Teen Beat with Danielle Fishel — Stephen Colletti & Trey Phillips (Laguna Beach Reunion)

Episode Date: April 8, 2026
Platform: iHeartPodcasts
Host: Danielle Fishel
Guests: Stephen Colletti & Trey Phillips (MTV's Laguna Beach)

Episode Overview

This episode of "Teen Beat" marks the 20th anniversary of MTV’s trailblazing reality series Laguna Beach. Host Danielle Fishel (famed for playing Topanga on Boy Meets World) sits down with Stephen Colletti and Trey Phillips—two of the original “cool kids” of Laguna. They reflect on the surreal experience of having their high school lives documented and dissected for national entertainment, the impacts it had on their personal growth, and what it’s been like to revisit those years for a new reunion special premiering April 10th on Roku. The episode explores nostalgia, the difference between living privately and publicly as a teen, and what it means to grow up—and look back—on reality TV.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Surreal Legacy of Laguna Beach

• Initial Reactions (04:56–05:59):

  • Neither Stephen nor Trey thought their lives were “worth capturing,” joking MTV was “wasting a ton of money on us… we're bored here anyways.”
  • Stephen: "If that show came around when we were sophomores or freshmen, absolutely not. It would have been social suicide. But at that point, it was kind of like, I'm ready for a new experience. Why not?" (06:24)

• On Parental Permission & Production Pitch (06:07–07:39):

  • Trey recalls filling out a 19-page profile just to audition.
  • Both agree: Producers sold the project as a “documentary about kids in high school in a beautiful town.” No wild party trips in the pitch.

2. Life Before and During Filming

• Pre-Show Friendship (07:45–08:20):

  • Stephen lived near Trey; they spent countless hours at the beach and at each other's homes.
  • Trey: “We were just little beach rats…playing sports, going to the beach, first time throwing parties.” (08:20)

• Being Filmed as Teens (08:45–09:58):

  • The presence of cameras became “normal,” but both Trey and Stephen were fearful of “getting in trouble” with parents, leading them to keep things tame.
  • Trey: “I think it was tougher for the second season, because they were aware of all that could happen…lost a little bit of that innocence.” (09:26)

3. Identity, Editing, and Relatability

• Trey’s “Creative” Persona (10:00–10:49):

  • Initially embarrassed by his artsy trucker hats, Trey now sees them as a foundation for his 15-year career in fashion.
  • Stephen: "You were just wise beyond your years… making decisions that were pretty badass." (11:00)

• The Show’s Influence on Life Choices (12:04):

  • Trey started studying human rights, then fashion: "There was something in me that just loved being able to create something from nothing." (12:04)

4. The Machinery of Reality TV

• Filming Logistics (16:37–17:51):

  • Due to the infamous Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction (Justin Timberlake/Janet Jackson), filming was banned at their school; most shooting was limited to a couple times a week.
  • Stephen: “It was pretty relaxed… second semester, senior year, we checked out.” (16:48)

• Regrets & Growth (17:51–19:54):

  • Stephen acknowledges cringe-worthy moments, especially during the infamous Cabo trip: "Of course, wish things played out differently. Look, it's my story. It's a part of who I am and I've learned from it… realizing you're a kid and that's what kids do at that age." (18:25, 19:46)

5. Watching the Show Air—and Handling Fame

• Experiences of Watching the Show (19:54–21:47):

  • Trey, away at upstate college, thought the show was “bombing”—until being recognized by crowds in Grand Central Station.
  • Stephen: “Pop it in, watch it, and really, we had no idea how they were going to edit it together… then, ‘back in a drawer, see you later. Can never watch it ever again.’” (20:50)

• First ‘Fame’ Moments (22:25–23:53):

  • Stephen met Queen Latifah, who said: “Is it weird that I kind of know your life?”
  • Danielle: "Queen Latifah is being your moment of being like, you know who I am." (23:47)

• Navigating Hollywood (25:09–26:59):

  • Both discuss “imposter syndrome”—being courted by real celebrities without having “done anything to contribute to this; we just lived our lives.”
  • Trey: "Why were we so famous? … We were just this representation of high school that a lot of people identified with." (26:44)

6. Reunion Special & Reflections

• Apprehensions and Surprises (28:07–29:14):

  • Main nerves: seeing people after 20 years, not knowing “how people's lives had gone,” but quickly reverting to old friendships.

• Laguna Itself as a Character (29:14–30:19):

  • Stephen worried how the town would receive the reunion, after MTV’s earlier depiction as “filled with spoiled rich kids.”
  • He praises Laguna’s true “artsy community” vibe and wants it shown “in a more mature light.” (29:14–30:19)

• Ongoing Bonds & Growing Up Together (30:36–31:36):

  • Most of the cast has stayed in touch. Trey: “With everybody, I would pick up a phone and call any of them. Not all the time, but it’s like that.” (30:52)

• Comparisons to Boy Meets World Cast (31:15–31:50):

  • Danielle relates to the idea of “shared history,” regardless of time or distance.

7. Rapid-Fire 2004 Pop Culture Throwback

(37:38–43:48)
A light-hearted lightning round covering Laguna trivia and early-2000s nostalgia:

• Best/worst “edit”:
  • Trey: "I was very lucky." (37:59)
  • Stephen admits his was rough, especially for Cabo.
• Most embarrassing outfit:
  • Trey recalls a “T-shirt with one sleeve cut off and an armband… No, I don’t got it.” (39:05)
  • Stephen: “There’s a lot of scenes where they had to blur my ass crack.” (39:17)
• 'Burned CDs' vs. iPods; Teddy’s vs. Joseph’s (local eateries), AIM vs. texting, and flip phones vs. Sidekicks.
• Danielle: “Dude is a hard one. For anybody who grew up near the beach, we all say dude.” (39:51)
• Both have fondness for rainbow flip flops, trucker hats (“Why not both?”), and classic house parties.

8. Parenting & Reality TV—Would They Let Their Kids Do It?

• Their Perspective as (Soon-to-be) Parents (43:25–45:04):
  • Both would be hesitant. Stephen: “If they’ve got a plan … cool. But if not … just continue to grow off camera.”
  • Danielle: "Now... is there much life off camera? ... Those mistakes that you guys made on national TV, people are making [now] just on Instagram... and the internet lives forever." (44:33)
  • Stephen jokes: “If I show my kid the show—like, I'm never doing that. Immediately not cool.” (45:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Naivete:
  • "We thought we were getting away like bandits. Like, we. There was nothing in our lives that was worth capturing." – Trey (05:18)
• On 'Bravery':
  • “You're giving us too much credit there. It was more just dumb luck not knowing that it was brave.” – Stephen (27:53)
• On Regret:
  • “...down in Cabo… I wish I could have a do over. But it's moments like those you learn, you grow from... I'm confident in that. So … It's a part of who I am.” – Stephen (18:25)
• On Fame:
  • “Is it weird that I kind of know your life?” — Queen Latifah to Stephen (23:24)
• On Fame’s Absurdity:
  • “We have worked. We’ve done nothing to contribute to this. We just lived our lives.” – Stephen (25:37)
• On Notoriety’s Cause:
  • “We were just this representation of high school that a lot of people identified with. So that’s why we were famous. It wasn’t necessarily any one of us that had done something so special.” – Trey (26:44)
• On Embarrassment:
  • “There’s a lot of scenes where they had to blur my ass crack because... you’re a kid on the beach.” – Stephen (39:17)

Closing Thoughts

Stephen and Trey are both thankful, lightly embarrassed, and full of perspective two decades after their high school years became pop culture touchstones. Both express gratitude for their friendship and the community they grew up in, and for a reunion that allowed for reconnection and healing. Danielle, relating from her own experience, focuses the conversation on self-acceptance, nostalgia, and the universality of growing pains—whether filmed for millions or lived in private.

Key Timestamps

• [03:30] Danielle introduces Stephen and Trey
• [05:18] Life before filming and initial MTV pitch
• [10:13] Trey’s creative side and post-show career
• [17:51] Regrets about on-screen behavior
• [22:25] Realizing they were “famous”
• [28:07] Returning for the reunion special
• [37:38] Nostalgia “lightning round”
• [43:25] Would they let their teens do reality TV?

Check out the Laguna Beach reunion special April 10th on Roku. Follow Danielle on Instagram @teenbeatpod