Gaten Matarazzo — saying goodbye to ‘Stranger Things’ and growing into himself

Summary

Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Episode: Gaten Matarazzo — Saying Goodbye to ‘Stranger Things’ and Growing Into Himself

Release Date: November 18, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this lively, candid episode, Jesse Tyler Ferguson welcomes actor and Broadway talent Gaten Matarazzo (best known as Dustin Henderson on Stranger Things) for a meal at Lure Fishbar in SoHo, NYC. Together, they share laughs and dig into the realities of growing up on camera and stage, saying farewell to beloved projects, and embracing vulnerabilities, uniqueness, and new chapters. Gaten opens up about early theater days, his big break (including bombing his original Stranger Things audition), life with a rare genetic condition, and his long-term relationship with his high school sweetheart—all with his signature warmth and wit.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Food, Setting, and Theater Ice-Breakers (03:21–15:00)

• Setting: The intimate atmosphere of Lure Fishbar sets the stage—Jesse describes the restaurant as “boarding a yacht that just happens to be serving some of the best seafood in New York City” (04:10).
• Broadway Beginnings: Both compare high school musical theater experiences, reminiscing about shows like The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Les Misérables. Jesse lovingly mocks his own earnest Phantom of the Opera-inspired senior photos (10:10).
• Audition Anecdotes: Hilarious stories about cell phones going off at the theater, including Jesse’s near-disaster during a Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald opera (06:25).

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2. Childhood, Family, and Balancing School with Acting (18:34–22:25)

• Childhood in New Jersey:
  Gaten recounts navigating school alongside theater gigs. “I commuted every day from South Jersey, which was like a two hour drive. To make the 7 o’clock shows I’d have to leave school like half an hour early... I was getting home at 1:30 a.m.” (19:35)
• Family Dynamics:
  Classmates teased, but mostly in a supportive, familiar way.
• Choosing School Over Stage:
  Gaten’s family prioritized academics when theater commitments became overwhelming, only for the opportunity with Stranger Things to arrive unexpectedly:

  “Anytime the conversation came up about ending the run or taking a break... it was so frustrating... And then a month later, the audition for Stranger Things came through.” (21:18)

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3. Booking—and Bombing—His “Stranger Things” Audition (22:48–26:55)

• 1980s Nostalgia:
  Jesse, a self-admitted “kid of the 80s,” marvels at how the Stranger Things cast embodied the era’s spirit, while Gaten credits his parents for raising him on classics like E.T., The Goonies, and Stand by Me:

  “My dad, specifically, was locked into the idea of me watching all the stuff he grew up watching...” (23:35)

• The Audition Process:
  • The boys auditioned for multiple roles, shuffling characters before landing final castings.
  • Gaten admits:

    “I butchered my first audition. It was terrible. It was the worst audition.” (24:53)
    He blanked on lines, kept looking down at his script, and was convinced he blew his shot—yet still scored a callback.

  • Insight from casting: “‘It just clicked… We knew we wanted you back after that one.’” (25:26)

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4. Insecurities, Uniqueness, and Living with Cleidocranial Dysplasia (36:08–41:12)

• Building Community from Representation:
  After Stranger Things wove his rare condition into the story, Gaten became a “beacon” for others:

  “…since the show has come out, people… saw this show and there’s this kid who has this and I do too… it was the first kind of beacon that people could use as like a reference point.” (37:45)

  • Helped co-found CCD Smiles to support and unite those with the condition.
  • “I always thought of it as a defining trait that I was excited to talk about.” (38:43)
• Role Model Mentality:
  Jesse praises Gaten’s openness; Gaten reflects on how children approach difference with curiosity and connection, while adults tend to tread more carefully:

  “Adults are so hyper fixated on saying the right thing... Kids will always be like, ‘You wanna be my friend?’” (41:48)

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5. Saying Goodbye to “Stranger Things” and Navigating Change (42:23–46:58)

• Final Day Reflections:
  Gaten and Jesse bond over the bittersweet graduation-like feel of ending a long series.

  “It didn’t feel like a day on set... It felt more like a press event than anything else.” (42:41) “It felt like a funeral in a weird way... where people showed up that you hadn't seen in, like, forever.” (42:48)

  • A grounding highlight: original parents and families invited to the last day; “It was like the craziest kind of, like, grounding experience ever... being able to go back over and... give my mom a hug like I usually would after takes.” (43:27)
• Pandemic and Change:
  Jesse describes his own Modern Family finale, which wrapped just as COVID lockdowns hit, leaving closure to unfold virtually.

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6. What Comes Next: New Chapters, Friendship, and Consistency (46:58–49:14)

• Looking Forward:
  After such a formative decade, Gaten’s priority for post-Stranger Things life is “consistency… I would love to step on stage consistently as much as I can.” (48:05)
• Off-camera Life and Roommates:
  Hilarious tales of messy living with Finn Wolfhard in Atlanta (“This place is disgusting—what are we doing?”) and dodging friends visiting their apartment due to the mess (34:15).
  • “Sometimes that kind of [living together] could ruin friendships… but it was great.” (35:40)
• Media Attention:
  Amusing anecdote about being photographed apartment-hunting with Finn, cropping out Gaten’s girlfriend and recreating a Jason Bateman/Will Arnett moment for the paparazzi (48:28).

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7. Long-Term Love and Relatable Relationship Moments (49:26–51:55)

• High School Sweethearts:
  Gaten celebrates his nearly seven-year relationship with girlfriend Lizzy since they were both teenagers:

  “We’ve been together since we were 15... It just did for us. We just thrived in the distance, which is hard to do.” (49:32–49:50)

  • Supportive and independent: “She’s like, do not talk me to me about it [acting advice]... Don’t make choices.” (51:12)
  • Jesse relates: “My husband is so judgy, anytime he helps with an audition, he’s like, ‘Is that how you’re going to do it?’” (51:31)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jesse on high school theater props:

  “I brought a Phantom of the Opera mask… so earnest and so serious, and I really was taking myself very seriously.” (10:36)

• Gaten on his unique graduation quote:

  “I went with ‘opportunity is not a lengthy visitor’ from Into the Woods...I knew it was bad then and I went with it anyway.” (11:05)

• Gaten on the bonding power of difference:

  “There was such a hunger for it [community]...something that nobody had ever expected to experience.” (37:59)

• On letting go of a show:

  “It was a weird day… It felt like a graduation.” (44:58)

• On youthful vulnerability:

  “When you’re 7, you don’t care...as I got older and it became more noticeable...I started to get more self conscious even after I finished Stranger Things, and that was weird to grapple with.” (25:56)

• On living with Finn Wolfhard:

  “This place is disgusting. What are we doing?” (33:25)
  “Sometimes that kind of [living together] could ruin friendships… but it was great.” (35:40)

• On love and acting:

  “When we do tape... she’s like, do not look at me, turn around and read at the wall. Don’t make choices.” (51:12)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:21 – Opening banter, high school theater, and food ordering
• 18:34 – Gaten’s school life and balancing Broadway
• 21:27 – Landing the Stranger Things audition
• 24:53 – Bombing the audition and still getting the callback
• 36:08 – Gaten opens up about cleidocranial dysplasia and advocacy
• 42:23 – Memories and feelings around the series finale
• 46:58 – Adjusting to post-show life and future hopes
• 49:26 – Gaten on his relationship and growing together

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Tone & Atmosphere

Warm, funny, down-to-earth, and occasionally vulnerable. Both Jesse and Gaten mesh theater kid energy with thoughtful reflection and easy teasing. Authentic moments of self-deprecation and gratitude run through the entire chat.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode delivers a heartfelt, behind-the-scenes look at what it means to grow up famous—but also simply to grow up. Gaten’s relatable humor and honesty (paired with Jesse’s own experiences) highlight the universal feelings of uncertainty, excitement, and gratitude that come with leaving one chapter and embarking on another. Both men encourage embracing your differences, seeking consistency, and finding connection—in love, friendship, or a community of your own making.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Did in senior year.

[A]

Did you really?

[B]

I was Coney Bear myself. Shut up. Yeah, I did.

[A]

This is dinner's on me and I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. The last time I saw Gaten was on stage when he played Tobias Ragg in the Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd. But I have been following his career since everyone else has, really, since he was on Stranger Things as Dustin on Stranger Things. I love Stranger Things so much. I could not believe how brilliantly they captured the 80s era. It was such a throwback. It's like comfort TV for me. I absolutely adore the series and I'm kind of sad that it's coming to an end, but I'm so glad that I get to have my buddy Gaten on to discuss how impactful that show was to him. I certainly can relate to, you know, being on a long running show with a very tight knit group of people. I am tucked into a booth at Lure Fish bar in soho where stepping inside feels like boarding a yacht that just happens to be serving some of the best seafood in New York City. You have to walk down some stairs to get into the restaurant. So the windows are all very high up. It's got this glossy wood paneling and these windows like portholes, almost a golden light, making you feel like you're cruising in style, you know, minus the seasickness. Leura is a city institution known for oysters so fresh that chef Preston Clark taste tests them daily. Clark comes from New York food royalty. His father is the late Patrick Clark, who's one of the city's most celebrated chefs and he's also the first black chef to win a James Beard award. He's carried that legacy forward with a menu that sails far beyond oysters to include whole fried fish, sushi, and seafood dishes that balance sophistication and comfort. It's the perfect place to drop anchor for a conversation with Gaten. Oh, I see him coming down the stairs. All right, let's get to the conversation.

[B]

I want to make sure this is off.

[A]

No, keep it on if you have a call.

[B]

Oh, God, did I just take calls on the.

[A]

I love it. My favorite thing to say is, like, when the ushers are, you know, at the theater and they have all these signs and they're really aggressive now. And, like, if they even see you, like, turning off your phone, they're like, turn off your phone. You're like, I'm doing it. My favorite thing to say to an usher, though, is like, if I'm like, turning off my phone and they're like, they're turning off your phone. I was like, no, I'm expecting a call, though. I'm going to take a call. And they're like, they don't know what to do with that. But one time I was seeing an opera in Los angeles that Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald were in, and my phone slipped out of my pocket and it was behind. I was like, in the last row and it was behind between my seat and the wall. And, oh, no, I hadn't had a chance to turn it off, and I couldn't get it. And, like, the show had started. I was like. I was like. I was just like, all right, let's white.

[B]

Oh, you had to, like.

[A]

I was like, pray to God it was not. I was like, I think it's off. I don't know what happens. And I had an alarm set.

[B]

No.

[A]

And you know, the alarms will be like, I'm pushing through, like, even set during the show. I think it was for. I don't know, honestly. I wish I could tell you, Gaten, I. But it started to go off and I'm like, good of all people for a cell phone to go off in front of. It's Patti LuPone. Yeah, she's notorious, you know, which is terrifying. But it was, like, kind of muffled enough, and I wasn't like, the balcony, so I was far enough away.

[B]

Did the people around you, though? Oh, around.

[A]

You heard. And I was. And I acted like it was not me.

[B]

Yeah, my grandma did that.

[A]

I was like, I don't know.

[B]

I don't know where it's coming from. My grandma did that. And my brother, like, my. One of my brothers, hers was just blaring through the house. Hers was just, like, full ringtone out and about. And I see it lit up in her phone, and she has that little panic shuffle. And then I think it was, like, a defense mechanism to, like, claim it wasn't hers, because she knew it first, and then the denial was better.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, she starts to rummage, and then.

[A]

She was just like, that's not me.

[B]

Nope.

[A]

Can't deal with it. Oh, my God, I'm so paranoid about it now.

[B]

Yeah. I also noticed, like, certain shows, like, when I saw Lion King, I'm like, oh, we're going to hear phones.

[A]

Yeah. And I noticed in commentary, I was.

[B]

Okay, but that's okay. That is okay. Ultimately, I'm like, we have to know what we're seeing, and that's fine. And there's a few rustles and buzzes here and there, and a few.

[A]

Like, if you go see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, what are you doing?

[B]

That's your whole Verizon commercial.

[A]

Yeah, for sure. Yeah.

[B]

I did a tour of that when I was, like, 10.

[A]

Did you really?

[B]

Yes, I did. It made no sense.

[A]

Wait, there was, like, a plot that Mr. Rob was Celia Keenan Bolger. No.

[B]

No, I didn't.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But also, maybe. No. I don't know. I was, like, 10.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And there was, like, 40 people in that cat.

[A]

And you're like, I don't remember. I don't know who any of you are.

[B]

So. My name is Octavia. Welcome to North. Thank you. There's something that can help you with the drinks.

[A]

I'm good with water. I just had a coffee, so I need to, like, calm down.

[B]

Do you have coffee? Yes, I have cappuccino, latte express. Oh, can I have a cappuccino? Oh, hot would be great. That's amazing. I'm so excited. I've also had coffee, but I. I can't ever stop.

[A]

I'm fascinated with the fact that you have done Les Mis Rob with people, and, like, you don't remember doing it, but I guess it makes sense because you were 10 when you.

[B]

I remember doing the show.

[A]

You remember doing the show, but you remembered your parts.

[B]

Oh, of course. I could know the show, like, the back of my head, man.

[A]

Sure. I mean, almost like 95% of humankind know that show.

[B]

That show.

[A]

It's. It's like, it's the classic show of all time.

[B]

And also, every high school does it.

[A]

So, like, do they now?

[B]

It's always been a high school. The school edition is hilarious to me because it's not like sometimes school editions are, like, really, really censored. And Les Mis really isn't Like Lovely Ladies is still the same. Same.

[A]

Really? Why is this song about horse? Yeah, it's not, like, pretty.

[B]

Not at all. No, no, no. They don't change a single thing. Well, no, they must.

[A]

Right? I don't think I was like, the Tonardi, like, the master of the house song in there with our drinking booze and, like, talking about getting BJ's and stuff. Yeah, no, it's great.

[B]

And it's still three hours.

[A]

It's still three hours.

[B]

Of course it is. There's no way to make that show. Not three hours. I don't think you can't do, like, a Phantom thing with Les mis, because Phantom's 90 minutes now. Okay.

[A]

Just to give you a little history of me, I was obsessed with Phantom of the Opera when I was a kid. Of course, like, that was my jam.

[B]

Cool.

[A]

So when I finally got to New York to see it, it was like, a big moment for me, for sure. And I even, like, for my senior. You didn't go to, like, proper high school, did you?

[B]

I did. I went to public school.

[A]

Yeah. Did you do in your senior year? I don't know. For the yearbook, we got to. We had to, like, take photos and, like, tuxedos for our senior photos. And then we also could do, like, a more casual picture. So for my senior photo, they were. You could do a more casual shot and you could also bring, like, props or, like, other things or sometimes people just, like, do a photo with a group of friends. And I was like, I brought a Phantom of the Opera mask.

[B]

Oh, that's awesome.

[A]

And I took a series of photos that are so earnest and so serious, and I really was taking myself very seriously. Oh, no. It was a big.

[B]

It's the only way that these kids do it.

[A]

Gaten. I think my senior. Did you have senior quotes?

[B]

I have a bad one.

[A]

Okay, I want to hear yours. Mine was, I kid you not, turn your face away from the garish light of day. Which is. Which is my favorite line from Phantom.

[B]

I love. I know that line.

[A]

That's how much I love. First of all, what was your student quote?

[B]

I went with opportunity is not a lengthy visitor from into the Woods. Which I was like, what? That's not like, indicative of, like. Like, how I vibe. I don't think it is.

[A]

At least I'm like, I guess I should. You look for the war. You saw the word opportunity and it felt appropriate for graduating.

[B]

It wasn't even a thing that, like, war. Like, I thought it was good then and that I, like, cringe at later, like, I knew it was bad then and I went with it anyway. I didn't have to have a quote education. Thank you so much. Oh, yay. I'm so excited. So, July 1st, starters, we had the crispy sushi coming with tuna hamachi oni. Oh, second finish. Yes. This one. I see. Thank you. And state tartar. Also the shrimp. The shrimp tempura is very good here. Okay, great. The campachi sachim is very good. Salmon tiradito sashimi a lot. Eggs with caviar and oysters. Fried oysters are very good also.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

You like to try the campachi sashimi? I'll do the kumpaki sashimi, please. That sounds great. I appreciate that. That with a cappuccino is a bold.

[A]

Yeah, I love it. I love it.

[B]

It's normal.

[A]

Yeah, it's so normal.

[B]

It's. It's brunch.

[A]

I just had a four shot iced cortado. Okay. And I'm about to get weight for it. Could I have the yellow tail?

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

Sushi, please. No, wait. No, no, I want the sashimi. No, no, you can try some of the back. I'm going to go with the spicy tuna. And then what are we gonna have for food?

[B]

Food. That's a great choice. Yeah. Would you like to try the sushi?

[A]

I mean, I kind of want regular sushi.

[B]

I'll do sushi. Ooh. I'll do the Shazam roll. It sounds great.

[A]

I just like the way it sounds.

[B]

It's so. There's panache to it.

[A]

There is panache. If I got a combo, would you want sushi or slash unique or a combination of both? Combo. Okay, let's do the sushi and sashimi combo.

[B]

We're just fishing it up today. Perfect, Perfect. It sounds great. That works for me.

[A]

If we're hungry, we'll get more.

[B]

Always. You can always get more. My eyes are notoriously bigger than my stomach. Same. And I always bring it home and I never eat it.

[A]

It's hard with sushi, though.

[B]

It's hard. Sushi's like, it's out.

[A]

Like a piece of lasagna that I bring home is going to get eaten.

[B]

Right. I do that with like.

[A]

Yeah, by the way, I. Yeah, by the way, I went to have. I had dinner with my mother in law who was in town and we went to one of my favorite restaurants, Don Angie, who. I've done it. I've done an episode of this podcast there. And they have these, this lasagna and it's like in little rolls and there's Six pieces. And I took a piece home and I had a piece of it before a show. And I thought as I was eating it, I was like, tough call. Maybe not the best call, but I'm hungry, and I'm gonna go with it. I'm fine. And so in the play, I, at one point, I take off, I change clothes on stage, and I'm in my underwear for, like, literally four and a half seconds, right? But it's long enough. You know, when you're in front of 2,000 people, even a second is, like, too long.

[B]

I check 4 when reading the deck.

[A]

I hope. Yeah. And I feel pretty good about myself right now. I'm like, I'm okay with it. Like, I'm secure and all that stuff. But it was the night I had lasagna, and I do remember telling myself I was like, this is maybe not a good idea. And the minute I took off my robe and I was in my underwear for, like, literally a few seconds, I heard one person go, ew. And it was like all of my decisions came back to haunt me. It was just like, one. One person.

[B]

You think that the lasagna spilled over into, like, I don't know what, territory of sorcerer.

[A]

Maybe they were just like, I don't want to. That guy from Modern Family with anything other than a full suit on. Like, I don't know what it was not.

[B]

Ew. Ew. Oh, that's tough.

[A]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Gaten and I learn one very specific thing we both have in common. It involves theater. And he tells me how he bombed his Stranger Things audition. Doesn't seem to matter because obviously he. He got the part. Okay, be right back. The holidays are coming up, and like a lot of people, our family's already planning where we're spending Thanksgiving. It's at our house, and who's bringing what pie and what kind of pie, and making sure it's the pie that everyone wants. It's. It's the whole thing. Usually with pie, I end up just buying it. Other people do it so much better than I do, and I. It just takes one thing off my plate. Although I did just buy a great cookbook called All About Pie, so maybe I should be brave and make my own pie this year. A lot of people, though, don't have Thanksgiving at home. They travel. They travel to loved ones. And if you're traveling this season, it might be the perfect time to think about hosting your home on Airbnb while you're away. The best part? You don't have to do it all by yourself. With Airbnb's co host network, you can team up with a local co host who can handle handle everything from guest communication, check ins, even sprucing things up before the next day. So while you're away making memories with family, your home is in good hands making a few of its own. If you've been curious about hosting but don't know where to start, find a co [e-mail] host everyone has that one person in their life who's a deal spotter, right? The one texting links and dropping sale alerts in the group chat before you've even had coffee. For my family, that person is, well, it's me. I'm that person. I can't help it. I love finding a great deal. And Macy's Black Friday sale is full of them. From now through November 29, you can score 20 to 40% off Lego for the creative in your Life, up to $150 off appliances from Ninja Breville and KitchenAid. For the we have food at home cook and cashmere sweaters starting at $49.99 for anyone who loves cozying up with tea and good lighting there 50% off beauty deals from Tarte and Kiehl's and boots for $49.99 that might just end up in my own cart. And when you check out Round up for Big brothers, big sisters, 100% goes to creating amazing mentorship moments for kids nationwide. Shop macy's.com or in store and make the deal spotter in your life proud this time of year always makes me think about the small gestures that mean the most. A friend recently came by to pick up a bunch of Beckett and Sully's old things for their clothes, toys, you know, the works. A few hours later, I got a note that said lunch is on me and they sent me money with Zelle. It was such a simple thing, but it made me smile. That's what I love about Zelle. Whether it's a big moment or a small one, Zelle makes it easy to show you care. With Zelle, the money goes directly into people's bank accounts so you can be there when it matters most, when it counts. Send money with Zelle, look for Zelle in your banking app, or head to zelle.com to learn more. And we're back with more dinners on me. Okay, you started high school before you got stranger things, right? So you were already in the public school system in New Jersey.

[B]

Yeah, like jumping into eighth grade is when I started Stranger Things.

[A]

Yeah. What was the response, like with your friends and classmates that like maybe weren't a part of the industry?

[B]

Like, it was fine. It was. It's a small town and everybody there I had grown up with. So I've known them since I was especially everybody in my like in around the same grades that I was. Like, the kids that were like either two years older than me or two years younger than me, like and in the middle, like they were usually pretty chill about it. They more just like make fun of me more than anything.

[A]

Really.

[B]

Like. Yeah.

[A]

And like an in, like a kind. Oh, of course. Yeah, it was.

[B]

They would were very playful about it because it was obviously very unorthodox and they had been used to me. Like I had to leave early when I was doing stuff in the city, when I was like in Les Mis, which I did for a year. I commuted every day from South Jersey, which was like a two hour drive. So to make the seven o' clock shows I'd have to leave school like half an hour early. So I'd always get like called down to the office and like the class would with like, oh, there he goes.

[A]

Oh God, he's off leg. I brought.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No one cared. Like most of them didn't know what.

[A]

I was doing also, I mean, we just said, you know, Les Mis Rob is a very long show. So as a kid, you know, you are leaving school early to go to the city to do a show at starts at 7 and then you're like probably getting home at like 1 in the morning.

[B]

I was getting home at like 1:30.

[A]

And having not a few full night's sleep and then waking up, I think.

[B]

Health wise, like physically that was probably not great. But yeah, anytime the conversation came up about like ending the run or taking a break, because also what became an issue, it was easier in elementary school when homework was like addition and subtraction and maybe like a coloring book. And then I got into middle school and high school and the workload gets bigger and music a little bit more solo responsibility. You're going to different classes and yeah, it just gets harder naturally, as it should. And that became hard to balance with the show because the time that I would have needed to, you know, focus on my education was taken up by what I was naturally prioritizing, which was doing the show and doing it the best that I could because I loved it greatly. And it was like, it was a true passion. And at the time it was so frustrating. Every time my parents would sit me down, I'd be like, you need to work out. Because seventh grade, when I was finishing Les Mis, which was too old to be doing that show, I was approaching the end of, like, the second cycle of that, and it wasn't looking like I was gonna stay. And before we got the call that they weren't gonna renew, we had made the decision that we were gonna not renew anyway.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Because it was just getting too much, and we were gonna decide to take a break as a unit and focus on my school. And then a month later, the audition for Stranger Things came through.

[A]

Oh, my gosh. Which is such a different thing. You know, I. I was always fascinated with the kids on Modern Family, who. You know, we'd have them on set for a little while, and then in between setups, they would go away and.

[B]

They go away from school and then.

[A]

They come back in. But, you know, they worked on their school within the confines of. Of our workday. So, you know, they got to have, I think, you know, full night's sleep and, like, all this stuff, it's just different.

[B]

I slept better when I was doing school.

[A]

I was gonna say, you know, it's such a different. Different structure.

[B]

Thank you. Yeah, thank you so much. Yeah, come on in, please. I can move stuff out of the way for you. Oh, that was so good. Oh, it's incredible. Thank you so much. Oh, this is just delightful. How was your school situation? Like, did you go to LA for the second half year studies? Because I know AMDA had that.

[A]

Like, they have a program. No, I went. The only reason I went to LA is because I was. When I was doing The Musical, the 25th annual P. Kenny Spelling Bee, which.

[B]

I did in senior year.

[A]

Did you really?

[B]

I was Coney Bear myself. Shot. Yeah, I did.

[A]

Did you ever tell me that?

[B]

No. Maybe I did.

[A]

I don't know if I've ever. If I knew that was senior year. You're welcome.

[B]

Oh, thank you so much for all the inspo.

[A]

How was your transition into. You know. But also, I mean, you were not in la. You were in Atlanta, which.

[B]

I was never in la.

[A]

Kind of a bubble. I know.

[B]

I've never lived out in la.

[A]

Really?

[B]

I've never worked there.

[A]

I've never even seen a palm tree.

[B]

I've never seen the Pacific.

[A]

One thing that always struck me was that for me, I mean, I'm a kid of the 80s. Like, I was born in 1975, and, like, all these things that Stranger Things was referencing was stuff that I deeply resonated with cool. It was so much nostalgia for me. And I was, you know, I mean, I got to meet some of you on, like, you know, at these different events and stuff, and I was like, oh, my God, they were nowhere near being born at that time. Yeah, but what was it like for you, like, embodying that era?

[B]

It was kind of an easier transition than I think it could have been because of our parents. And they were, I think, even before that show came along, were. So my dad, specifically was locked into the idea of me watching all the stuff he grew up watching because he was kind of one of Those dads like E.T. yeah, E.T. the goofy Goonies, Stand by Me. Those are all ones that I loved. Prior to the whole process of filming the show or even auditioning for the show where they did. It was really cool. When the process. Casting. When the casting process narrowed down to their last probably, like, 10 or 12 kids that they were gonna like. Like, the process for the boys was different than casting for 11, because there was only one girl in the group at the time. And so they were like, that was Millie who ended up getting that. But with the guys, we were all, like, interchanging which roles we were auditioning for. I read for Mike once. I read for Lucas once, and that was a weird. That was a. I don't know why I ever did. It was the weirdest. I read for Cameron. Did you?

[A]

Yeah, I did.

[B]

How did you. Were you ever in for, like, Phil or anything like that?

[A]

No. No, no, no, no, no.

[B]

Okay, cool.

[A]

Just. Cam. Yeah. What was that? Like, how weird. And, like, I knew I was wrong for it.

[B]

Like, you just said, there's no way I'm gonna. Yeah, I butchered my first audition.

[A]

Did you really?

[B]

It was terrible. It was the worst audition.

[A]

Did you. Were you reading for the role that you got for someone else?

[B]

Well, I don't think I was ever really in for Mike, but they really only had Mike written. I remember I blanked on so many of my lines. I just had my script right in front of my face, and I just kept looking down and I kept looking up, and it was the weirdest pauses ever. And I was mortified afterwards. I was like, what? Yeah, I forgot about that one. And also, it wasn't very big. So it was like, at the time was like, ah, you know, next one. And for some reason, I got a call back and I asked them why.

[A]

Why did they say.

[B]

They were like. It just clicked. It was like, we knew you wanted you back after that one.

[A]

I'm like, really? Why? Sometimes being cute just gets you really far. Truly. They're like, ah, you're riding on your cuteness.

[B]

Makes you feel like was, oh, it was tough, I'm still, there was a spark. They saw something maybe, I don't know.

[A]

I mean that's actually nice to hear because like, you know, with rejection a lot, you know, I always think about what did I do wrong and like, what did I do right? And like, why did I get this? Or why didn't I get this?

[B]

It's such a, I think formative time of figuring out all your own insecurities. It's the first time you're actually like aware of yourself and aware of your perception. When you're 7, you don't care. That's not something that settles in. And so it was actually easier to like let it roll off my back when I was young and I didn't start getting more self conscious about why I wasn't booking or hearing less than forgiving notes about things you can't like whether it's like a look. I remember when I had all my dental reconstruction issues, which I'm still going through, but at the time it was kind of the only reason why I wasn't booking a lot of things. You're like, it's not really what we're looking for. And that was fine for a long time growing up. And then as I got older and it became more noticeable because a lot of seven year olds don't really have a lot of teeth yet. And as I approached my teenage years that became more apparent and I started to get more self conscious even after I finished Stranger Things and that was weird to grapple with.

[A]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. After the break, Gaten tells me about his feelings on Stranger Things coming to an end. And he tells me all about his long term girl girlfriend Lizzy and their early days as high school sweethearts. Okay, be right back. Anyone else ever look at their dog's dinner bowl and think, oh buddy, you deserve better than this? I feel that all the time with my two dogs, Sam, my Golden Doodle and Leaf, my tiny but mighty Morky. I want meal time to be more than just fuel for them. It should be something exciting. I mean, yes, they do act so excited when I feed them anything, but sometimes I just think they're faking it, you know, that's why I've been eyeing Nom Nom. Their recipes are gently cooked and actually designed to engage your pup senses with textures, smells and vibrant ingredients that keep things endlessly interesting. They've got six different recipes like Pork Potluck, Chicken Cuisine, Beef Mash, and more. And every one of them is crafted by vet nutritionalists, which gives me real peace of mind. The idea that Salmon Leaf could have meals with premium proteins and vibrant veggies cooked in small batches so the nutrients and textures stay intact sounds like something I definitely, definitely want them to try. After all, I wouldn't want to eat the same thing day after day, so why should they keep mealtime exciting with Nom nom available at your local pet smart store or chewy? Learn [e-mail] JTF that's trynom.com JTF every time I talk to my dad, he says the same thing. Send me more pictures. Send me more pictures. He's in New Mexico and even though we talk all the time, it's those little glimpses of day to day life that makes him feel connected. All right, dad, if you're listening, cover your ears because this year I'm getting him an Aura frame. Aura makes these beautiful digital frames that lets you share unlimited photos and videos straight from your phone all year long. You just download the Aura app, connect it to WI fi and suddenly your favorite moments are right there. No texting, no printing, no mailing. You can even preload the frame before it ships so when your friend or family member opens it, it's already full of family photos, holidays, dinners, babies, the dogs. All the things that make you feel close even when you're miles apart because you can't wrap togetherness. But you can frame it. For a limited time, visit auraframes.com and get $45 off Aura's best selling Carver mat frames named number one by Wirecutter by using promo code dinners at checkout. That's a U R A frames.com promo code dinners this exclusive Black Friday Cyber Monday deal is their best deal of the year. So order now before it ends and when you check out, make sure to ment center's on me. It really helps support the show. Vacation season is nearly upon us and this year, you know I'm treating myself to luxe upgrades that I deserve with Quince's high quality travel essentials at fair prices. Think lightweight loungewear that's perfect for those long haul flights or premium luggage options. The best part? All Quint's Items are priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands. By partnering directly with top factories, Quints cuts out the costs of the middleman and passes the savings on to us. And Quintz only works with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices and premium fabrics and finishes. I just love that. I've been eyeing their expandable carry on hard shell suitcase, which comes in four sizes and a bunch of colors. It's just so nice to be able to get an extra inch of packing space in if I need it. I love options. I also just had a tab open for the Nappa leather duffel bag, which for under $200, feels like a steal. For your next trip, treat yourself to luxe upgrades you deserve from quints. Go to quints.com JTF for 365 day returns plus free shipping on your order. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com JTF to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com JTF. And we're back with more dinners on me. Oh, my God. Oh, that's right.

[B]

Thank you so much.

[A]

Why don't you forget about the platter Sushi?

[B]

The trash.

[A]

I forgot where the platter I got. I have.

[B]

That's why I'm, like, frazzled. This is great. It's settling on. Oh, this looks so good. Save us yellow tail salmon fluke. Same here. Thank you.

[A]

Thank you so much.

[B]

We got a little soy sauce in there.

[A]

Yes, some soy sauce. I thank you. Of course.

[B]

I'm shaking from my caffeine. I literally am like, I can't keep still. I don't know. You were right. Like, the one cup I had at home was enough.

[A]

Listen, I mean, people always ask me. It's so funny when I was thinking about all these questions to ask you, because obviously, you know, I want to talk about your whole career, but like, Stranger Things is such a formative thing that happened to you.

[B]

It's the largest chunk of it.

[A]

And, you know, I think about all these questions that I want to ask. I'm like, God, this is the exact same stuff that people want to know about Modern family.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And there's something about.

[B]

Imagine just.

[A]

There's something because. How long was that? How long you were? 10 years.

[B]

You said that you were nine. Nine years, like, working on it. I booked when I was 12. And so I guess 10 years since it was really. Or nine years since it was released and about 10 years since we started working on it.

[A]

Yeah. What was it like meeting. I mean, did you all. Were you all put together in an audition first? Never all together on set.

[B]

The first time all of us were all together was on set for the first day. I knew Caleb, who plays Lucas before because he Was in the theater as well. He was in the Lion King while I was doing Les Mis. And so we were like, treading the boards at that point. And Finn was a little Vancouver. I met Finn before. I can't. Like, we did cam reads together, just me and him. They hadn't found their Lucas yet, so.

[A]

It was like chemistry reads for those, you know, of course, down in the biz.

[B]

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

[A]

Wait. Was Finn, who you were roommates with?

[B]

Okay, yeah, I lived with him for a year this past. This past season, which was the only season that I was out there by myself. And it was really, really fun. It was great. It was kind of like a little bit of like a college experience.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Or at least similar to it. Whereas we were the same age and it was the first time, like, I would look around. I would look around, like three months after we lived together. Like, this place is disgusting. What are we doing?

[A]

Who is messier?

[B]

We kind of matched each other's a little bit. And also we got along so well and had been so close for so long that we didn't really, like, hold each other to, like, a standard. And so you're kind of just like, ah, fuck it, whatever, man. We'll get to it later. And then the. The wake up call came when, like, we would plan to go out, and so we were like, all right, we'll just meet you at yours. And both of us would be like, no, do not come 10ft to our home. And we're like, oh, if there's a real panic.

[A]

Wait, a picture. Paint a picture of, like, your living room for me. Paint a picture of a shared space. I want to actually, I need some more details.

[B]

That's my thing, is that initially we were like, you know what? Our room's gonna be messy as long as our shared space in the living room is fine. And that maintained itself for a while.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And then, like, little things like clothes would clutter and laundry hadn't been done and dishes would pile up.

[A]

Was there art on the wall?

[B]

It wasn't ours. We had rented this place.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And so there was. There was a little. There was some art on the walls, but there was like, design before we, like, it was like a. So there was a personal. Like an Airbn, Like a long term airbnb.

[A]

Got it.

[B]

Got it. There's a company called Minty Living, which is Atlanta based, I think.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it was nice. It was very nice. But it got grosser and grosser. Sure did. And the dishes was tough.

[A]

The dishes.

[B]

The dishes was tough.

[A]

You didn't have a dishwasher.

[B]

We did.

[A]

You just didn't use it. I mean, listen, I hate loading a dishwasher, and I hate unloading a dishwasher. I like it when it's running. And I know. Dishwasher. Of that.

[B]

That's the best part.

[A]

But what do we do with it?

[B]

What do we do before we get there?

[A]

Yeah, no, I get it. It's really funny.

[B]

It's. I was like, we gotta figure this out. Well, it's.

[A]

It's for the best.

[B]

It was for the best, and we learned, and, like, towards the end of it, we got better.

[A]

Yeah, but you enjoyed the actual living together.

[B]

It was so much fun. Yeah. And I was kind of scary because you never know, like, when you move in to. He's one of my closest friends. And when you're moving in with one of your best friends, you never know if you're gonna live together well, because sometimes that kind of, like.

[A]

Yeah, that could ruin things.

[B]

That could ruin. That could ruin friendships. It ruins, like, a dynamic. And if, you know, if you're mature enough, you can be like, oh, this isn't working for us. So, like, for the sake of our friendship, we should end this. And. It was great.

[A]

You are so great. In Sweeney's time, I. I'm in. I am a massive Sondheim fanatic. I know I said Phantom of the Opera is my favorite, but I mean, really, like, still your favorite?

[B]

Would you still say no?

[A]

I mean, I like it. It's like nostalgia for me.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, when I went to go see this immersive production, I was like, I'm into this. I mean, it's the great gift of being able to do. You know, what we do is to, like, be able to move people and use our. Whatever platform or spotlight we have. I mean, I know you've done a lot of really great work around ccde. Would you explain that to me?

[B]

So I have a condition called cleidocranial dysplasia that is a genetic bone disorder that affects skeletal growth. Like, visibly. It usually affects skull growth. Dental. It affects you dentally.

[A]

And.

[B]

Things don't grow. I'm missing bones and things. And I have a bunch of supernumerary teeth that I had before my surgeries. And it's a pretty weird thing. It's very rare. And I had a spontaneous case, so it was kind of something that. That nobody really knew how to approach when I was younger. And we weren't really even able to know anybody with the condition until after Stranger Things came out. Because they had me talk about it for a split second on the show, which we thought was kind of just like an in passing thing, like have fun.

[A]

Yeah, we'll do that.

[B]

And then it kind of sparked a pretty exciting process of community building of people with it who I had never met. And for so long, most the. Of people, most people who've had. Who haven't, have not met anybody else who haven't. I mean, before the show that was. Right. Right, that was the case. And now since the show has come out, we've kind of. People worry about even like things on like Reddit and Facebook. You were like, I saw this show and there's this kid who has this and I do too. Does anybody else have this? And it was the first like kind of beacon that people could use as like a reference point. Because if you just went about that on Reddit without like attaching it to something bigger people, it probably would have just like went into like the, you know, ethos of the.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Of the. Yeah. Algorithm of the Internet. No one's really seeing it. And so kind of since then it was kind of felt like a responsibility to use that, use that opportunity to kind of build something that hadn't been built before. And so I helped to co found an organization called CCD Smiles. And it's been a really incredible process. It's weird. It's so weird. But the one thing that's been consistent and almost easy to do is to build the community around it. Because there was such a hunger for it. There was such a hunger for it and it was something that nobody had ever expected to experience. And something I'll never really get to experience is that real booming joy of finally developing a community with it. Because there's so many people who are in maybe their 50s or 60s who have never met anybody with it and all on a whim. Now there's a community built there and that's got to be the most incredible for you. It's pretty nuts. I have a really mild case comparatively to a lot of people with it. And unless I really would tell people that I had a condition, it wouldn't necessarily usually be noticed. But when you meet people who have the condition as well, it becomes. It's very clear and it's very easy to see the similarities between us. And that was really cool to experience. But even when I was younger, my parents were very good at building a really positive outlook look on it. And I always thought of it as a defining trait that I was always really excited to talk about. And I never had an environment in my home in which I would ever want to not talk about it. I had cool party tricks. I could like, push my shoulders together. And it was a fun fact about me. Like, anytime there'd be circles in elementary school, it'd be like, tell us something about yourself. And that was the first thing that I would do. And before I started acting that way, that was like my thing. And I was always so excited to talk to people anyway. From a young age, I was kind of just a textbook introvert. I mean, extrovert. And I think I've remained that way, I think because of that condition, because it was always instilled in me to be excited and be honored about it and teach people about it. And if people are mean, you have an opportunity to help them grow by teaching them about it and making them and educate them. And that was always really, really fun. And I'm lucky to have that experience. I understand why others don't. I understand why others had a way different process. I think the outlook on something like that back in the 80s or 70s or 80s was way different. I think there wasn't much of an incentive to really try to thrive in it as there would have been now. And so my outlook has never changed. But I've heard different experiences from others, so I'm really honored to like, share that part of myself and always have been. So nothing's really changed for me.

[A]

It's pretty incredible.

[B]

Thank you. Thanks for letting me talk about it. I really appreciate it.

[A]

That's great. Such a role model for. And not just for that specific condition, but I just think for like embracing differences in one another. And like, you know, I think when you see people like that who embrace this thing that's unique about them, it inspires other people to embrace things that are, that make them different from other people. Those are the things, like I always say, like when we're kids, we really want to blend in everyone and we want, we want to fly under the radar. And then as adults, like, we're always looking for things to set us apart from other people.

[B]

The difference between kids and adults with it is remarkable because adults are so bad at letting go of their own insecurity when meeting people. Adults are so hyper fixated on saying the right thing, not overstepping, kind of just like testing the waters. Whereas kids will always be like, you want to be my friend? Yeah. They go, do you want to be my friend? And that is so fun. It's pretty exciting.

[A]

It's great.

[B]

We're pretty Stoked for it.

[A]

Yeah. It's really, really proud. It's great.

[B]

I am. Thank you.

[A]

Another thing that people always ask me about with Modern Family ending, and I'm interested in hearing your story about it, is what that last day of shooting was like for you.

[B]

It was. It didn't feel like a day on set.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

It was kind. It felt more like a press event than anything else.

[A]

Same.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. There's cameras everywhere.

[A]

Did it feel like this for you at all? Did it feel like a funeral in a weird way? Like, where people showed up that you hadn't seen in, like.

[B]

Like, forever? Oh, dude, absolutely. I was like, where have you been? I thought of it as, like, a funeral.

[A]

I haven't seen you in six years.

[B]

Where you have.

[A]

Did you come from?

[B]

Did, like, like, past cast members come through, or was it just executives?

[A]

No, like, people from the office buildings. They, like, came, like, pay their respects. Yeah, that's kind of what it was.

[B]

But also, I noticed it was like, anybody who had ever worked on that show in any capacity, if they could, was, like, huddled in to the soundstage, which is probably a fire hazard. But, yeah, there was a lot of people in that room. Room.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And. But what was really good, all of our parents were invited back. And that was, like, the most grounding wonderful thing, because as we grew up doing our parents on the show. Yeah, no, no, my actual, Actual parents. Our actual parents.

[A]

Because they hadn't had to be on the set because they were.

[B]

We were all adults at this point. Got it.

[A]

Got it. Sweet. As we had a lot of family on set, too. Yeah.

[B]

I'm so glad that they let it happen because there was a world where, like, we weren't sure they were gonna let family come and see everything, but they. They did let our parents come because they were there from the beginning. They were all there, and they used to, like, they all got close with each other. And anytime we say cut and go over, there was always, like, a section for the parents.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

We spend time. And then seeing the section for the parents again. And like, all of them, I love them greatly, but, like, it's been like, a decade, so, like, see them look a little grayer and, like, a little bit, like, it was, like, the craziest kind of, like, grounding experience ever. Like, being able to go back over and, like, they were watching on the monitors and being able to give my mom a hug like I usually would after takes. I. I didn't like and ask if she liked them, and she would be so encouraging. And it's Just the same thing. So that felt normal around, like, a huge. Like, there were also, like, these tarps up on the ceiling that were full of what were clearly balloons for the. When they announced the wrap. And it was cool, but it was almost. Almost like when you, like, see a surprise party before you're supposed to see.

[A]

It, you see, like, Taylor Swift waiting in, like, the bubble in the way somewhere. I see she's. Where she's coming in from. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

She's doing trills.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's funny.

[B]

It was a weird day.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it was a fun day. It felt like a graduation.

[A]

And for you. Yeah, for sure. Absolutely. I mean, you're getting to experience something that we didn't get to do because of COVID where you wrapped, and then you get to have sort of like, a little extra addendum with your. With your cast. And, like, did you not.

[B]

Did you have, like, a pandemic wrap?

[A]

We had a pandemic wrap. We. We wrapped the show. We wrapped the show. We were able to. To shoot it, but then we. But then the. We. We shut down for Covid three weeks later.

[B]

So, like, all the press around the last early 2020. Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

We barely made it. We barely made it. That's crazy. And then we didn't get to, like, be with each other for any of that press leading up to the finale.

[B]

Virtual.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You were on Zoom.

[A]

I was, like, literally on Camel with boxes. You know, we were all. It was like. And we were using it as, like, an opportunity to, like, reconnect. I remember, like, for sure, we were, like, in the waiting room to go into Kimmel because they put you in, like, a Zoom waiting room, and, like, they could not get us to stop talking because we were all so excited to see each other. It was, like, all the six adults, and for that.

[B]

That's better.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That's better. Anyway. Yeah, I think so.

[A]

At least I wish we could have been together. I do.

[B]

How. How was the. The few years after. How did that. Well, that's.

[A]

I mean, I want to ask you about, like, what you're anticipating, but, like, for us, again, it was Covid, so it was, like, a weird time to be away from that, but, like, the excitement of. And I'm sure you understand this a bit. Doing something for so long in the same role and obviously growing with that part is exciting, but, like, the idea of getting to do something different and I guess you've been able to do Sweeney Todd and, you know, theater things and things that excite You. But you know, to know that, like, really that chapter's done anyway, who knows? You're gonna get. What's gonna happen next is gonna be 10 years of people asking you there's a reunion coming.

[B]

Yeah, we already get those questions.

[A]

Yeah, we haven't even.

[B]

It's not even out.

[A]

I know. Get ready, get ready.

[B]

It's gonna happen more for sure.

[A]

But it is. It was an exciting time, but also it's a time of readjustment. It's destabilizing.

[B]

I. Oh, that's definitely. It's a weird conversation to have because during the whole process of working on Strange, like, throughout most of it, it was a. It was very rare that there were things that we could work on between seasons because early on they wanted to crank them out. And then that stopped very quickly because.

[A]

There was so much hiatuses.

[B]

We. For the last two seasons, we had huge hiatuses, and Pandemic was one of them, and then the strikes were another. So right after four, the strikes started as we were about to start shooting five. So the writer strike started. What was that? March, February. March. And we were planning on going back in April. And that was the start of, like, being excited about what might come after.

[A]

And let me ask you, what do you. What would you. What would be your ideal?

[B]

I don't know. Next step, just consistencies is kind of just like, I really could not care about the eyes that are on a specific project. I would just love to do. Do the things that I love to do, and I would love to step on stage consistently as much as I can. I live here in the city. I'm actually between spots now. I'm in Jersey with my family roommate. I gotta choose. Yeah, he'll just come here. He's like, reviewing.

[A]

I saw photos of you looking for an apartment together and you guys were holding hands like Jason Bateman and Will Arnett. Yes, of course.

[B]

That was our info. I remember we always said, like, if. So I was looking for spots there and I was with my girlfriend because it's. Because my girlfriend is cropped out of those pictures, which is the funniest part about, like, she's standing there next to me. And we always said that if we ever see one, we're going to recreate that. And we see him down the street and he goes, oh, my God. Oh, my God, it's happening. Hold my hand, hold my hand. It's so good. It's so exciting.

[A]

Were you. Were you actually, like, wanting, waiting to recreate the Will Arnet?

[B]

Sometimes when they're in the city. When I'm in the city by myself. When we're all by ourselves. Yeah. Nothing. We never get the money.

[A]

You're in groups, but the minute we.

[B]

Pair up, it's like a beacon goes out.

[A]

Yeah, I know. I don't know how or why. So funny.

[B]

It happens. Same look, same area. Like I was. I grabbed lunch with Sadie one day and the same thing happened. I'm like, how do they know? How do they know that we're gonna be together at this specific time, by the way?

[A]

I mean, you're young and you've been in like a very long term relationship.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Unusual.

[B]

It is unusual for someone your age. Right?

[A]

You love it. It's so great, your relationship.

[B]

I think so, yeah. It's. We've been together since we were 15, which is dating since. We're dating since high school. Yeah.

[A]

What's that like to like, you know, unreal. Big moments together.

[B]

I think like, that's what has kept us together for so long, is that we have so many shares experiences. It's so such a formative time and it's also such a normal time for people to grow apart and change. And that's usually why those relationships don't last, which is completely fine. It just did for us. We just thrived in the distance, which is hard to do. We did really well. We started like, you know, when you're 15, it's like we went like bowling and like held hands and like my stepmom drove us to our first date. Like, cute like that. But getting to like experience those like, fun high school, you know, like, did.

[A]

You go like, did you go to prom together?

[B]

Yeah, we went to prom together. It was like. But also she was a grade below me, so she was a junior when I was a senior. But she started the process of. Of being an actor around like 15, around that same time.

[A]

So she was just starting.

[B]

She was just starting at that point. Wow. And that's where we kind of got along and kind of had like some like, you know, shared experiences there. And getting to see her start that process and thrive herself has been unreal because it's so hard to do. And she's. Anything she puts her mind, she like locks in. She. The way she went about it was.

[A]

Does she ever seek advice from you?

[B]

No, not even a little. She's like, do not talk me to me about it.

[A]

Good.

[B]

The most I do when we do tape, like, if I'm the only one available to be her reader for tape, she's like, do not look at me like Turn around and read at the wall. Don't make choices. Like anytime we read together, she's like, why are you making choices? This isn't yours. I forgot, I forgot, I forgot.

[A]

My husband is so judgy, anytime he helps with an audition, he's like, is that how you're going to do it? Get out of here.

[B]

You need to go. And we've gotten good at like that of like, my job is to like, like, read like a robot at the wall while she makes her choice. Hilarious. Yeah. It's been one of the better consistencies of our lives and love that you had that. Yeah, me too. She rocks.

[A]

Thank you for doing this. Thank you.

[B]

I really appreciate it. I appreciate it. Sorry if I extended over the time limit there.

[A]

No, you didn't. This episode of Dinners on Me was recorded at Lure Fish Bar in soho, New York City. Next week on Dinners on Me. You know her from HBO's Big Love as Snow White in Once Upon a Time and reprising her role as Judy Hopps in Zootopia 2, it's Jennifer Goodwin. We'll get into her diverse roles from prestige TV to Disney animated Oscar winning films. Marrying her Prince Charming and how she balances her career and her family. And if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing to Dinners on Me. Plus, as a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, you'll also be able to listen completely ad free. Just click try free at the top of the Dinners on Me show page on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today. Dinners on Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch. Our showrunner is Joanna Clay. Our associate producer is Alyssa Midcalf. Sam Baer engineered this episode. Hans Dale. She composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tameka Balance Kolasny and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week. This week on Dinners on Me, I sat down with Real Housewives of Salt Lake City icon Meredith Marks of Botanical a Louie in West Hollywood, which by the way, is not where I expected to find her. Less than 12 hours after DJing at a club, literally down the street until like 1am I rolled in with my coffee. She rolled in with sunglasses, serenity and zero hangover. We ordered salads because we're responsible adults. But the conversation that was completely unhinged in the best way. We talked about loyalty, public feuds, and what happens when your real life becomes reality TV content. And then she dropped this.

[B]

Everybody's marriage or children is going to be huge, like always. And it's understandably, you know, but now I'm deciding consciously, just so everyone knows. And if any of my castmates are listening, you guys should know this, too. And my producers, I have decided not to let that ever trigger me again because I weaponized it one time too many.

[A]

Elegant, chilling, slightly therapeutic. So if you're into emotional growth served with the side of Housewives level honesty, the Meredith Marks episode is out now.