Side Dish: More Jenna Dewan

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dinner’s On Me – “Side Dish: More Jenna Dewan”

Host: Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Guest: Jenna Dewan
Release Date: April 2, 2026
Location: Pizzeria Mozza, Los Angeles

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Episode Overview

In this lively “side dish” episode, Jesse Tyler Ferguson continues his candid, laughter-filled dinner with dance icon, actress, and producer Jenna Dewan. The conversation, recorded over Bianca pizza and garlic bread in LA, covers career turning points, the vulnerability of big swings, childhood memories, parenting in the public eye, and the anxieties and joys of performing – with plenty of warmth and encouragement exchanged along the way.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Reminiscing About Sofia Vergara's Wedding

[03:54–05:35]

• Jesse and Jenna recall attending Sofia Vergara’s lavish wedding ("That wedding was truly, absolutely bonkers." – Jenna, 04:32).
• The two reflect on how their close-knit circle from the Modern Family years has stayed connected, even strengthening with time.
  • "Now that we are... we've had space…our relationships have only blossomed in ways that I'm kind of surprised by, actually." – Jesse, 05:15

Jenna’s Daughter Is a Modern Family Superfan

[06:05–06:39]

• Jenna shares that her daughter, Evie, is “obsessed” with Modern Family, making it a comfort show that’s constantly on at home.
• Jenna felt “cool” to her daughter by showing her photos from a movie she did with Sarah Hyland ("We were always told all the time that we looked like sisters." – Jenna, 06:39).

Stage Fright & The Path Not Taken: Almost on Broadway

[06:48–11:28]

• Jesse says he’s surprised Jenna has never done Broadway, despite her performance roots.
• Jenna explains her focus was always LA, not New York, aiming to dance with stars like Janet Jackson (which she accomplished).
• She recounts being approached for Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway. Intrigued but anxious about her singing abilities, she took lessons and was encouraged, but ultimately, stage fright and a tight rehearsal schedule led her to bow out.
  • "I think I just chickened out with the time frame...there was something about that live audience...It's a little bit terrifying." – Jenna, 10:47
  • "I went in one day...you go in, you have no expectations, and you sing, and you all of a sudden are hitting notes...Once it got in my head...it was a whole different game." – Jenna, 11:00
• Jesse reassures her: "You could have done it. I'm just saying you could have done it." (09:16)

Parallels of Performance Anxiety

[11:28–13:11]

• Both open up about how nerves can hijack performance – Jesse recounts a traumatic first pitch at a Dodgers game, linking his nerves to childhood trauma over sports.
  • "Sports terrify me...I really...got in my head..." – Jesse, 12:02
• Jenna draws a parallel to her singing anxiety, recalling her mother’s teasing: "'Keep your day job, Jen.' She'd always make fun of my singing voice." (08:13, 12:49)

Nomadic Childhood and Parenting Style

[14:16–17:28]

• Jenna shares that she moved often as a child after her parents' divorce: new cities, schools, always the “new kid.”
  • “I was always a new kid. Up until about eighth grade…my mom didn't move after that, so I was in Texas for all of high school. So because of that, you know…you're just, you're nomadic, you're on the go.” – Jenna, 14:35
• This background leaves her open to big moves, but LA now feels more “rooted” than anywhere (“This is the longest I’ve ever been anywhere, I think. Ever.” – Jenna, 15:55)
• She discusses how her kids' experience is so different — growing up in LA, with parents in entertainment, seeing film sets as normal:
  • “I believe that we're really normal and grounded in her eyes, but she doesn't know any different.” – Jenna, 18:05

Switching Gears: Producing and New Ambitions

[21:16–22:53]

• Jenna talks about the excitement (and patience required) of producing:
  • “You are in development forever and for years…but it excites me in different ways. I like the idea of…what can I create. That shift was really fun for me. So I do want to really build that company...start producing more.” – Jenna, 21:56
• She’s become comfortable not needing to star in everything she produces and is open to others taking the lead.
• Jesse and Jenna both note they've sometimes told producers to consider someone else better-suited (“If you want somebody better than me, I totally understand...” – Jenna, 22:34).

On Their Kids and the Arts

[23:30–26:40]

• Jesse shares the story of his son Beckett’s brief foray into theater – excited at first, Beckett was shy and uncomfortable on stage, but Jesse and Justin encouraged him to see it through.
  • “He had to have every line fed to him...I definitely left that performance thinking, like, I don't think this is the career for him.” – Jesse, 24:47
• Jesse recalls how support from his own parents allowed him to pursue acting, even when it seemed impractical.
  • “One of the greatest pieces of advice I ever got...someone said, if you could think of anything else that you could do, it’s a great idea. Try that. But if it’s the thing that…you don’t know how else you would be whole doing anything else, go for it.” – Jesse, 26:07

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Lasting Bonds from Modern Family:
  • “Now that we are...we've had space...our relationships have only blossomed in ways that I'm kind of surprised by, actually.” – Jesse, 05:15
• On Missing the Broadway Opportunity:
  • “The best day of my life was when I went in to learn choreography. I had so much fun…” – Jenna, 10:16
  • "I just chickened out…That's the dancer in me...But there was something about that live audience...It's a little bit terrifying." – Jenna, 10:47
• On Parenting in LA:
  • “I believe that we’re really normal and grounded in her eyes, but she doesn’t know any different.” – Jenna, 18:05
• On Producing:
  • “I like the idea of going from what’s out there to…and what can I create. That shift was really fun for me.” – Jenna, 21:56
• On Supporting Kids’ Passions:
  • “If it’s the thing that…you don’t know how else you would be whole doing anything else, go for it.” – Jesse, 26:07

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Important Timestamps

• [03:54] – Reminiscing about Sofia Vergara’s wedding
• [06:05] – Jenna’s daughter becomes a Modern Family fan
• [06:48] – Jenna debates stage/vocal anxiety and Broadway
• [09:08] – Considering (and chickening out of) Chicago on Broadway
• [11:28] – Parallels between baseball nerves and stage fright
• [14:16] – Jenna’s nomadic upbringing
• [17:35] – Raising kids in LA’s entertainment industry
• [21:16] – Jenna’s ambitions as a producer
• [23:30] – Jesse on his son trying theater
• [26:07] – On the calling for a career in the arts

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Tone and Style

Witty, self-deprecating, and candid—Jesse and Jenna’s chemistry is built on years of friendship and shared showbiz experience. Both are honest about anxiety, uncertainty, and vulnerability in (and out of) the spotlight, but the conversation is always buoyed by laughter and practical optimism.

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For listeners or readers craving insight into the “real” lives of performers, this Side Dish offers a heartwarming and often hilarious peek into the doubts, pride, and bonds that underlie very public lives—and how those elements shape both career and family.

Transcript

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Spring break planning at our house is it's definitely an adventure. Our kids have very strong opinions and they're always on different sides of the spectrum. Beckett has very strong opinions about the ocean. It has to be a certain temperature and the wind has to be blowing a certain way if he's gonna get anywhere near it. He doesn't want sand on his feet. Sully, on the other hand, he will roll around in the sand and doesn't care about the water temperature. And he, you know, he could be just sitting amongst seagulls and he's happy. Justin and I, we just want to air conditioning and wifi. Honestly, juggling all the details of a trip can be very stressful. And while I'm thinking about our plans, I also start thinking about our house while we're away. And it hits me. Maybe we could list our place on Airbnb while we're gone. It always sounds great, but I don't know if I can manage all the details myself. That's where Airbnb's co host network comes in. You can hire a vetted local co host to handle all the behind the scenes details, managing reservations, guest communications, and even providing on site. So hosting feels manageable even with everything else going on. So if you're traveling this spring, it might be the perfect time to list your space on Airbnb and maybe earn a little extra cash while you're gone to put toward that extra future travel someplace with air conditioning and Wi fi. If you're ready to host but could use a little extra help, find a co [e-mail] host so right now I'm in New York City. I am doing a play about Truman Capote and It's basically a one man show, just me for 90 minutes. I am basically eating, breathing, sleeping Truman Capote and this play. And I have very little time for myself, let alone time to cook for myself. That's why Home Chef has been a total lifesaver at this point in my life. They deliver fresh pre portioned ingredients straight to my door. And the recipes are so easy to follow. Whatever kind of day you're having, Home Chef has you covered. From classic recipes with fresh ingredients and home 30 minute meals to oven ready trays and quick microwavable lunches. There's even a dedicated family menu for easy four to six serving dinners. And this is the most important part. They all taste amazing. Like restaurant quality amazing. Home Chef has worked with chefs like Gordon Ramsay and now Giada De Laurentiis bringing chef inspired recipes right to your kitchen. Plus, it's affordable. Home Chef customers save an average of $86 per month on groceries for a limited time. Home Chef is offering my listener 50% off and free shipping for your first box. Plus free dessert for life. Go to homechef.com dom that's homechef.com dom for 50% off your first box and free dessert for life. Must be an active subscriber to receive free dessert. Hey, it's Jesse Tyler Ferguson. So here's a little side dish from this week's episode of Dinners on Me. This week's guest was the radiant Jenna Duan. You know her from movies like Step up as a dance icon. I mean, she's been a dancer with Janet Jackson. She's the host of the dance competition show World of Dance, and she's currently actually not dancing on the cop drama the Rookie on NBC. We met up at Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles over Bianca pizza and garlic bread. Jenna shared whether she's ever seriously considered doing Broadway. And we get into the fear that comes with taking big swings in your career and following your pass. Even when there's no clear roadmap to get back into the conversation, you're pulling up a chair. Just as we start reminiscing about the incredible time we both had at Sofia Vergara's unforgettable wedding,

[Steve]

one of the things we share is we were. And I forgot about this. I forgot about this. And I don't know why I was like, of course. Of course you were there. But we were at one of the most incredible weddings together. Granted, Sophia and Joe are no longer married. Oh, my God.

[Jenna Dewan]

Remember that?

[Steve]

And you and them are no longer together.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But that wedding,

[Jenna Dewan]

I actually was just thinking about that the other night because I wore the same outfit, this, like, thing. And I was like, that wedding. That wedding was truly, absolutely bonkers.

[Steve]

Insane. I know. I just saw Sophia a few weeks ago.

[Jenna Dewan]

I love this video.

[Steve]

Me too.

[Jenna Dewan]

I just adore her. I love her.

[Steve]

Yeah, she's pretty great.

[Jenna Dewan]

I love all of you. Honestly, that was a magic meeting, too, for the show, for all. You guys are all amazing people individually.

[Steve]

Got incredibly lucky. And the fact that we're all as close as we are, you know, six years after rapping is pretty incredible. And in some ways, even, like, more so. Still cook because, you know, when you're working together with people, it's like, you don't necessarily get in there. Like, you don't ask about, like. Like, what's going on with your. Like, what's your life? What's going on at home. Like.

[Jenna Dewan]

Yes. Especially in L. A too, because you guys filmed in la.

[Steve]

Yeah.

[Jenna Dewan]

Yeah.

[Steve]

You know, and it's like we would. We would be there at work, and it's like, we would. We would work really well together. But now that we are. Thank you. Now that we are, we've had space. Like, when we see each other, it's because we have to make the effort to see one another. I feel like our. Our relationships have only blossomed in ways that I'm kind of surprised by, actually.

[Jenna Dewan]

Yeah. And I think that there's a shared experience. You guys had lightning in a bottle experience together, so just have a bond that's gonna be there no matter what. And you just all happen to be really amazing, funny, good people. You guys are all lying. You're very good liars.

[Steve]

No, we are. We're good people. We're very lucky. We got to. To experience that together. Yeah, for sure.

[Jenna Dewan]

I Google, I get to the fun experience of reliving your show too, because my older daughter, Evie, it's her favorite show right now. She's.

[Steve]

Oh, I love that.

[Jenna Dewan]

And it's her comfort show. So every day, all night, before bed, in the morning, she's like, getting going. She has it on.

[Steve]

I'm like, I'm in your home.

[Jenna Dewan]

I'm like, I love this. Yeah, it's my favorite too.

[Steve]

And does she know that you and Sarah are close?

[Jenna Dewan]

I told her that and I showed her, you know, pictures and said, we did this movie together. And it literally happened because we were just always told all the time that we looked like sisters.

[Steve]

Totally.

[Jenna Dewan]

We'd always laugh because we always had so much fun together. And we should play sisters. You know, she's like, no way. And that's. Of course, she loves Sarah on the show, so it's like, I get cool.

[Steve]

Have you seen her on Broadway?

[Jenna Dewan]

No.

[Steve]

Oh, my gosh. If you're in New York, you gotta go see her. And just in time. She's gonna. Great.

[Jenna Dewan]

Right now.

[Steve]

Right now. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jenna Dewan]

I'm going.

[Steve]

It surprises me that you have never done theater.

[Jenna Dewan]

Well, I guess.

[Steve]

I mean, I. I certainly know you are a performer, obviously. I mean, you started your career dancing with. On, like, incredible stages with Janet Jackson.

[Jenna Dewan]

Yeah.

[Steve]

And that's never been something. Have you. Is there a desire there?

[Jenna Dewan]

It was. Well, not really funny enough. I was dancer, dancer, dancer. You know, my dream was I felt like dancers either had the dream to go to New York or they had the LA dream.

[Steve]

Yeah.

[Jenna Dewan]

And mine was very clearly la. It was very.

[Steve]

Which is where a dancer would go if they wanted to do, like, touring. Okay.

[Jenna Dewan]

I was like, put me on the Grammys behind, you know, NSYNC and Janet Jackson. To me, dancing for Janet Jackson was the pinnacle. That was, like, all I ever wanted to do.

[Steve]

Yes.

[Jenna Dewan]

So doing New York, Broadway was not in my sort of awareness. I wasn't where I was going. But I've always loved theater. And then in high school, because I know you did. You started in theater. I was a cheerleader. I was always dancing. Theater wasn't a huge deal in Grapevine, Texas. There wasn't a great program, so to speak. And so I didn't. I never had the experience. Experience. But I love theater, and I love Broadway and I love musicals. But I also never took a singing lesson, so I never. And my mom had a joke my entire life. She was like, keep your day job, Jen. Like, you do not. Like, she'd always make fun of my singing voice. So I thought, well, I don't know if this is in the cars for me, but ironically, last two, it was before I got pregnant with me. And so right before, they had called about doing Chicago, and I said, well, before. I just immediately say no to this. Like, I was. I was intrigued enough.

[Steve]

I went, roxy, oh, my God, that's such major dancing.

[Jenna Dewan]

It was so fun. I did the whole thing because I was like, listen, before I give any sort of answer, I want to go make sure I could even remotely do this. So I went and went to, you know, Eric feature, did the whole singing lessons, and he was like, you can do this.

[Steve]

Yeah.

[Jenna Dewan]

But it was the. The ballad. I got to the ballad, and I was like, oh, no, no, no, no. I need more than five weeks, or whatever they were.

[Steve]

You could have done it. I'm just saying you could have done

[Jenna Dewan]

it because I was too scared.

[Steve]

No, I saw Melanie Griffith do it. She's not a singer, and she just.

[Jenna Dewan]

She could sing.

[Steve]

Yes, she can. But, I mean, that song. I know which song you're talking about.

[Jenna Dewan]

Yes.

[Steve]

Doesn't need it.

[Jenna Dewan]

Really?

[Steve]

No, you don't need.

[Jenna Dewan]

I could have acted and said, oh,

[Steve]

yeah, listen, you can literally say, tomorrow, I might be interested in Roxy. I swear to God, it'll come back to you.

[Jenna Dewan]

I mean, that's the one good thing. I was like, there is a show. I would. It's probably the only show I could do. There's so much dance to it. You know, the singing.

[Steve]

But, you know, also with a lot of the celebrity, because they do cast a lot of people who are well known now.

[Jenna Dewan]

Yeah.

[Steve]

Everyone from, like, Pam Anderson to Melody Griffiths to, you know, massive dancers. So Real Housewives, they can augment any sort of choreography. And what would be really exciting is, for the first time in a very long time, they would not have to do that.

[Jenna Dewan]

Oh, my God.

[Steve]

And I think that'd be really exciting.

[Jenna Dewan]

The best day of my life was when I went in to learn choreography. I had so much fun. We went in with the choreographer and we learned the dance, and, like, I. I'm living. I was having so much fun. I think I just chickened out with the time frame. That's the dancer in me. That's. I normally jump and I don't look and I go. I figure it out on the way. But there was something about a live audience, something about that live audience. It's a little bit terrifying. And I thought, I need, like, a few more months just so I would feel a little bit better about it.

[Steve]

And I get it.

[Jenna Dewan]

We'll see. When I eventually conquer my biggest fear of singing on stage, I'm going to call you, like, Jesse.

[Steve]

No, I will be there. I will be your coach. I will be your. Your confidence coach. I swear to God. You got this. You can totally.

[Jenna Dewan]

That's what I need. That's what's crazy about singing. I kept saying this to Steve. I was like, it's amazing how connected your voice is to your brain, because I went in one day without any. You know, you go in, you have no expectations, and you sing, and you all of a sudden are hitting notes and things you didn't know. Once it got in my head of what I was doing, I went in, and all of a sudden it was a whole different game, and I was like, this is wild.

[Steve]

I threw the first pitch at a Dodgers game, and I am not. I'm an indoor kid. I was not involved in sports at all growing up. Sports terrify me. And Eric and I. Eric Stonestreet and I were at the Dodgers game, and they asked me for LGBTQ night to throw the first pitch. And I was like, I'm gonna do this.

[Jenna Dewan]

This.

[Steve]

Eric worked with me. Eric Stones street, and I worked on the. The side. The sidelines? Is that what they call it?

[Jenna Dewan]

You said nothing on the side backstage. What did you say? Stage left.

[Steve]

Stage left. Anyway, we were throwing the ball back and forth, and I was, like, doing really good. And as it got closer and closer to me having to actually do it, the ball started going off and, like, crazy. And I just, like, got in my head, and I really. It scared me. I was like, the fact of my body. That's something I was able to do. And my mind, I don't get. I don't. My mind does not fuck me up like that. Like, I have been on stage since I can't remember. Like, I can do really hard things, but for some reason, just being slightly out of my comfort zone on a baseball field in front of thousands of fans about to do the thing that, like, kids would make fun of me for doing when I was in school, you know, I just. I couldn't do it. It was really scary.

[Jenna Dewan]

Oh, my God. I understand that. It was sense memory. All of a sudden, you were a little boy again. Yeah, that's probably how I am with singing. I hear my mom saying, keep your day job. Keep your day job. I was mostly. Listen, I walked away from that experience being like, oh, I didn't even know I could do any of that, you know, so you don't know till you try.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Jenna opens up about her nomadic childhood and how those experiences have shaped the way she's raising grounded, well adjusted kids. Okay, be right back.

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[Jenna Dewan]

I'm wide awake.

[Starbucks Announcer]

Try it today at Starbucks.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And we're back with more dinners on me.

[Steve]

Do you think you and Steve are gonna stay in LA for a while or do you ever see yourself?

[Jenna Dewan]

I know it's hard for me of a personality to ever say. I can never say. Never minds who. I'm very open.

[Steve]

You grew up in Connecticut, right?

[Jenna Dewan]

So I was born in Connecticut, but then my parents split up when I was about 11 year old and my mom had to. She's basically a single mom. You know, I've seen my dad from time to time, but she took up all the parenting and had to get a job. And her job was pharmaceuticals. She became a pharmaceutical rep, started as that and her dis district moved her every couple years. So I grew up moving every three, four years to a new city, new School, so you name it, I've lived there. I've lived in Washington, I've lived in Raleigh, I've lived in Texas two times. I've lived. And then you have. Where my dad was. So I was that kid that was on planes by themselves, going to visit. And I, I was always a new kid. Up until about eighth grade. Grade. Seventh. Eighth grade. My mom didn't move after that, so I was in Texas for all of high school. So because of that, you know, there's a lot of just, you're just, you're nomadic, you're on. You're on the go.

[Steve]

Yeah,

[Jenna Dewan]

it was good.

[Steve]

Yeah.

[Jenna Dewan]

So that being said, I don't feel this is the longest I've ever been anywhere, I think.

[Steve]

Me too.

[Jenna Dewan]

Ever. I've never been this rooted anywhere. So I've been here so long. But if you ask me, like, would it be surprising if in two years, all of a sudden we move to New York or there's something that happens. No, that would make sense. But I'm an LA girl. I own. Would be hard to get me out of here. Although I do like New York a lot.

[Steve]

I just always saw Steve as I, I consider him a New Yorker. He feels like a New Yorker to me.

[Jenna Dewan]

He is to me too. Like, there's certain things about him that I'm like, he. I don't know if he. Everyone's sort of having interesting feelings about la, you know, it's. In a lot of ways it's hard to be here at this time, but it's, it's. It feels like it's probably hard to be anywhere right now. I think I could see us going east at some point.

[Steve]

Yeah.

[Jenna Dewan]

It's hard as our kid. Obviously. Kids, school. They're in a school. Yeah, yeah. No, that's a whole other process.

[Steve]

Do you think I always dreamed of having, like, I love my parents so much and they had incredible careers, but I always fantasized about having parents who were like, in the entertainment industry.

[Jenna Dewan]

I know, I know. I mean, I have no one.

[Steve]

I know. But now, I mean, you and Steve are like these, I know, Massive, like successfully massive presences in like, the entertainment industry and like, have achieved such great success in your, in your respective, you know, careers. It's like, do you think, how do they react to all that? Do you think?

[Jenna Dewan]

That's a good question. I don't. It's funny, I do think about that. I think about it a lot with being saying to myself, I have kids I'm raising in la, that number one is crazy.

[Steve]

Yeah, they're surrounded by it.

[Jenna Dewan]

We didn't grow up in, you know, a big metropolitan city. And then I think about the fact that our kids have been in this business by proxy bus and been on sets and been and seen so many things. I mean, Evie's the oldest, so I asked her quite often. It's kind of weird. Like, people say anything or you have. She's like, no. She's like, it's just. What I know. She doesn't know any different. I hope. I believe that we're really normal and grounded in her eyes, but she doesn't know any different. She wouldn't know what it was like to grow up in a small town. You know, it's fascinating. Callum is still young enough, and because he was a Covid baby, honestly, he was born during COVID He hasn't really been on set, so he doesn't. He's starting to. He asked me about the rookie every now and then, and people come, you know, every now and then someone come up and say they watch the rookie. And he's like, what's the rookie? And I've shown him little clips, you know, I have to get the cool points where I can get him. And I said, you know, I drive a fire truck. Yeah, very cool. The things you like to see driving. I do, you know, and it's like, you know, it's in one ear, out the other. He. I don't know if he gets it fully. No, but Evie definitely is. But she. She doesn't. She's got a really good awareness about her, though. She's aware that it's interesting to certain people and it's. There's a certain understanding, but she doesn't know. It's that normalcy bias I talked about, like, with myself, you know, do. When you think about just that, anything out in the public eye, you say, well, I don't know. I've just been doing it for so long that it's normal in a sense. To me, she's like that.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Jenna talks about stepping into the role of producer, and I share the story of my son Beckett's first time performing on stage. Okay, be right.

[McDonald's Announcer]

K Pop Demon Hunters, Saja Boys Breakfast Meal and Hunt Trick's Meal have just dropped at McDonald's. They're calling this a battle for the fans. What do you say to that, Rumi?

[Jenna Dewan]

It's not a battle.

[McDonald's Announcer]

So glad the Saja boys could take

[Jenna Dewan]

breakfast and give our meal the rest of the day.

[Steve]

It is an honor to share.

[Jenna Dewan]

No, it's our honor.

[Steve]

It is our larger honor.

[Jenna Dewan]

No, really, stop.

[McDonald's Announcer]

You can really feel the respect in this battle. Pick a meal to pick a side

[Steve]

and participate in McDonald's while supplies last.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And we're back with more dinners on me.

[Steve]

Do you ever, like, look back? I mean, I do this all the time with my career and specifically, like, today, because, you know, we had such a moment with our dog and kind of reflecting on the last 15 years of our life. But, like, do you ever, like, look back and be like, oh, my God, like, this has happened so fast and, like, how am I? You're a mother of three now, and, like, you have this career, and yet it sort of feels like even as I'm talking to you, like, it's not that far in the rear view that you were like, just a kid dancing with Janet Jackson. It's like, how did this happen so quickly?

[Jenna Dewan]

Yes, I do think like that. And I have so many moments where I am able to have the awareness of, oh, my God. Now. It's just like, you've done a lot career wise. Like, I've gone through a lot, and there's been real chapters.

[Steve]

Yeah.

[Jenna Dewan]

Eras, iterations that I can now look back and. And almost like, hug and tap myself a little bit. Like, listen, you know, And I still have that feeling. Maybe it's eternal obstacle, but I still do have that feeling of excitement of what's to come.

[Steve]

Yeah.

[Jenna Dewan]

I hope that doesn't die out, because that's something I.

[Steve]

Is there something that's like, obviously we talked about singing, but, like, that you want to achieve that scares you? Because, I mean, the producing thing for me, it's like, that's intimidating. And you've done that.

[Jenna Dewan]

Yes, that's something I'm still doing. I'm so glad somebody gave me the heads up that that's a long game.

[Steve]

Yeah.

[Jenna Dewan]

Battle. You are in development forever and for years. And it's. But it. It excites me in different ways. And I. I like the idea of going from what's out there to. And what can I create. That shift was really fun for me. So I do want to really build that company or a company or something, start producing more. I would like to do some more film again. That's one thing that would be really fun to do. Whether I'm producing it, I don't have that. I must be. And everything. I'm really happy to pass that. Some of the. I. I constantly go in. I. My producing partner's like, stop doing this. I Go into meetings. We'll go into, like, pitches and go into these big rooms, and I'm like, if you want somebody better than me, I totally understand. You can, like, if you can, please, if you can get.

[Steve]

I've done that. I've done that before as well.

[Jenna Dewan]

You know what I mean?

[Steve]

I used to hate auditioning, and then I really come to peace with it because I was like, I would rather us all be on the same page because I have been offered things and have done them, and I was like, I am the wrong person for this, and I don't feel like I'm fulfilling what they need. And I was like, I should have asked to read for this so that they could have seen if I was really.

[Jenna Dewan]

That's the worst is when you do and you get the offer and then you show up and you're like, oh, do we all have a different idea of how. But then you always figure it out.

[Steve]

I know, I know. So I don't know. It's. It's a wild industry, and I am just keeping my head above water.

[Jenna Dewan]

Would you love it, hate it, or be neutral if your kids are like, I want to get into that?

[Steve]

I don't think I would be neutral about it. I don't think I would. I don't know. There's also a little piece of me that would also love it. I just know because my son Beckett was in Shrek junior junior Shrek at.

[Jenna Dewan]

I think I knew this. Becket's really into theater, right?

[Steve]

Well, he likes watching it.

[Jenna Dewan]

Oh.

[Steve]

He decided he wanted to do musical theater. And Justin and I, like, our hearts grew seven sizes when he said that. And then he came back from, you know, his first rehearsal. He's like, I don't like that at all. Like, he got very nervous. He's very shy. He really did not have a great time doing it. And then we went, and we're like, we have to see it through. So we went to his performance, which was a few weeks ago, and listen, he had to have every line fed to him. Like, he did not. Yes, but also, they had, like, collectively, like, over the course of, like, however many weeks, they've been working on, like, nine hours of rehearsal. Like, I was pretty impressed with them, but I definitely left that. That performance. I was gonna put it in quotes, but no, it was a performance thinking, like, I don't think he's. This is the career for him.

[Jenna Dewan]

Yeah.

[Steve]

Yeah, that's what we think. I don't know. But that being said, I just know, for me, I came from a family that there was no other me doing what I did was totally foreign to them.

[Jenna Dewan]

Yep.

[Steve]

And they had every reason to be like, no, we're not paying for you to go to New York. You need to do this, this, and this if you want our support through school. And they let me go. And I really. I'm so grateful to my parents for letting me do that and for believing in me. And I think even my dad was like, you know, he admits it. He's like, listen, I thought, like, you were going to be, like, playing the guitar in this subway for money to, like, make your way in New York for a while. And he gives it to me for, like. For doing it and, like, figuring it out. And figuring it out.

[Jenna Dewan]

Yes.

[Steve]

And so I just. I'm so grateful that they had that belief in me. So for me, I think whatever my kids want to do, I have. I want to follow the lead of my parents and really just, like, support whatever it is they do. And if it happens to be the arts, great. But I also know how hard it is. I mean, I think one of the greatest pieces of advice I ever got when I wanted to start pursuing being an actor is someone said, if you could think of anything else that you could do, yeah, it's a great idea.

[Jenna Dewan]

Try that, Try that.

[Steve]

But if it's the thing that, like, you don't know how else to fill your soul, and you don't know how else you would be whole doing anything else, go for it. And that's how I felt. I did not know how else I would survive living as a human on this planet if I couldn't be an actor. And so for me, it was that drive and that belief in myself that, like, I was like, I will be able to. I will be able to make it through these, like, bleak periods, which I know there will be. There were, but I'll be able to do it because I. I feel like there's no other option for that.

[Jenna Dewan]

That's what you knew you wanted. You knew it, you felt it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That was more for my conversation with Jenna Duan. If you haven't heard our full conversation yet, make sure to check it out on Dinners On Me. This episode of Dinners On Me was recorded at Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles, California. Next week on Dinners on Me. You know her from her unforgettable roles in Boogie Nights, Austin Powers, the Spy who Shagged Me, and the Hangover. And now she's starring in the new thriller they Will Kill youl. And it's Heather Graham. We talk about her decades long career in Hollywood and why she feels more confident in her 50s than ever before. 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 Hansdale. She composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Thanks to Tameka Balance Kolasny and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week.

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