this is Wells Adams with By Order of the Faithfuls podcast alongside my fellow faithfuls and co hosts Tamara Judge and Dolores Catano. The three of us have been watching this season of the Traders, and we've been inside that castle, so we have insight. Unlike many others, this season of the Traders may be the best we've ever seen. Listen to by order, the faithfuls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Danielle Fishel
This is an iHeart podcast.
Kate Micucci
Guaranteed Human.
Episode Date: February 25, 2026
Podcast Description: Danielle Fishel (Topanga on Boy Meets World) interviews celebrities about their formative (and sometimes awkward) years, exploring how those experiences shape their present.
This episode features actress, comedian, musician, and author Kate Micucci. Fishel and Micucci delve into Kate’s quirky childhood, her journey into the arts, unexpected career turns (including sandcastle building and puppetry), motherhood, and overcoming cancer. Kate shares her experiences of being a shy, creative kid, the importance of keeping one's inner child alive, and how her path led from Pennsylvania to LA, stage to animation, and now to her first children’s book.
"Oh my gosh, Danielle, that was just like the most heartwarming intro..." (04:22)
"When I got to actually be in Scooby Doo and play Velma, that was like, truly a dream come true." (05:22) "I remember getting the call... I did a dance around a tree. I was so excited." (06:17)
"I was trudging through the snow last night... running through the snow by myself and I really was like, I feel like I'm 14." (12:00)
"As I get older I'm more aware that the things I make really come from that childlike place..."(12:45-13:24)
"I was very shy. I spent every lunch I could in the art room... I never got like asked to the party." (17:43)
"It was a weekly class... usually it was the parents that got excited about making things and the kids really didn't care at all." (22:14)
"There's so much pressure put on kids... I still—every day I'm like, 'what am I today?'" (25:32)
"Kids love to say my last name, and kids love to say my full name... I love that kids know my whole name. It's very cute." (31:50)
"When I had a chance to perform... I was so excited and so confident because I was sharing what I had made." (33:27)
"This book is a lot about protecting your energy and your creativity and just really being true to yourself in a way." (42:15)
"It really does have that message... even grownups, if they just need a reminder..." (42:30–43:00)
"I had really, really bad postpartum depression... He [her husband] said, 'Why don't you record your album?' ...That was really when I could start to feel it shift—oh, right, I do this... I can do this." (48:33–49:30)
"How lucky that this was almost a fluke in the way mine was found... it just really is a great reminder to appreciate everything..." (54:42)
This episode is a heartwarming, humorous, and honest conversation showcasing how creativity—even of the most eccentric and playful varieties—can seed resilience, joy, and fulfillment throughout life. Kate Micucci’s story is a celebration of staying connected to your child self, finding power in art, and the importance of support—family, creative partners, and even healthy boundaries. Both Danielle and Kate’s reflections on health and motherhood ground the episode in universal themes of vulnerability, hope, and gratitude.
Tune in next week for a bonus episode featuring more cringe-worthy childhood memories and audience letters!