Pen Badgley (1:23)

Speaking of which. Actually, actually, yeah, actually just a little.

Sophie Ansari (1:26)

Bit of news, A little bit of housekeeping news before we move on. I' lot of messages. People are wondering because David and I are moving to Austin actually this summer, and people are wondering, is the podcast continuing? And it is, because, as you see now, well, Pen doesn't often see, but we are on Zoom most of the time, so we'll be continuing as normal, and then I'll be traveling when we need to. But, yeah, really sad to be not in the same. Not five minutes away from Nava anymore.

Pen Badgley (1:54)

But still thousands of miles away.

Nava Kavilan (1:58)

For me, Yeah, I wooed because I'm happy for Sophie to achieve her dream of having a yard two years ahead of her goal, but I am really sad that she's gonna be so far away.

Sophie Ansari (2:09)

Yeah, but it won't be any different for you.

Megan (2:12)

Listening.

Nava Kavilan (2:12)

For you.

Pen Badgley (2:13)

Yeah. For y' all crushies.

Nava Kavilan (2:14)

Yeah. Yeah. Only I am crushed in this scenario. What you may or may not be crushed about, depending on how much you care about my face, is that you will only be seeing half of it in this episode because I once again mounted my phone improperly, and the Camera angle was all wrong and my face is cut off.

Megan (2:31)

So.

Nava Kavilan (2:32)

Sorry.

Pen Badgley (2:33)

It's funny.

Nava Kavilan (2:34)

Yeah.

Sophie Ansari (2:34)

It is a fun part of these recent episodes. Like, where is Nava's face going to be?

Nava Kavilan (2:38)

Yeah, where's the angle?

Pen Badgley (2:40)

All right, well, you know. Well, you know what? You know, whose face was just front and center this whole time? Who was today's guest? We. This was a really lovely one. I mean, I suppose we say that a lot and every guest is special in our own way, but Bryce Dallas Howard, there's something really magnetic about her. An award winning actor and director who you probably know already from, you know, huge franchises like Jurassic World, Dominion. She's got her epic, epic episode of Black Mirror back in the day. Her first film was the Village from M. Night Shyamalan. She's directed huge things, a documentary of her own called Dads. Also some episodes of the Mandalorian and another doc she has about pets.

Sophie Ansari (3:28)

A few minutes into the episode, she talks about her dad, and we kind of all riff on that, but we never mention who he is, so just in case.

Pen Badgley (3:34)

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Who's her dad?

Nava Kavilan (3:36)

Ron Howard.

Megan (3:38)

Oh. Cause I thought. Oh. Because.

Sophie Ansari (3:41)

Oh.

Pen Badgley (3:44)

Now it makes sense.

Nava Kavilan (3:46)

Wow.

Pen Badgley (3:47)

Now that's why she was on set for Apollo 13. I was really having trouble connecting dots. Anyway, Bryce's newest project is a film called Deep Cover, starring Orlando Bloom and Nick Muhammad. They play improv actors. Need I say more? It's very funny, very charming. We loved chatting with Bryce. We know you will love listening. Don't go anywhere.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (4:09)

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Megan (5:13)

Hi, I'm Megan and I've got a new podcast I think you're going to love. It's called Confessions of a Female Founder. A show where I chat with female entrepreneurs and friends about the sleepless nights, the lessons learned, and the laser focus that got them to where they are today. And through it all, I'm building a business of my own and getting all sorts of practical advice along the way that I am so excited to share with you. Confessions of a Female Founder is out now. Listen wherever you get your podcast.

Pen Badgley (5:50)

So we, so what we do here, we start at 12. That's like, you know, we, we start at 12 because it's a formative time of life for all people. But of course, for performers and artists, it's often when they're starting to really engage in the world in that way, or at least see the world in that way. You know, the bug is calling them. You, you are in a smaller group of people where, you know, it seems as though the bug bit you very early. You come from a family where it, it was an obvious path if you wanted it at least to explore. You know what I mean? So I'm just curious, what was life like for 12 year old Bryce? How did she see the world and what was her day to day life like between home and school?

Megan (6:32)

So I basically, the demarcation of time in my life is, is basically determined by whatever movie my dad was making at the time. So 12 was Apollo 13.

Pen Badgley (6:50)

Wow.

Megan (6:50)

That's.

Pen Badgley (6:52)

I just had like a vision of being in that theater at like 9 years old with my mom. Sorry, that was, that's. Yeah, that's massive.

Megan (6:58)

Wow. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It was really cool. Really, really cool. And it was like, you're saying it's, it was a, it was certainly a formative time because I was kind of as a person. I took a long time to come online sort of. I was really introverted and just quiet into myself and had some learning disabilities that were really confusing for people because they were like, she's testing really high here and she's testing really low here and we don't understand. And when I was 12, I had just gone through a bunch of tests of which many I scored very low, but there were some areas where I scored really high. And so I was able to enroll in a program that was in the summer. That was like school in the summer, but not because you missed school, but it's like you get to take college classes and stuff like that. It was at Vassar College. And so for me, that year was a big deal because I started to understand what my strengths were intellectually and what my interests were. And then in terms of Apollo 13, we all moved out to Los Angeles for that. I was raised mostly in New York, and I got to be on set as, like, an. Like an intern, basically. And Colin Hanks was on set as a PA. He was 16, and he was working his butt off. He was working really, really, really, really hard. And they sort of, like, assigned me to him. And I had had a crush on Colin for so long. So, like, my whole life. My whole life. Like, just any time that I encountered him, I was like, oh, my God, now that's a man. And so. And so when I was there, I basically was like. I became like his, like, little buddy. They were like, yeah, Bryce can, like, help Colin out, who's, you know, actually doing real things. And so I would sort of take down the lunch orders and all of that, but. Oh, man, oh, man. There was just. Yeah, there was no chance, no shot. I was pretty. Like, I was braced face, and I had bangs then, but I hadn't figured out the cowlicks and how to kind of wrangle them.

Nava Kavilan (9:34)

And do you think your dad or his dad knew about the crush or Colin?

Megan (9:39)

I. I mean, my dad knew for sure. For sure. I don't think his dad knew, and I don't think he knew, but. But, but, yeah. No, no, my dad totally knew.

Nava Kavilan (9:52)

That's really sweet.

Pen Badgley (9:53)

That is so cute. It's also kind of answering one of our classic questions, too, because we. We always ask, like, what's a. What's a Your first love or first heartbreak? And it sounds like that's it.

Megan (10:04)

Yeah, I mean, Colin was a really. He was a really big crush. A really, really, really big crush. But I was. I did something that. That I wish everybody could experience. And I'm sure a lot of people argue with me on this, but I decided that I wasn't going to date anyone until I was 18.

Sophie Ansari (10:25)

You decided yourself?

Pen Badgley (10:26)

Wow.

Megan (10:27)

Yeah. Yeah. And I'm also. I'm like this, like. I'm a little bit rigid. Like, I've never had a sip of alcohol my entire life. I was just sort of like, nope. You know? And so with. With the. With the dating thing and heartbreak thing, I mean, I genuinely may have had my heart bruised, but really never, never broken. Because I didn't start dating until I was. Until I was 18. And at that point, and I got together with my husband when I was 19. Wow.

Pen Badgley (11:00)

Where do you think that comes from? I mean, some of it is, of course, nature, but then, I mean, what aspect of it is nurture or environment?

Megan (11:08)

My mom is a very. She's sort of like very unapologetically herself. She was really. Her and my dad met when they were 16. They just had their 50 year wedding anniversary yesterday. Oh, my gosh.

Sophie Ansari (11:22)

Congratulations to them. That's incredible.

Megan (11:26)

And she was. When they went on their first date when they were 16, she had already soloed a plane by herself. She was managing a gun range on her own. She was single dad, so she was raising her younger sisters and also kind of taking care of her dad, who was a scientist. And so she was just very adventurous and capable. She. She was upset that there weren't. She's really athletic, that there weren't proper sports for girls, just cheerleading. And so she cut her hair and called herself Charlie and joined the football team. Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness. And then when they found out that she was a girl, they were like.

Pen Badgley (12:12)

I didn't know that could actually happen.

Sophie Ansari (12:14)

I know, that's funny. That's a plot of many things.

Megan (12:17)

She did that.

Sophie Ansari (12:17)

She's the man.

Megan (12:18)

She did that. Exactly. And so. But. But then when she got kicked off of that, she started a track team. So she started. She was like, okay, can I. Like, we need a different sports option here other than cheerleading. And so she started the track team. So that was who my dad kind of fell in love with. And she's never been. She loves stories, she's a writer, all of that. But she's not at all interested in sort of like the industry in a classic sense, and isn't ambitious in terms of any of that. Like, early on, 15 years ago, started telling my dad was like, you've gotta spend more time on TV sets because all this time that they give you to shoot, that's gonna go away real soon. You're gonna need to be able to keep up and you're gonna need to be able to shoot things that are not the budget that you're used to. And so, like 15 years ago, my dad started like visiting TV sets and all of that. And so she's very. She's savvy, but she's. But she's like, it's not something that is really important to her. Like, what's important to her is sort of like living life and, you know, and she definitely has this sense of certainty about her that is unique.

Nava Kavilan (13:35)

Bryce, do you remember how old you were when you decided not to date until you were 18, before high school.

Megan (13:43)

My first kiss was when I was 15 at Stagedoor Manor. I did, like, a performing arts summer camp, and that was a lovely scenario. Didn't ultimately work out, not because of anything other than he's gay. So it was, like, lovely. Like, everything was great. Honestly, everything. Everything was so great. And. But I. So I had that experience. I was like, okay, I want. It was. You know, I wanted, like, kiss, kiss a boy. But. But I just. I was not. It was before high school. I was just like, I don't want to get in any drama. I also never once ate lunch in the lunchroom in high school. I went to public high school, and I never once went into the lunchroom. Where did you eat all of high school? There was a. Like, an alcove that I would go and, like, and. And eat in, or I would go hang out with Mr. Scotch, who was like, my. He was my English teacher, and he was, like my best friend. And. And, yeah, it was the best. And so. And we're still totally in touch. So I would go. I would go eat with him a lot, and he wouldn't. I was terrible, terrible eater. And so he used to keep clementines in his office, and I wasn't allowed to come in until I ate a clementine because I would, like, come in with, like, two bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches and, like, two cookies and two chocolate milks. And I was like, that's the lunch. And he's like, you're going to die of scurvy. That's what he would say.

Sophie Ansari (15:23)

I do want to Hear more about Mr. Scotch. I know that he. He showed, like, he was able to see through your learning disability at a time when it seemed other people weren't. But I had one question related to.

Megan (15:34)

You're well researched, so, my goodness. Whoa, Whoa.

Sophie Ansari (15:40)

But I had a question related to that about before you met Mr. Scotch, before you had a mentor who could kind of see through that, how were your parents helping you think about your experience with your learning disability? Were they talking to you about it? Did they help you feel some confidence around it? What was that like?

Megan (15:59)

No, it was really confusing for them. They didn't really. I was always, like, a sweet kid and an affable kid, but they weren't quite sure what was registering and what wasn't registering. And then I would sort of go with the flow, so it was like, okay, that's fine. But as I got a little bit older, like, I remember my. My dad would always say, He. He was like, you know what you would be so great at is you should, like. You should go and, like, work at, like, Banana Republic or Gap, and you can, like, open the door for people, and you have such a wonderful smile, and, like, people will, like, want to come into the store because you're there. And I was like. I was like, oh, cool. And he was like, yeah, you should apply to. To, like, go and do some sort of internship there or something. And. And I worked at a. On the weekends starting in ninth grade, I. I worked at a little deli, and I would do, like, the cash register and all of that. And I can. I remember my parents being, like, impressed that I was able to do that. And it was. It was because in ninth grade, my English class was English for a Second Language, and I don't speak a second language. And so it just. There weren't really. There wasn't really the structure. I mean, listen, I'm kind of private about this, but I. But so, like, I have been properly diagnosed, and I'm on the autism spectrum. Okay. And so it's. That's something that. It is confusing for parents because. And especially girls growing up, you know, in the 80s and 90s, they didn't think that that was possible. And. And so it was just like. Yeah, so ninth grade, that was. That was. That. And then I had kind of the right structure and support and just sort of, like, came into my own. And. And senior year, I won the English award. So it was really. It was. It was, you know, definitely a journey. And even still now, my parents still talk about it. They were like. It was just. You were such a mystery, and you're still such a mystery and the things that you're into and the things that you do, and they think you're still things that you learn about. Yeah, that's how. Yeah. Yeah, I'm still a mystery, Dev, because I get into things and then, like, I'm finishing a fine arts program right now. I'll graduate in October. And, like, I had never drawn or done anything before a couple of years ago, and I just got into some watercolors, and then I was like. Like, it was just, like, intense. And. And so. And then it was like, okay, well, it can't stop here until I do, like, you know, fine art drawing and oil painting and mixed media and all of that. And so they. They're just. They're sort of. I. I think I'm. My dad understands me a lot more. I think I'm. I'm a little perplexing. Yeah, I was a little perplexing to my mom for a little while, for sure.

Pen Badgley (19:16)

Were you maybe as you were entering and coming through adolescence, did you think maybe you were gonna be a writer? More than anything. That's what it sounds like.

Megan (19:24)

Possibly. You know what's really funny? So lol and Boblu, these guys, lol Ganz and Bablu Mandel, these great writers. They wrote Parenthood. They wrote League of Their Own. They wrote, like, so many, so many of the splash, so many of the movies that my dad did and kind of like launched my dad's career as a filmmaker because of everything that they wrote. And they all had kids around the same time. And we would all go to this, like, Gymboree thing, like this, like, you know, play area, and their kids would be playing and all of this. And I would just be kind of, like, standing there. And LOL and Bobalu could see them. My dad was always super stressed about it, and they were like, don't worry, Ron. She's just a writer. She's just a writer. She's just not, like. She's just not in it. Like, I used to. I would never, never participate in recess. I would circle the yard and I would do the ABCs in sign language. And it was great. Like, it was great childhood with a very deep internal life. And then there was a tree that I would call my thinking tree. And I would go and sit on the tree. I was, like, removed from all the children. And maybe it seemed a little strange, but I really liked it.

Nava Kavilan (20:53)

Stick around. We'll be right back.

Pen Badgley (20:59)

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Erica Mahoney (25:10)

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Nava Kavilan (26:25)

You have talked about a friend, Moet.

Megan (26:29)

I don't know if that's how you say Moet Hashimoto. Yeah.

Nava Kavilan (26:31)

And you've described her as like your soulmate. And I would love to hear more about that friendship, what it meant to you growing up, but also how you've managed to nourish it and keep it into adulthood. Because I've had a hard time kind of keeping friendships into adulthood.

Megan (26:44)

Yeah. The only Reason why it's really sustained into adulthood is because Moet is awesome and patient with me because just like, you know, it is hard to kind of like, sustain those relationships, especially if you're not. If you're not like a social person that, like, goes to coffee or meets up for things. Like, I always sort of need like a little bit of, like, an activity or something like that. And so. And so I give Moet all the credit in the world. We went to high school together. I remember, like, seeing her cross a room and being like, oh, my God, I want to be friends with her. And she just seemed so. She just had this aura of profound kindness. And so, yeah, so she. We became best friends and I would go to her house every day after school and. And kind of just stay there. And her parents, they live in Japan full time and they were in the States while she was being raised, but moved back to Japan right after when she went to college. And so we're sort of like, whenever I visit Japan, like, the Hashimoto family is my family and the Howard family is Moet's family in the States. Like, for sure, for sure, for sure.

Pen Badgley (28:13)

It sounds like you have really rich relationships in your life. That's kind of maybe a bit of a weird thing to say. And I don't know if that's the way you feel, but that's, you know, it's a beautiful thing.

Megan (28:26)

I think the richness of the relationships have to do with the duration of the relationships as well. Like, Moet and I became best friends when we were 15. One of my husband and I have been together since we were 19. His best friend since kindergarten is Josh Gad. And so Josh is. Do you know Josh?

Pen Badgley (28:48)

No.

Megan (28:49)

Well, we've just met, but no, I don't know. You'll love Josh. You'll love Josh. You'll love him. He's a blast. And so, you know, he's the godfather of our kids. And I think my parents were like that, you know, they. They didn't have many friends, but the friends that they have are like their friends from high school or their friends from. Like my dad did Happy Days when he was in high school. So it's like, it's like. Like Henry Winkler are my parents, like, you know, essentially childhood friend, even even though it was in a professional setting that they met.

Sophie Ansari (29:31)

How did you meet your husband Seth? At 19.

Megan (29:37)

So I saw him similar but different from Moet. I saw him across the room and I was like, aha. And I was with one of my friends at the Time. And I actually. I broke into hives. And my friend was like, what just happened? And I was like, that boy. Look at that boy. And I went, aw, that's so Sweet.

Sophie Ansari (30:00)

Finally past 18.

Megan (30:02)

Exactly, exactly. And I went home and I wrote in my journal, I met the man I'm gonna marry. And I still have that journal. And then the real work began because I had to stalk him. Now I'm being kind of facetious because stalking is a serious thing and nobody should stalk anybody else. But I did. Like, I kind of. I did with his. He was aware. He was aware that I was interested. And I made a point of. We had a lot of friends in common. And like, one of my friends had like a picture of him on their fridge and I, like, took it. I was just like, he's so handsome. And there was a party that I heard that he was gonna be at, and it was a party in Brooklyn. We went to nyu and it was an annulment party because two of our friends who were queer went to Atlantic City and got married and then were doing an annulment party. And so I was like. And I never went. That's nyu. I know.

Sophie Ansari (31:22)

Totally experience.

Megan (31:23)

Totally early aughts, of course. And I never ever went out to parties, like, ever, ever, ever, ever. But I heard that he was gonna be there and so I was like, okay, I'm gonna go. What does one wear to an annulment party in Brooklyn? And I was like, naturally, my prom dress. I wore my prom dress. And I walked into, my friend was like. One of my friends was like, oh, and here's Bryce in the most beautiful dress in the world. It was like a summer party. Like, people were in, like, cut off shorts and like, tank tops. And it was all ironic, all ironic. But I just didn't get the memo. And I thought I. I flirted with him mercilessly, but he said that I was just a little weird. I. Yeah, I seemed a little intense. He, like, went home with someone else that day. At the party. I was nothing. And then I went and saw him in a play and I was like, oh, my God, he's just so good. And I couldn't. I couldn't get him out of my head that night. So I went and watched a midnight showing of Hannibal by myself. An amazing story. And then after Hannibal, it was like 2am and I was like, I just. I have to make this happen now. So I called one of my friends who had his number and she was like, hello? Like, it was 2am and I was like, can you get me. It was my friend Mary. I was like, mary, can you. Can I have Seth's number? And she was like, okay, I know you're not drunk dialing me because you don't drink, but I still need you to promise me that you're not gonna call him until tomorrow. And I was like, absolutely, I will not call him until tomorrow. She gives me his number. I call him immediately.

Sophie Ansari (33:00)

You're like, it's already tomorrow.

Megan (33:01)

Yes, exactly. And so I left a message on his voice memo or actually on his home machine. And the message was like, hi, I'm Bryce. I'm a redhead. I don't know if you remember me. We have a lot of friends in common. I'd love to hang out sometime. That would be so great. I would love that. And he didn't call me back. And then I later found out that his roommate at the time is someone who I knew who I had done some classes with. His name is Dane. And Dane listened to my message, and Dane was like, seth, I heard Bryce left this message on our machine. Like, you should hang out with her. She's cool. And he's like, she seems kind of intense. And Dane was like, no, no, no, no, no, no. You got it. Like, you should. You should go out with her.

Pen Badgley (33:52)

It's also not. Not true, but you can be many things.

Megan (33:55)

You can be many things. So I go out with him, and it, like, we hit it off, and it's great. And I later became. I became writing partners with Dane for six years, and then I set him up with my sister, and they're married and they have three kids.

Pen Badgley (34:17)

Wow.

Megan (34:17)

So I owed him. I owed him one for sure.

Sophie Ansari (34:21)

Oh, my God. What an incredible story.

Nava Kavilan (34:24)

I think this is my favorite story.

Pen Badgley (34:26)

There's just something. I don't know if I'm like, you seem to have, like, a more incredible life and to be more interesting than any character you could ever play.

Nava Kavilan (34:36)

Yeah.

Pen Badgley (34:37)

There's just the quality of every story you're telling. I'm like, wow.

Nava Kavilan (34:41)

Yeah.

Pen Badgley (34:41)

That really sounds amazing.

Megan (34:44)

That makes me feel really good. I mean, I'm just. I'm a lot. I'm a lot.

Nava Kavilan (34:49)

In the best way. In the best way.

Megan (34:52)

Thank you.

Nava Kavilan (34:52)

I love that. Thank you so much for sharing that. That's really. That's so uplifting. I really love hearing that.

Pen Badgley (34:58)

Yeah.

Nava Kavilan (34:59)

We ask everyone a question about middle school, which is to share an embarrassing or awkward memory. I don't know if you. If you have anything that stands out to you that you wouldn't mind sharing.

Pen Badgley (35:09)

I think A lot of these classify. I think they're like. They're great. They've got so many levels. But please, please give us more.

Megan (35:17)

I have some. I have some. I have many. I have so many. Too many to count. We all do. But one that occurred to me was when I was 14. Does this qualify being 14? Totally. Okay, 14 when I was 14. This is a very weird thing that this even happened. The school that I went to, before I went to public school, this is one of the reasons why I went to public school for high school. I was like, I think I'm done with private schools for a little bit. I went to a private school for lower school and middle school, and there was a class trip arranged. And this was in the 90s, probably 90. What would it be? 95, 96? 95. And the class trip was to Russia. And I think one of our teachers.

Pen Badgley (36:16)

You mean. Do you mean the.

Megan (36:19)

The country? Russia.

Pen Badgley (36:21)

Your class trip was to Russia.

Sophie Ansari (36:23)

Classic. Private school.

Megan (36:25)

Moscow. Moscow. Moscow.

Sophie Ansari (36:29)

Everyone else is going to dc.

Megan (36:30)

Exactly.

Pen Badgley (36:31)

I swore. I misunderstood.

Megan (36:33)

I was like, we also did dc. We also did dc.

Nava Kavilan (36:36)

What was the.

Megan (36:37)

Not all of us did DC because of what I'm about to tell you. Okay, so we go to Russia and, like, the first night, all the kids figure out that the drinking age is 14, and they go absolutely berserk, like, to a degree that is so terrifying. I'm the only one that doesn't drink. I'm the only one on this entire trip that didn't drink.

Nava Kavilan (37:11)

Wow.

Megan (37:12)

A kid, like, shaved his head with, like, a. Like a razor that you would shave your legs with. And it was like, there were, like, scabs everywhere. There was, like a girl that locked herself in a bathroom with, like, pills at one point. And it was just. The whole thing was. Was just. It was.

Pen Badgley (37:29)

Was it absinthe?

Megan (37:31)

Why?

Pen Badgley (37:31)

This sounds like it was more than.

Megan (37:32)

Just honestly, 14 year olds on alcohol for the first time, potentially. Where are the teachers? So it was very intense. And I was just like, just get through this first night. It's gonna be okay. The next day we went and visited a local school. And so the next day, everybody apart from me is incredibly hungover. But they're not wanting to let the teachers know that anything is happening. So. So we're there. And we also want to be like, we're being hosted, you know, like, we want to be like American kids in Russia. Exactly, exactly. And it's, like, instantly embarrassing because, like, all the. All the kids in the school are, like, trilingual and, you know, I mean, like, it's, like, incredibly. Incredibly impressive intellectually and, you know, very. Very gracious and respectful. And we. It. It's arranged for us to play a basketball game. And so I'm like, okay, we're playing a basketball game, and people are really dragging. And this kid, the kid that had shaved his head and had, like, this bloody head in the middle of the basketball game just comes up to me and goes. And throws up all. No. Over me. And I was just like.

Pen Badgley (38:49)

I can only imagine what the Russian parents were thinking. They're like, these fucking Americans.

Megan (38:52)

I know. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. They're like, you don't be sorry. I'm like, I'm. No, I'm sorry on behalf of all these drunkards.

Pen Badgley (39:04)

What's wrong with him?

Megan (39:05)

Honestly. Honestly. And so the trip ended, and it was a big deal because every single person had to be brought into the principal's office, and they had to be. They were asked, you know, did you drink? And the answer for everyone apart from me was yes. And so I go in and they're like, bryce, did you drink? And I was like, no, I promise, no. And they were like. They all laughed, and they're like, we know you didn't. They're like, you were the only one. So all of those kids got suspended from the Washington, D.C. trip. So I basically went with, like, the five kids who weren't able to go on the Russia trip to D.C. that year.

Nava Kavilan (39:48)

Wow. Oh, my gosh.

Megan (39:49)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that was. I was. I was very. I was very. I don't. I don't get embarrassed easily, but I was very embarrassed collectively for everyone, especially being the person who was vomited on.

Nava Kavilan (40:04)

Yeah.

Megan (40:05)

In the basketball game.

Sophie Ansari (40:06)

How did you have that kind of, like, to be the single. Not, like, one of five kids who you could kind of, like, you know, band together and be like. Yeah, look at them. Like, they're doing this crazy thing, and we don't want to participate. But for you to be the only person, like, how do you think you withstood that, like, social pressure that I'm imagining was there? Seems like you didn't feel it, but.

Megan (40:27)

Can you tell me what it was?

Pen Badgley (40:28)

It might have been the kid bleeding from his head. That might have been the thing.

Megan (40:33)

Yeah, there was no. I. The peer pressure thing is it's not a thing that really resonates or I haven't been kind of, like, put in a scenario where I've really felt like, oh, I've got it. I've just got to do this Thing.

Pen Badgley (40:54)

I just want everybody to know that she just described life as a circumstance where she doesn't ever really feel like she's in a position to be put in peer pressure. That's, like.

Sophie Ansari (41:02)

That's amazing.

Megan (41:03)

It's amazing.

Pen Badgley (41:05)

I was earlier gonna ask if, like, you know, at some point, it was, like, a natural thing. I was like, well, do you admire your father? Your father must admire you.

Nava Kavilan (41:13)

Yeah.

Megan (41:14)

Oh, my God, that's so sweet. I mean, he's. I've got plenty of things that are not admirable about me, like, plenty and plenty. And I do admire him. My God, he's an impeccable human. The peer pressure thing is just. I sort of. I made a decision about, like, I'm not gonna do this. And so the. The banter with people about, like, oh, are you gonna do this? Was like, no. No, I'm not. I'm not. No, I'm really not. Like, no, I'm not gonna eat in the lunchroom. It's too stimulating. Like, I'm not gonna. Like, I spoke at graduation and at my high school graduation. I, like, literally my entire speech was about, like, not being in the lunchroom. Oh. It's a place where it's, like, a big, grand experiment where we're all put together in a building and it's like. Like, let's see what happens, honestly. So the. I do feel peer pressure in terms of, like, not not wanting to, like, make a mistake or not wanting to, like, be an idiot or I should go to the thing for the thing to be respectful. Like, that's all peer pressure, and that's all very real, but sort of the feeling pressured to do something that you know you shouldn't do. I was. I. My identity was so much about. I don't break rules. Like, I will not jaywalk. I will not jaywalk.

Pen Badgley (42:45)

Even in New York. No.

Megan (42:46)

Nope.

Pen Badgley (42:47)

What?

Megan (42:48)

No.

Pen Badgley (42:49)

In New York City.

Megan (42:51)

In New York City. Wow, that's amazing. I will not. And it's, you know, charming once and then annoying the rest of the time to, like, everybody in my life. I believe that, but I just do not. Like, the few times. There was one time I took a picture of it where the signs were, like, both on at the same time, and I was like, what am I supposed to do with this information? What do I do?

Pen Badgley (43:17)

So anyway, I can't get enough of these stories.

Nava Kavilan (43:20)

This is so great, Bryce. We have to transition into your career, but it's hard to do because you're. You're. You've, like, been on sets. No, but I mean, you've, like, been on sets your whole life. I guess you started in theater. So maybe you can help us sort of like, what do you consider the pivotal moment that was like, a professional transition for you?

Megan (43:38)

Yeah, yeah, it was definitely. It was. It was doing theater. I went to nyu and I did a play at NYU that a lot of people called the Naked Play. I was naked on stage for like 45 minutes. Not like 45 minutes. 45 minutes, literally. And from that, got an agent who was an assistant at the time. And then I was with her for like 20 years. Now she's a manager. Wonderful lady. And so from that, I started auditioning, but I didn't want to leave school. And so it was just kind of theater, Theater stuff. And then. And then eventually, after a very, very long time, I got. I got a theater job at. At the Manhattan Theater Club. And then there was sort of like a year and a half where things. I took a leave of absence from school and things kind of overlapped. So while I was performing at mtc, I was then rehearsing during the day for. There was a Broadway show that I did, Tartuffe at the Roundabout. And then when I was performing that, then I was rehearsing for a regional show for Our Town. And then the last show in that kind of like, string of shows was as yous like it at the Public Theater. And that was a career defining moment in a huge way, because M. Night Shyamalan saw that play and then cast me in the Village, which was my first movie. So that was a really, really, really, really lucky break. Very lucky break.

Nava Kavilan (45:15)

It's incredible that your first movie was like a lead role. And he's like, so hot at the time. And it's an incredible movie.

Pen Badgley (45:21)

And Joaquin and you, I mean, everybody's like, so phenomenal in it.

Megan (45:25)

My God, guys. I had the biggest crush on Joaquin Phoenix when I was seven years old, and he was Leaf Phoenix and he was in Fahrenhood, and it was insane being like, oh, you want me to play a character who's, like, been in love with this guy like, her whole life? Sure, no problem.

Nava Kavilan (45:42)

Easy.

Megan (45:44)

No problem. BDH crushes hard on a movie set. As a child, that was very, I mean, incredibly courageous of Night to cast me. And he was really supportive. And, you know, lots of rehearsals and all the actors were like, what Penn said. It was like, you know, Joaquin Phoenix and Adrien Brody right after he won an Oscar.

Pen Badgley (46:14)

That's right. That's right.

Megan (46:15)

William Hurt and Sigourney Weaver and just you know, just Brendan Gleason. Just an unbelievable group of people. So very magical.

Sophie Ansari (46:26)

You were in, I mean, one of, I think, the most iconic Black Mirror episodes. Nosedive. I mean, I think about that episode all the time, and I feel like it's just becoming more and more. It was released in 2016, but it's just becoming more and more relevant. But as a mother, my daughter's only 18 months old, so I have a while to think about it. But it does start pretty early, like engagement with social media and technology. And I'm curious how you have approached that yourself as a mother.

Megan (46:59)

Yeah, no, that's really been a thing. I think that doing that episode, which I love doing that episode is directed by Joe Wright, who did Atonement and Pride and Prejudice and Darkest Hour. And, I mean, he's just Cyrano recently. Just such a beautiful, beautiful filmmaker. And so, you know, I felt very lucky to be in that. And I had only joined. Talk about peer pressure. I'd only joined social media two weeks prior to doing the episode. I was like a very, very, very, very late adopter in terms of that. Never had, like, MySpace or Friendster or any of those things. And I joined it, and it was very informative. That was intentional. I was like, oh, wow. My life just went from idyllic to a hellscape. How interesting that you buy something and then your life becomes this and you're trapped, but you think it's a gift. So it was very. It was kind of like a good. A good moment for that. As a parent, I was really, really, really, really strict. And then as they. They're 18 and 13 now, and as they got older, I realized I was like, oh, man. What's so cool is I've got this episode. I can show them that, where I can, like, you know, just properly traumatize them before they endeavor upon a relationship.

Pen Badgley (48:38)

This is Mommy on social media.

Megan (48:39)

If you want to be like this, like, 1,000%, 1,000%. Like, my kids call me Mumsy, and. And I was like, mumsy has a movie to show you. So sick. So sick. So. So that was my. That was my role for them. I also. I did it. I did a TED Talk as well a few years ago about preserving your private life, you know, while living in public, which we're all doing now. We all have public lives. And so that was sort of my mandate for my kids. I was like, before you have a cell phone, you need to watch the Black Mirror episode. You need to watch the TED Talk. And then we need to have a sit down and kind of figure out some boundaries and all of that. And, you know, it's a mess for everybody at all times, but it's, it definitely. I think it gives me a little bit of an advantage as a parent being able to be like, see this thing here? Like, I can't be the lady who's in that episode and is also just letting my kid go down the drain. Like, I can't. I can't.

Sophie Ansari (49:45)

No, that's a great curriculum just to start off with. That's what I'll do. Black Mirror, TED Talk, and then we'll get you on the phone.

Megan (49:57)

I don't know. I mean, I. God, it's, it's, it's crazy time. It's, it's hard. It's. It's, it's tricky.

Sophie Ansari (50:07)

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Pen Badgley (53:55)

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Nava Kavilan (55:15)

Bryce, you have a new movie out shortly next week. I think Deep Cover. The premise is so fun. The movie is so fun. And I'm curious if there was any actual improvisation that made it into the film or did you guys kind of follow the script pretty strictly? Can you tell us about that?

Megan (55:33)

So the premise of the movie, Deep Cover, it's an action comedy, a British action comedy. I'm the only American in it. And it's about a group of improv actors who get recruited to do low level sting operations for the Met Police in London. And because the central tenant of improv is. Yes. And they keep getting kind of like drawn deeper and deeper and deeper into this criminal underground empire and getting more and more and more in trouble. So it's very, it's very fun. Especially it's fun to play an actor. And then you get to like, you know, as an actor, make fun of actors. Like, that's a very juicy thing to do, particularly, like, something about the characters. So I play basically someone who's like a failed actor who's a teacher, an improv teacher in the uk. She comes from Chicago and she has this. She gets recruited and she needs to bring like two other like, operatives. And she's got like, her like two other star students who get agents. So she ends up recruiting her two worst students. One is a method actor played by Orlando Bloom. And he is so brilliant. Because anyone who knows anything about improv, it is the opposite of being a method actor. Like, it's all about just like being present and listening to your partner and, and just not trying to sort of get out of your head, you know. And being a method actor is like a very kind of. There's a lot of rumination and it's very internal and you're really kind of thinking through what you're wanting to do and whatnot. And so Orlando was absolutely hilarious as that. And then Nick Muhammad, who's a fantastic comedian, he was on Ted Lasso. Just so, so, so, so, so good. And, and he plays a guy who's like, you know, insecure at work and, and doesn't have any friends. And so he signs up for these classes.

Pen Badgley (57:40)

He's brilliant, that guy. I love him.

Megan (57:41)

He's so funny. Brilliant. So he. He signs up for these classes to. To gain some confidence. And so just the long winded answer to your question is the script was written by these guys who are really famous improv comedy duo in the uk. Ben Ashton and Alexander Owen. They're called the Pin. They performed on the West End for years. They are brilliant. So they improvised their way into a script that was so tight and so funny. It was like, how can we improve upon this? And yet they played the detectives in the movie. Like, the writers, they were the detectives. So they were there constantly. And they had worked with the director, Tom Kingsley, a ton. And so we would do a lot of improv to kind of like find our way into a scene. And sometimes there would be things that would stay in the cut. But honestly, I mean, Orlando improv some stuff that's definitely in there. But Nick, Nick. Nick was the improv winner, like, no question about it. And so that was very fun. So we didn't need to, but we did. It was fun. And mostly the stuff that survived was Nick.

Nava Kavilan (58:54)

That's really cool. Yeah, I was gonna say, I feel like I can't think of any time I've seen Orlando bloom. I don't even think of him as comedy. I think of him as so much action. So it was so fun to see him kind of in this role.

Megan (59:05)

And wasn't he kind of a revelation?

Nava Kavilan (59:08)

Yeah, completely. And I also haven't seen him in anything in a while, so it was just like, I mean, you were all amazing. But Orlando did kind of. It was like, wow, that this is so cool to see him. And kind of like, let loose. It was so fun.

Megan (59:18)

Oh, no. He pops in a big way in this movie.

Nava Kavilan (59:22)

I think his fans are gonna love him in this. Yeah, but you're all.

Megan (59:25)

They're gonna go nuts. Cause he basically plays like three different characters because he's this method actor who's then going undercover as this other character. And then you learn his real backstory, which is very endearing. And. And so it's. I mean, it was like, you know, we're doing this comedy and it's fun and it's light and we're all having A good time, and so is Orlando. But, my God, he definitely had the most intensive job because he was like, so when I come into the scene, am I Roach, am I Marlon, or am I Tristan? Like, oh, my God, this is too much. Then the Oscar goes to Orlando Bloom. It's pretty astonishing.

Nava Kavilan (60:09)

So amazing. Bryce, you're also a director. You've directed several things. I'm curious. I mean, there's so much to choose from. But I guess Star wars, we should probably talk about that. There's such a huge fan base, and I think you yourself are a lifelong fan, and I'm wondering if, being a lifelong fan, if you notice if that impacted the way that you directed Star wars versus other things that you've directed or for the. If it kind of translates in the same way.

Megan (60:38)

Well, something that I've kind of realized in my life is that. Is that my enthusiasm is my superpower. So when I'm doing something, I get pretty enthusiastic about it, no matter what it is. And it's. I mean, it's genuine. Like, I don't get enthusiastic. We believe you. Believe everything.

Pen Badgley (60:58)

We definitely believe you. It's clear. That's what I'm saying. It's amazing.

Megan (61:03)

Yeah. No, it's wonderful. But I get very, very, very excited. And so it's. Star wars is very, very exciting, but so is directing a sheep for a VW commercial. You know, like, it's all interviewing kids for a pets documentary. You know, I love all of it. What's interesting for me about Star wars is that I actually. I don't have this sort of classic relationship that most folks have to the movies, because, like, normally you. Like with Jurassic, for instance, like, I watched Jurassic in the theaters when I was 12, opening weekend, and I cried when I saw the visual effects because I knew that cinema had changed forever. Like, I was like, oh, my God, it's real dinosaurs. Like, I was like, I was incredibly moved. And so that I became a fan of Jurassic through being an audience member. I became a fan of Star wars because I love George Lucas and grew up with George. George cast my dad in American Graffiti when he was 17 years old. My mom was around them. George is 10 years older. He's always been an incredible mentor to. To my dad. Almost like he's like a big brother to him. And getting to be on the way my memory works is, like, I remember things like, it happened as an adult. Like, there's not like, this sort of, like, oh, this was when I was a kid, and this was when I was adult. Like, it's just sort of all the same. And so being on this set of. And I have a pretty strong memory. And so being on the set of Willow, for instance, where George was there, like, that was just. That was so vivid. And seeing the way that he worked and seeing the way he supported my dad and the visual effects that were able to, I mean, be invented on that show, like morphing was invented on Willow. And then just like being at Skywalker Ranch and all that kind of stuff and seeing the posters and just, just seeing George's passion and dedication and the ways in which he was always so collaborative and inclusive and bringing people in to these extraordinary worlds that he would create, I just fell in love with it. And then I went to Stage Door Manor for summer camp and Natalie Portman was going there. And shortly after that, she started working on Star wars. And she did the prequels and all that was pretty confidential, but she was 15. You need some friends around. And so when she was doing that, she was 15. She turned 16 on the shoot. Yeah.

Pen Badgley (64:12)

Wow. If you would have asked me in my memory, I would have thought like, at least 20. That's crazy.

Megan (64:15)

No, she was 15 years old. 15 years old. And it was also like, I mean, she's such a pro and so brilliant and can do anything. For me, what I was observing is like, she was a 15 year old and when she turned 16. The laws are different in the UK and so you work according to adult hours, but if you're still doing school, you're doing adult hours and you're still doing school. And if you're Natalie Portman, you're like on your way to Harvard. So it's serious, you know what I mean? Like, it's very. It's very serious. And I don't know how she juggled it all, but getting to. Getting to be there and to be around that and to see George shooting and digital filmmaking, it was such a big deal and just like rooting for it, you know, and excited about it. And. And so when my dad stepped in to do solo, I asked to shadow, which took a little while to convince him that that was an okay thing. And I would be in some of the meetings and he would be kind of shocked because they would show characters and I would be like, wait, Darth Maul, but how does he have legs? And my dad would be like, like, how do you know about this? I was like, well, but I was there that day, you know, so it was just sort of the. The world just was. Was around.

Pen Badgley (65:48)

You're a part of that world, it sounds like.

Megan (65:50)

Actually, I can't say a part of it because I. But. But you were.

Pen Badgley (65:58)

You weren't happening. I mean, you were just. You were. You were there.

Megan (66:02)

I was around you.

Pen Badgley (66:03)

It's interesting that it's like it's somehow intrinsic to your directorhood or you just. There's something happening there that's like. It's just not an average relationship to it at all.

Megan (66:14)

Yeah, it's very, very, very, very fortunate. So the fact that I am able. I mean, I love directing and love directing on Star wars, and I love working for Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. Love those guys. Oh, my God. Like, Jon Favreau is the most incredible mentor as a director. Oh, my God. And Dave Filoni has really taught me everything that I know about Star Wars. And Dave's ethos is to really always go back to George, like, understand what George's influences were, like, understand what went into the recipe that is Star Wars. Because when you understand that, then you're gonna be able to make choices from a more informed place. And so it's just. It's been many years getting to work on those shows, and I just. I adore it if you boil it.

Pen Badgley (67:17)

Down to the essence of what Star wars is for you, because I actually, you know, I happen to not be a massive Star wars fan. I'm not that knowledgeable of the whole world, but of course, it's. I'm in the minority there. So I'm curious. I know that it has some deeply philosophical and spiritual principles kind of at its core. I'm curious, what is that core to you as you understand it and as you apply it as a director?

Megan (67:44)

The thing that's cool about Star wars from my perspective is that it seems like, at least from. If you think about it from a place of genre, there's something for everyone. There are, like, George's influences were spaghetti westerns, Kurosawa, Flash Gordon. So there's a real, like. If you like. If you like movies where racing is happening, that happens in Star Wars. If you like movies where there are. Where it's supernatural and people have supernatural powers and all that kind of stuff that happens in Star Wars. If you want gangsters and kind of dangerous world and people doing seedy things to one another, but having fun and it's a little bit juicy, that's in Star Wars. So it has so much humanity in it, and it really reflects Planet Earth without being so specific that it's a commentary. And so I think that if you get into it, you relate to it in ways that are perhaps a little bit surprising. I do not like hard fantasy and I do not like hard sci fi. There are some, like, there are some exceptions. Like you could like is, is Star Trek hard sci fi? Like I love Star Trek Next Generation. Like I'm obsessed. I love it, love it, love it, love it, love it. But for the most part, what I love about Star wars is that it is like messy, dirty, real people, you know, it's, it's not. I mean until you get to kind of like more of the Jedi, where there is a formality, there is stoicism, there is all of that. But because of the stories, we know what's also underneath that and the cost of that. And so I think when it comes to the lore, there's something for everyone and in particular as it pertains to the Force, I mean, that's so personal. Like, what is the Force? You know, George would say the Force is God. But anyone gets to kind of determine what that means for them. But I really like, I believe in like I believe in the Force. Like I believe in it. And I find it strange that like I can't move things, you know, that I like, I'm like Bryce, I think.

Pen Badgley (70:31)

If you could put your mind to it, you might be able to.

Sophie Ansari (70:34)

The energy is there.

Megan (70:37)

I don't know, I could fool myself into thinking maybe, perhaps, but it's, I just, yeah, I believe in Star wars as if it's real. It feels very honest and playful and entertaining. It doesn't take itself very seriously. So anyway, that's what I like about Star Wars.

Pen Badgley (70:59)

Well, this is a natural segue. Back to our last question. We're about to lose you. If you could go back to 12 year old Bryce.

Megan (71:08)

Yes.

Pen Badgley (71:09)

What would you say or do if anything?

Megan (71:12)

I would say never diet.

Sophie Ansari (71:18)

Love that.

Nava Kavilan (71:19)

That's great advice.

Megan (71:20)

Never ever diet. Don't try to change your body based on what you eat and how your movements are two separate things. You have no control over your body. So just eat what you need to eat to feel good and move how you need to move to feel good. And everything else is going to land where it's going to land. So perfect. I never, I never had an eating disorder or anything like that. But just through. I kind of like being told cause I have a medium sized body. It was like, oh, but we like you, but we like you but like £15 less. And that became a sort of huge distraction. Huge distraction. It's like it doesn't even work. So yeah, I would just say, straight up, no dieting. Never. For me. For me now, obviously, like, I have food allergies, so I'm not talking about that. Like, when you actually have to, like, you know, have something for your health, but just not trying to control the size of your body.

Pen Badgley (72:31)

Totally. Yeah.

Sophie Ansari (72:32)

Well, that's perfect.

Nava Kavilan (72:33)

I love that answer, Bryce, because it is a huge distraction and a massive waste of time.

Megan (72:40)

A massive waste of time. And it makes things worse.

Nava Kavilan (72:44)

It does make things worse. It actually makes it harder to stay at a healthy level.

Megan (72:48)

Everything. Yeah, everything. So, yeah, I really believe in health at every size. And unhooking myself from that which happened around when I did Black Mirror was like. I told some folks in my life that I decided to stop dieting. And their question to me was, am I going to retire? Wow.

Pen Badgley (73:12)

I love the transparency. At least, you know, I love that. It's def. I mean. Yeah.

Megan (73:18)

I was like, huh, huh? Wow. Huh? No, I'm not gonna retire. I'm just.

Pen Badgley (73:24)

You're like, shut up, dad. No, I'm kidding. I'm of course kidding.

Nava Kavilan (73:27)

You would never.

Megan (73:28)

You would never.

Sophie Ansari (73:31)

You can watch Deep Cover on Amazon prime now, and you can keep up with Bryce Dallas Howard online at BrycedHoward. Podcrust is hosted by Penn Badgley, Nava Kavilan, and Sophie Ansari. Our senior producer is David Ansari, and our editing is done by Clips agents. Special thanks to the folks at La Monada. And as always, you can listen to podcrushed ad free on Amazon Music with your prime membership. Okay, that's all. Bye.

Megan (73:57)

On August 9, 2014, a police officer shot and killed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, setting off 400 days of uprising. That's what the world saw. What they didn't see was the family, the grease, and the young man behind the headlines. Now his mother, Leslie McSpadden, tells her story of love, loss, and the fight for justice. I'm still Mike's mom. Once you're a mother, you never forget how to mother. From lemonada media and campaign zero. Still my baby is coming out. May 27.