Pod Meets World – "Jason Biggs Meets World"

iHeartPodcasts | March 23, 2026
Guests: Jason Biggs
Hosts: Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, Ryder Strong

Episode Overview

This special episode of Pod Meets World takes listeners on a nostalgic journey spanning the early days of Jason Biggs's career to the cultural phenomenon of "American Pie," with behind-the-scenes insight and plenty of heartfelt, funny recollections about growing up as a young actor in the ‘90s. Danielle, Will, and Ryder reminisce about their shared experiences as child stars and unpack Jason’s transition from Broadway kid to international comedy icon—and now, director.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Theater Kid Energy and Adult Theater Camp Banter

[04:00–09:19]

• The show opens post-ads with playful stories about “theater kid energy” in their families and social media.
• The hosts joke about the idea of attending an adult theater summer camp.
  • Danielle insists, “That would be a great little short documentary. If we film the three of us going to camp. Theater camp.” (07:08)
  • Will gleefully adds, “What I’m looking forward to is the drama. The theater kid camp drama!” (07:16)
• They riff about the possibility of swapping such an experience for activities like Porsche racing school or a weed-and-movie weekend.

2. Introducing Jason Biggs

[17:28–17:33]

• Danielle provides an enthusiastic introduction summarizing Jason’s early career, his breakout with “American Pie,” and his recent projects, including his directorial debut.

3. Jason Biggs: Early Acting Life in New Jersey and New York

[17:34–24:53]

• Jason describes how he and his siblings started in showbiz, starting with his older sister’s dance group and forays to NYC for auditions.
  • “My parents thought, you know, okay, this would be a good way to save money for college...then I was five and got a call from the same manager and just started going out.” (18:04)
• Shared ‘tri-state’ roots with Will: riding buses or parent vans to NYC auditions, bratpack memories at studios like Three of Us and Unitel.
• Jason recounts his experience as the “New York kid” flown to LA for big network tests, especially for Drexel’s Class, alongside other notables like Brittany Murphy.

4. Crossing Paths: Shared Sets and Parking Lot Memories

[24:05–25:35]

• Jason realizes he once blocked Ryder Strong’s parking space at CBS’ Mary Tyler Moore studio and fondly remembers spying Ryder’s BMW Roadster.
  • “I’ve been carrying this nugget for so long.” (25:38)
  • Danielle laughs: “I feel like I really just witnessed something good...Your soul feels better, cleansed having gotten that story.” (24:44)

5. The Drexel’s Class Bump – and the Grind of Child Acting

[26:04–35:13]

• Jason reflects on his first big break (Drexel’s Class at age 12): the thrill of working in LA, then the letdown of cancellation.
• Details his Broadway debut (Conversations With My Father) and the hectic routine of balancing school, 8 shows a week, and late-night returns:
  • “Me and David Krumholtz...he would do homework in Act 1, I’d do mine in Act 2. Then curtain call.” (40:09)
  • Affirms his parents’ sacrifices—his mother working nights as a nurse to support him: “She decided to start working nights so she could take me on auditions.” (44:10)
  • Will and Jason reminisce about unsupervised NYC commutes, audition anxieties, and the complicated social life of kid actors.

6. Pivotal Soap Opera Days & First Kiss (on Camera)

[47:40–57:10]

• Jason confides about nearly quitting acting after a dry spell—and then landing As the World Turns.
• Survives being both fired from the soap and getting an Emmy nomination—a real “showbiz up-and-down.”
• Shares a charmingly awkward story about having his actual first kiss on a screen test:
  • “I had to kiss these four actresses...It was my first kiss. Okay?” (53:47)
  • Years later, reconnects with one actress who says, “You were my first kiss.” Jason: “You were my second, third, or fourth...all within about 10 minutes.” (57:01, 57:09)

7. From Reluctant Actor to American Pie

[62:23–66:12]

• Traces the leap to LA, several canceled projects, and finally the audition for “American Pie.”
  • “I read the role and thought, ‘Oh, I’m—this is totally my thing’...that script comes to me and I read it and immediately...it was in a class of its own.” (64:45, 64:57)

8. Auditioning for American Pie & Cast Chemistry

[66:12–68:26]

• Piecemeal casting—no chemistry reads. Jason discovers Eddie K. Thomas (Finch) is his literal and figurative “brother” after knowing him for years.
  • “Fifteen years I’ve seen you and, like, immediate best friends, immediate chemistry.” (68:27)

9. The Infamous Pie Scene: Filming, Ratings & Comedy

[69:36–75:12]

• Jason unpacks filming the iconic pie scene:
  • “We did it two different ways...Which one of these is going to be funnier?” (69:36)
  • The MPAA ratings boiled down to the number of thrusts with the pie.
  • “Two thrusts is an R, but three thrusts is an NC-17.” (71:45)
• On comedy versus sexy nudity:
  • “That was for comedy. Yeah, that was totally fine. If I have to be sexy, that’s a whole different type of pressure.” (Serena Vincent example, 72:44)
  • Jason: “I always sort of thought, Oh, I’ll do anything for a joke.” (72:44)
• “I shot the scene, we did one take...the entire crew burst out laughing...that was the moment...I think this movie’s going to be something.” (74:05)
• Will adds: “It started that entire new generation of what young actors were capable of again, comedically.” (75:17)

10. The Aftermath: Instant Fame & Lasting Cultural Impact

[82:23–87:02]

• The “before and after” of Jason’s public life:
  • “I started getting recognized from the [red band] trailer... that was the first time where I...thought, ‘Oh. I think this is not only something special and good, but could be something beyond any of our sort of...’” (84:49)
  • Sudden fame arrived: “I remember...walking to get a bagel...car stopping...‘Hey, do the dance!’ Oh my god, like that quick.” (85:35)
• Audience members would identify with different American Pie characters—“My favorite thing...guys in particular, you know, like, oh, ‘I’m Oz in our friend group.’” (86:06)
• On American Pie’s time-capsule status: “You can’t make that movie today...but as a time capsule and a reflection of the kinds of experiences that high school kids had...it hit in a way that other movies didn’t.” (86:50)

11. The 2000s Fame Scene and Losing (and Gaining) Roles

[87:02–92:52]

• Tales of Maxim parties, LA nightlife, and forging lifelong friendships—including meeting his future brother-in-law and best friend on a “blind date” to a party (88:02–90:33).
• On typecasting:
  • “There are definitely roles I did not get and continue to not get because I’m Jim in American Pie...but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” (91:14)
  • “I’ll get bumped still...I know I’m still carrying some of that baggage with me, but I’m happy to be carrying the bags.” (92:53)

12. American Pie Sequel Rumors ("American Funeral")

[93:19–95:47]

• Danielle asks about rumors of an “American Funeral”—Jason clarifies: nothing official, but plenty of talk about a sequel starring the next generation.
  • “I think if we were to do one right now, it would be, I’m Eugene, Eugene is the grandfather, my son, and then you kind of pass it off to the next generation.” (94:51)
  • “The only question that I can answer with full confidence is...would I do it? And the answer is, yeah, of course.” (95:04)

13. Directing Debut: "Untitled Home Invasion Romance"

[95:47–101:17]

• Jason describes his path to directing, being set-savvy from childhood, and seeking a first directorial project that felt tonally different from American Pie.
  • “This one...I think it's a...you’ll like it. It’s a really cool script, a fun role, and I think this might be the one you want to direct.” (95:56)
  • “Comedically, I feel like [it] lines up a bit more with my sensibilities as they stand right now...a little darker, weirder, quirkier...the movies I like to watch now.” (97:47)
• Cites the openness and collaborative spirit of directors like the Weitz brothers and Kevin Smith as formative:
  • “There was never a cockiness...I’m inviting all of you to teach me and show me...” (101:17)
  • “I didn’t want to fake it till you make it...I’d rather come into it and say, there are things I don’t know and I need you guys to teach me.” (101:52)
  • “Once the actors were sort of comfortable, they trusted them to contribute in the way that they, you know...” (102:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |---|---|---| | 07:08 | Danielle | “That would be a great little short documentary. If we film the three of us going to camp. Theater camp.” | | 09:19 | Will | “The great part about my plan is I’m just going to keep pushing it off until eventually it’s canceled. So that’s the joy.” | | 18:04 | Jason | “My parents thought, you know, okay, this would be a good way to save money for college...then I was five and got a call from the same manager and just started going out.” | | 25:38 | Jason | “I’ve been carrying this nugget for so long.” (Parking lot story) | | 26:11 | Danielle | “So you’re 12 when you book Drexel’s class. How big of a deal is this in the Biggs household?” | | 40:09 | Jason | “Me and David Krumholtz...he would do homework in Act 1, I’d do mine in Act 2. Then curtain call.” (On balancing Broadway and school) | | 44:10 | Jason | “She decided to start working nights so she could take me on auditions.” (On his mother’s sacrifice) | | 53:47 | Jason | “I had to kiss these four actresses...It was my first kiss. Okay?” | | 57:01 | Jason | “You were my first, two, or second, third or fourth...all within about 10 minutes.” | | 69:36 | Jason | “We did it two different ways...Which one of these is going to be funnier?” (Filming the pie scene) | | 71:45 | Jason | “Two thrusts is an R, but three thrusts is an NC-17.” | | 72:44 | Serena (via Ryder’s recounting); Jason | “That was for comedy. Yeah, that was totally fine. If I have to be sexy, that’s a whole different type of pressure.” ... “I always sort of thought, Oh, I’ll do anything for a joke.” | | 74:05 | Jason | “I shot the scene, we did one take...the entire crew burst out laughing...that was the moment...I think this movie’s going to be something.” | | 84:49 | Jason | “I started getting recognized from the [red band] trailer... that was the first time where I...thought, ‘Oh. I think this is not only something special and good, but could be something beyond any of our sort of...’” | | 91:14 | Jason | “There are definitely roles I did not get and continue to not get because I’m Jim in American Pie...but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” | | 94:51 | Jason | “I think if we were to do one right now, it would be, I’m Eugene, Eugene is the grandfather, my son, and then you kind of pass it off to the next generation.” | | 95:04 | Jason | “The only question that I can answer with full confidence is...would I do it? And the answer is, yeah, of course.” | | 101:17 | Jason | “There was never a cockiness...I’m inviting all of you to teach me and show me.” (on the Weitz brothers and directing style) | | 102:55 | Jason | “Once the actors were sort of comfortable, they trusted them to contribute in the way that they, you know...” |

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 09:19 – End of opening banter and scenarios
• 17:28 – Danielle’s intro to Jason Biggs
• 18:04 – Jason on family and entering showbiz
• 24:05 – CBS parking lot revelation
• 26:11 – Booking and loss of Drexel’s Class
• 39:01 – Broadway debut and childhood schedule
• 47:40 – Auditioning for/landing As the World Turns, first on-screen kiss
• 62:23 – American Pie audition
• 69:36–75:12 – Filming the pie scene, comedy/nudity, and ratings
• 82:23 – American Pie release, instant fame
• 87:02 – LA party era, friendship stories
• 91:14 – Pigeonholing and career perspective
• 93:19 – Sequel rumors & generational “Pie” discussion
• 95:47 – Directing “Untitled Home Invasion Romance” and mentors
• 101:17 – Directing philosophy and gratitude

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a warm, candid, irreverent tone—filled with affectionate ribbing, nostalgia, and heartfelt appreciation for their shared histories. Jason comes across as self-effacing, funny, and grateful, with a clear-eyed view of fame’s ups and downs. There are plenty of laughs, industry in-jokes, and moments of real connection between the hosts and Jason.

Conclusion

This rich, highly entertaining episode is as much about the bonds formed among young actors in a unique era as it is about Jason Biggs’s unusual career trajectory. Fans get insight into the realities of child acting, the craziness of late-‘90s Hollywood, and the perennial challenge of typecasting—plus, a peek into what’s next as Jason moves behind the camera. And yes, the pie scene lives on in newly memorable ways.

Notable Call To Action:
Jason’s directorial debut Untitled Home Invasion Romance is available on demand—rent or purchase on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, or YouTube.