Podcrushed Episode Summary: Allison Williams Release Date: July 2, 2025

Hosts: Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, Sophie Ansari
Guest: Allison Williams
Description: Podcrushed delves into the tumultuous journey of adolescence, exploring themes like heartbreak, anxiety, and self-discovery through relatable middle school stories. In this episode, hosts Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, and Sophie Ansari are joined by actress Alison Williams to discuss their formative years, early crushes, and the path that led them to their current careers.

Introduction and Guest Overview

The episode kicks off with energetic introductions, setting the stage for an engaging conversation. The hosts welcome Alison Williams, praising her intelligence, humor, and charisma, highlighting her roles in projects like "Get Out" and "Megan 2.0."

Notable Quote:

Alison Williams: "She's so smart and funny and charismatic. And I just want to say on the record how much I loved that conversation."
(Timestamp: 01:26)

Penn's Middle School Experiences

Penn Badgley shares vivid anecdotes from his middle school days, illustrating the chaos and comedic missteps typical of adolescence. He recounts moments like humorously miscommunicating with teachers and navigating the complexities of interacting with peers.

Notable Quotes:

Penn Badgley: "Every day was almost the beginning of a rom com. And then once it was no longer just me in my bedroom alone with my imagination and my thoughts... It was all just a colossal comedy of errors."
(Timestamp: 04:36)

Penn Badgley: "I enjoy defusing tension with humor. And that's gonna be a coping mechanism that I'll use for my whole life."
(Timestamp: 07:13)

Navigating Friendships and Rules

The conversation delves into the challenges faced by rule-following individuals in middle school, contrasting them with peers who defied norms. Penn reflects on his admiration for older kids and the stress of interacting with those who didn't adhere to established rules.

Notable Quotes:

Penn Badgley: "I think that it's kind of a nature thing... Very curious to see how that brings up in me."
(Timestamp: 15:31)

Penn Badgley: "The cool kids are not following rules... It's the same thing that Amy describes."
(Timestamp: 15:46)

The Smoking Incident

Penn humorously narrates his brief stint with smoking during adolescence, highlighting the fleeting nature of such experiments and the often misguided attempts to appear "cool."

Notable Quotes:

Penn Badgley: "I wore gloves. I had perfume in my pocket that I would spray on my whole body... I blindly smoked those loyally for the entirety of my smoking, which was not very long."
(Timestamp: 16:28)

Alison Williams on Acting and Career Beginnings

Alison Williams shares her journey into acting, emphasizing the influence of early inspirations like Julie Andrews and "The Wizard of Oz." She discusses the support from her parents and the challenges of balancing personal growth with a budding acting career.

Notable Quotes:

Alison Williams: "I had the deal that they were going to be able to afford to send me to college and that after I graduated from college, I'd have their blessing."
(Timestamp: 21:21)

Alison Williams: "I became a mom over the course of making the movie. And with the sequel, I was a producer on it."
(Timestamp: 66:16)

Reflections on Parenthood and Friendship

The hosts transition the conversation to parenthood, discussing how becoming parents has reshaped their friendships and introduced new dynamics. Alison talks about launching her podcast "Landlines" to foster deeper connections and support among mothers.

Notable Quotes:

Alison Williams: "We entered this stage of life kind of staggered, but mostly at the same moment and clung to each other like static electricity."
(Timestamp: 81:05)

Alison Williams: "If everyone who feels so isolated in this experience could have access to this group chat that I found so, like, life-affirming and saved my experience of early motherhood, then I feel like the world would be a little bit better."
(Timestamp: 84:24)

Discussing "Get Out" and "Megan" Projects

Alison delves into her experiences working on "Get Out," highlighting the collaborative process with Jordan Peele and the depth of character development required to portray Rose convincingly. She also touches upon her involvement in the "Megan" sequels, exploring themes of technology and parenting.

Notable Quotes:

Alison Williams: "I had to literally hate everyone... getting myself to that place was like, the closest I've ever taken myself to doing any kind of method acting."
(Timestamp: 60:07)

Alison Williams: "We're putting all of these people and robots in the context of an action movie. And everyone was like, yes, of course, and make it a thriller..."
(Timestamp: 68:31)

Closing Thoughts and Future Endeavors

As the episode winds down, the hosts express their appreciation for Alison's insights and share mutual encouragement for their respective projects. They hint at future topics and express enthusiasm for continued collaboration.

Notable Quotes:

Penn Badgley: "You just save questions."
(Timestamp: 03:11)

Alison Williams: "If I were to go back to 12 year old Allison, what would I say or do? I would give her a hug."
(Timestamp: 85:50)

Conclusion

This episode of Podcrushed offers a heartfelt exploration of middle school experiences, the complexities of adolescence, and the transformative journey into adulthood and parenthood. With candid stories and insightful reflections, Penn, Nava, Sophie, and Alison provide listeners with relatable content that underscores the universal challenges of growing up and forging meaningful connections.

Note: Advertisements and promotional segments within the transcript have been excluded to maintain focus on the core conversational content of the episode.