Podcrushed — Ariana Grande (Part 1): Detailed Summary

Podcast: Podcrushed
Hosts: Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, Sophie Ansari
Guest: Ariana Grande
Episode Date: December 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special rerun of Podcrushed, Penn, Nava, and Sophie welcome Ariana Grande for a heartfelt and often hilarious conversation about her middle school years, family influences, beginnings as a performer, and her reflections on growing up in the spotlight. The episode navigates the unique pressures of child stardom, the pursuit of creative passions, and Ariana’s evolving relationship with her own artistry and mental health. The tone is candid, playful, and sometimes poignant—offering listeners both laughs and insight into the challenges and joys of Ariana’s journey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ariana’s Early Family Life and Musical Roots (00:02–06:24)

• Family Inspiration:

  • Ariana describes her family as both creative and business-oriented ("my mom is like, business...she’s the CEO of a company...my dad is sort of the more creative one...photography...painting").
  • Her home was theatrical, with everyday performances and a strong encouragement of expression. "My grandpa loved to sing too. Every time we finished dinner, he would sing 'Good night, I hate to leave you now, but have a good time.'" (00:02; 13:15)

• Supportive but Non-pushy Parenting:

  • "My mom wasn't a stage mom...she would make sure I was prepared and support me, but she never told me that it was what I should be doing..." (14:48)

• Early Signs of Being an Out-of-the-Box Kid:

  • Ariana recounts how her first screen name was "JimCarreyFan42" and admits, "I was always a little off. I was always a little different." (04:47–06:31)

2. Comedy, Music, and the Importance of Laughter (06:51–09:26)

• Comedy as a Lifeline:

  • “I loved singing first and foremost, but I remember that comedy always gave me a different feeling than singing did. Laughter is just the best thing in the entire world to me.” (07:29)
  • Ariana discusses infusing her playful side into her music, especially her more tongue-in-cheek pop songs.

• On Performing and SNL:

  • “Your appearances on SNL are pretty show stopping and phenomenal.” —Penn (07:51)
  • Ariana addresses rumors that she lip-synced during her famous SNL impressions skit: “Some people thought that I was lip syncing in some of the...really? I was like, I’m upset, but thank you!” (10:52)

• Penn’s Compliment:

  • “Shut up is one of the best pop openers of an album of the last probably 10 or 20 years. I really love it, and it’s so funny, but it’s so well crafted.” —Penn (08:32)

3. Middle School Experiences & First Public Performances (13:59–21:04)

• Recalling Her First Big Performance:

  • Ariana’s grandmother found an ad for tryouts to sing the national anthem at a Panthers game; "My Nona actually saw the ad...and she took me for my audition." (15:10)
  • At 8 years old, Ariana performed at the game and recounts getting hit by hockey pucks and being comforted with “tons of ice and they put me on the Zamboni, and I was like, I'm not hurt anymore.” (19:41–20:12)

• Early Improv:

  • Ariana shares a mischievous story of adding an unscripted bit in her school play: “I ripped the little stinger off of my costume and I stung the lead character and I flew off unprompted.” (15:57)

4. Transition to Broadway & Early Career (21:40–24:21)

• Thirteen: The Musical:

  • Ariana and her best friend Aaron auditioned together: “He was at the Jim Carrey birthday party…we both got it together.” (21:47)
  • She credits Liz Gillies (later her Victorious co-star) as one of her earliest close friends in show business.

• Community Theater Roots:

  • “I loved acting, and I loved singing and being a part of any show that I could find.” (22:45)
  • Both Ariana and Penn share memories of community theater and musical auditions.

5. Middle School, Crushes & Adolescent Embarrassment (31:50–43:00)

• Not Attending Regular School:

  • Ariana explains she had tutoring while on Broadway and during TV projects. She talks about California's “Chesapeake” test for young performers. (31:57–33:23)

• Strict Parenting, Secret Crushes:

  • "My mom was really strict, so I didn't...I didn't have a lot of crushes that I was allowed to explore when I was super young. But I had them and they were there..." (33:32)
  • First kiss in the hallway, rushed and nerves—relatable, bashful anecdotes abound.

• On Embarrassment and OCD:

  • Ariana reveals her younger self faced “really bad OCD” (rituals like having to sing through ‘Defying Gravity’ three times in the shower). (40:01; 43:03)
  • She reflects on not easily getting embarrassed: "I could easily laugh at myself..." (42:32)

6. Creativity as Solace & Artistic Aspirations (43:45–45:18)

• Art as Distraction & Healing:

  • OCD symptoms faded as she found community and busy work in theater and music: “It goes away when I’m creating and when I’m busy with work...when art is in the forefront...I don’t have time to think about anything else.” (43:45)

• First Song:

  • Ariana wrote her first song at 12, titled "Let It Rain." “Let what rain? It? All of it. Baby, I’m open...Why are you writing that at like 12?” (38:46)

7. Saturn Return, Growth, and Artistic Evolution (45:18–48:39)

• Penn’s Saturn Analogy (one of the most memorable moments):

  • “[Saturn’s] Roche point...its gravity so much lesser than Saturn’s that the front of it starts to rip apart from the back of it...If there’s any validity to this idea of Saturn returns, it’s that a belief system...is being torn apart, but then it’s being reorganized...it surrounds you in totally new fashion and form.” —Penn (45:13–47:57)

• Ariana’s Self-Reflection:

  • “It definitely feels like a certain coming home to myself has taken place over the last, like, two and a half years or something. People say that's what happens when you turn 30.” (44:54)
  • She discusses using style and glam as armor (“I wanted to be me less and less and to give myself to people less and less...”) and now finding contentment in more authenticity. (49:03–50:20)

8. Grace, Resilience, and the Challenges of Public Life (50:20–54:12)

• Processing Change and Criticism:
  • On public scrutiny: “A comment section of anything is literally the manifestation of your own personal fears. Like, wow. That thing that I thought that maybe was just an insecurity that had no place...that person is saying exactly that.” —Penn (51:01)
  • Ariana describes working with a therapist to adjust to the impossibility of pleasing everyone: "I have to make peace with and become healthy about so that I can continue to make art..." (52:09)
  • Before ‘Eternal Sunshine,’ she wasn’t happy with her music career—now she expresses joy and fulfillment in her work. (53:01–54:12)

9. Reflections on Child Stardom & Industry Safety (55:36–67:47)

• Victorious & Community:

  • Ariana and Liz Gillies, longtime friends, both transitioned together to Victorious: “We were young performers who just wanted to do this with our lives more than anything.” (56:41)

• On Child Acting & Industry Reform:

  • “I think that the environment needs to be made safer if kids are going to be acting…There should be in the contract something about therapy is mandatory twice a week or thrice a week or something like that.” (57:40)
  • Discusses the exploitation that can occur on sets, and the need for structures like therapy for both children and adults in show business.
  • “The environment just needs to be made a lot safer all around...I’m still in real time reprocessing my relationship to it.” (57:40–59:56)

• Industry as Microcosm of Broader Issues:

  • Ariana and Penn agree that workplace abuse and exploitation aren’t unique to show business; these patterns exist everywhere.
    • “If you ask anyone who’s ever worked ever...if they've been sexually harassed or even assaulted...it's everywhere.” (61:55–62:47)

• Nava’s Fire & Brimstone Reflection:

  • Shares a quote: “Children are a trust which no community can neglect with impunity.”
  • Discusses how children in entertainment are both infantilized and expected to act as adults, exposing them to inappropriate situations. (63:13–64:14)

• On Pushing Boundaries in Children’s TV:

  • Ariana reflects on how, at the time, risqué humor was seen as cutting-edge: “We were told and convinced as well that it was the cool differentiation...Now looking back...I'm like, that's damn.” (64:44–65:16)
  • Points out the structural failures—adults approved, enabled, or ignored inappropriate content or circumstances.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Comedy as Intimacy:

“There's something about making a person laugh that's like, we're comfortable. We trust each other. We're here. Like, laughter is just the best thing in the entire world to me.” —Ariana (07:29)

On Creating Art as Healing:

“Everything really subsides when...art is in the forefront of my life, I don't have time to think about anything else.” —Ariana (43:44)

Penn’s Saturn Rings Analogy:

“If there's any validity to this idea of Saturn returns, it's that a belief system...is being torn apart, but then it's being reorganized. Rather than a single point, it surrounds you entirely in totally new fashion and form.” —Penn (47:37)
“You've made the rings. You took the thing...You've decorated yourself with this beautiful new gem, which is Eternal Sunshine.” —Penn (48:05)

On Letting Go of Embarrassment:

“I am not like, easily embarrassed. I just feel like...I'll make like a terrible joke and carry on and I don't know. I feel like I am like, I could easily laugh at myself.” —Ariana (42:32)

On Industry Change:

“We're told it's normal, and it's changing. And I think that's a really nice place to see the world in unison standing in a place where we're like, that's changing. Yeah, that's unacceptable.” —Ariana (62:53)

On Therapy and Support in Show Business:

“If you're going to be doing this on this scale...there should be an element that is mandatory...of a professional person to unpack what this experience...does to you at a young age, at any age.” —Ariana (66:38)

Nava’s Praise for Ariana’s Grace:

“I just feel like grace has to be one of your lead attributes as a person. Like, you seem to have grace.” —Nava (68:11)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro & Family Stories: 00:02–06:24
• Comedy & Early Performance: 06:51–09:26
• National Anthem, Childhood Theater: 13:59–21:04
• Broadway/Thirteen: The Musical: 21:40–24:21
• Middle School, First Crushes, Embarrassment: 31:50–43:00
• On OCD & Rituals: 40:01; 43:03
• Artistic Aspirations/First Song: 43:45–45:18
• Saturn Analogy & Artistic Evolution: 45:18–48:39
• Public Life & Personal Growth: 50:20–54:12
• Child Stardom & Industry Safety: 55:36–67:47
• Concluding Reflections: 68:11–end

Tone & Final Impressions

This episode artfully balances humor, nostalgia, and genuine introspection, staying true to Podcrushed’s spirit of exploring the emotional complexities and awkward moments of adolescence. Ariana's openness about mental health, early ambition, personal evolution, and the realities of child stardom delivers immense value—both for longtime fans and listeners simply seeking a relatable, honest conversation about growing up, creativity, and grace under pressure.

Memorable Moment:
Penn’s Saturn analogy draws audible delight and earnest reflection from Ariana, setting up one of the most thoughtful exchanges on personal growth via planetary metaphor.

For listeners:
You’ll walk away knowing both the playful, quick-witted Ariana and the thoughtful adult who’s still navigating, with grace, the complex journey from child star to mature artist.