Podcast Summary: Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Episode: More with 'Now You See Me, Now You Don't' star Justice Smith
Date: December 4, 2025
Location: Destroyer, Culver City, CA

Episode Overview

This episode features a lively, heartfelt conversation over a meal at Destroyer in Culver City between host Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justice Smith, acclaimed actor known for Generation, The Get Down, Detective Pikachu, and his latest, Now You See Me, Now You Don't. The two discuss Justice’s family background, identity, navigating the industry as a queer Black man, traumatic and humorous school moments, and working with Hollywood legends. The episode is rich in candid storytelling and personal reflections.

Main Themes and Discussion Points

Starting Out: Turning 30, Family, and Upbringing

[04:50-11:07]

• Justice celebrated turning 30 recently and frames it positively:

  “I feel young again...29 is older than 30, I think. It's the oldest of your 20s, but 30, you're the youngest of your 30s.” – Justice [05:11]

• Discussion about siblings: Justice is the middle child of nine, with siblings from ages 16 to 45.
• Parents were both singers and met while performing abroad; music and the arts were central to his upbringing:

  “I never had pressure to like, pursue a normal career. I never had pressure to go to college…they always instilled in me this ‘never give up on your dreams’ mentality.” – Justice [10:33]

High School, Bullying, and Identity

[15:20-23:25]

• Justice attended a performing arts high school after being in public school and involved in community theatre.
• Orange County’s conservative atmosphere wasn’t strongly felt in the theater scene, but racial and social dynamics shifted at the performing arts high school:

  “I didn't start feeling the weight of what it meant to kind of grow up in a conservative area until I went to that performing high school.” – Justice [16:35]

• As one of the few Black students, Justice was subjected to microaggressions and open ignorance from classmates.
• He was able to be open about his sexuality, reflecting advancement from older generations but notes most of his bullies were mean girls.
• Harrowing, darkly comic anecdote of a high school improv exercise where a bully forced the whole class to stage his coming-out party before he had come out:

  “This girl had made everybody act as if it's my coming out party, before I even knew my sexuality…then everyone laughs. It was so fucked up.” – Justice [20:29]

Coming to Terms, Trauma, and Healing

[23:13-26:48]

• Justice reflects on unpacking high school trauma throughout his 20s:

  “I also…spent most of my 20s unpacking the trauma of high school, and only recently I’ve gotten to a place where I’m like, okay. I think I’m…yeah.” – Justice [23:13]

• Reunion story: Justice attended his 10-year high school reunion specifically “to rub my success in everybody’s face,” but none of the bullies were there [22:23].
• Discussion about playing straight romantic leads despite being queer; he mentions his bisexual experiences but clarifies his primary attraction to men.

Craft and Career: Roles, Authenticity, and Unexpected Connections

[31:01-34:29]

• Generational impact of Generation: Playing Chester was liberating and healing:

  “I felt like I had unlocked a side of myself that I didn’t even know I had…Chester’s like, freeness…so unapologetically himself.” – Justice [31:42]

• Noted the “crazy” resonance of playing a character from Anaheim, his exact hometown, and how art often parallels his real life.
• The odd serendipity of suggesting singing the Pokémon theme in his first movie, then starring in a Pokémon film:

  “I suggested we sing the Pokemon theme song…and then years later, I ended up doing the Pokemon movies.” – Justice [34:29]

The Magic of Hollywood Franchises: 'Now You See Me, Now You Don't'

[34:50-39:07]

• Justice loved filming with the legendary ensemble of the new Now You See Me:

  “It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had on a film…I wanted to do the film because I wanted to work with these actors…They went out of their way to invite us into the clique.” – Justice [35:53]

• Bonded with new castmates in Budapest, the established cast was welcoming.
• Practical magic: For this installment, the tricks were learned and could be performed for real; Justice spent time learning card tricks, only to not use them in the film [38:43].
• Humorous discussion about repetitive junket questions for franchises, relating to Jesse’s own Modern Family press experiences.

Music, Songwriting, and Musical Theatre

[40:00-44:43]

• Jesse compliments Justice’s songwriting and singing; Justice reveals he’s working on an EP, and his released song is about an ex-girlfriend [40:35].
• Delightful revelation: Justice listened to Jesse’s original cast recording of Spelling Bee for audition prep—years before realizing it was Jesse’s voice:

  “I would like, want to audition for the school musical…I would prepare that song, and then I’d never audition. So I heard your voice so many times, I didn’t realize it.” – Justice [41:56]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Family and Being a Middle Child:

  “My dad is a whore. My dad gets around.” – Justice [07:51]
  (delivered playfully, drawing genuine laughter)

• On the Trauma of High School Improv:

  “I’m slowly realizing what it is. And then I just like…‘It’s my coming out party.’ And I’m like, so like…then everyone laughs. It was so fucked up. It was so mean.” – Justice [21:21]

• On Representation and Career:

  “To be a marginalized person is to study the dominant culture. I know what straightness looks like. I know how to perform straightness; most gay people do.” – Justice [26:30]

• On Art Mirroring Life:

  “Every project I do has a weird parallel to what’s going on in my real life…connections start to line up where I’m like, I see why I’m here now.” – Justice [33:30]

• On Joining the Franchise ‘Clique’:

  “They went out of their way to invite us into the clique, which was…everything.” – Justice [35:53]

• Revelation and Crossover Fandom:

  “I would sing [‘I’m Not That Smart’] all the time…So I heard your voice so many times, I didn’t realize it.” – Justice [41:56]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:50 | Justice reflects on turning 30, siblings, and artistic family | | 07:51 | Joking about family size and parentage | | 15:22 | Transition to school experiences, identity in conservative Orange County | | 20:29 | Disturbing high school improv “coming out party” anecdote | | 22:23 | Ten-year high school reunion story | | 23:13 | Reflection on processing high school trauma | | 26:30 | Discussion on code-switching and playing straight roles | | 31:26 | The healing power of Generation | | 34:29 | Pokémon theme song irony and career serendipity | | 35:53 | Bonding and mentorship in ‘Now You See Me’ film | | 38:08 | Practical magic tricks, learning for the role | | 40:35 | Justice’s songwriting, the personal story behind his song | | 41:56 | Justice’s fandom of Jesse’s musical theatre work and full-circle moment |

Tone and Language

The episode balances humor and vulnerability, with unsparing candor about trauma, identity, and Hollywood’s quirks. Both Jesse and Justice are warm, witty, and self-deprecating throughout, comfortable enough to tease each other and themselves. The focus on healing, acceptance, and finding alignment is uplifting amid anecdotes of adversity.

Final Notes

This episode is a dynamic blend of conversation about family, self-discovery, triumph over adversity, and creative fulfillment—anchored by two performers’ chemistry and shared artistic experiences, making it a rich listen for fans of personal, unscripted celebrity dialogue.