Podcrushed [Rerun]: Elizabeth Lail

Hosts: Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, Sophie Ansari
Guest: Elizabeth Lail
Release Date: March 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This season one finale episode of Podcrushed brings back Elizabeth Lail, best known for her roles in "You," "Gossip Girl" reboot, and "Once Upon a Time." The hosts, Penn, Nava, and Sophie, reminisce about favorite moments from the season before diving into a conversation with Elizabeth about her Southern upbringing, formative middle school experiences, struggles with early shame and faith, the complexities of toxic love tropes, and reflections on fame and identity. The tone is candid, humorous, at times raw, and always empathetic.

Season One Reflections & Banter

Timestamps: 00:44 – 07:10

Key Points:

• The trio reflects on favorite—and most awkward—moments from the season, setting a nostalgic and self-deprecating tone.
• Penn recalls recording in the sweltering London heat and loving the episode because "I just got to talk the most." (01:26)
• Sophie relishes when Drew Barrymore said, “I love you” (02:27), and describes the hilarity of guest confusion over her parents’ names.
• Nava shares her fangirl moment with Amy Schumer, where Amy quipped, “Nava, you’re scaring me.” (03:59)
• Penn admits he was initially nervous about negative feedback but found the audience to be "the sweetest corner of the Internet" with heartfelt comments and personal DMs. (05:05)
• The group expresses gratitude and uncertainty about the show's return:

  “It's hard cuz I just don't know if we're going to come back. But… I love you. Okay? I do. I know it's weird and I know we can never be together, but I just… I love you.” — Penn (06:25)

Welcoming Elizabeth Lail

Timestamps: 07:10 – 10:41

• Penn introduces Elizabeth Lail, reminiscing about her major roles and their shared past on "You."
• The group immediately launches into playful banter about family, awkward set experiences, and the complications of being recognized in public.

Early Life & Middle School in Asheboro

Timestamps: 10:42 – 15:34

Elizabeth’s Background:

• Grew up in Asheboro, North Carolina—a small town labeled as dying, then later revitalized and lauded for its beauty.

• Actively participated in community events, even hosting Chamber of Commerce awards.

  “I was very involved in my community growing up.” (13:33)

• Describes Asheboro as loving, lovely, but still facing social and historical challenges (e.g., ongoing efforts to remove Confederate statues).

Formative Middle School Experiences

Timestamps: 15:35 – 19:37

• Elizabeth reflects on her shy, sensitive nature, a passion for theater, and social struggles as a cheerleader.

  “My heart hurts when I think of 12-year-old Elizabeth ... seventh grade, worst time of my life, worst year of my life.” (15:04)

• Details her experience with early sexual attention, harassment from boys, and the public shaming she internalized.
• Theater became a safe space for self-expression and emotional refuge.

Religion, Shame, and Growth

Timestamps: 19:38 – 22:47

• After facing public shaming, Elizabeth “doubled down” on Christianity, seeking acceptance and moral clarity.
• “I became super Christian… I was like, oh, I never want to feel this kind of shame or judgment again, I'm going to be the best Christian there is.” (20:24)
• Reflects on how faith provided a core group and resilience but struggles with the term “Christian” as an adult.

Love, Marriage, and Family

Timestamps: 22:48 – 27:36

• Nava notes Elizabeth married a Persian Baha'i, which she admits her parents embraced graciously.
• Challenges childhood lessons about marrying “equally yoked” and describes her parents as liberal-minded and supportive, contrary to Southern stereotypes.

Tales of First Love & Adolescence

Timestamps: 27:37 – 29:50

• Talks about her first boyfriend, Andrew—the hottest guy in school—and the innocent logistics of middle school romance (“his mom took us on all our dates”).
• The mall, then and now, is a social hub for young teens.

Embarrassing Middle School Stories

Timestamps: 29:51 – 32:36

• Elizabeth recounts a classic “period story”—ruining a khaki skirt during exams and using her teacher’s jacket to hide the stain, with her mom coming to the rescue.

  “...the most massive blood stain on your khaki... on a khaki skirt is really bad.” (31:07)

• Notes the heightened shame and lack of coping tools typical for that age.

On Working Together in "You"

Timestamps: 35:00 – 39:37

• Elizabeth and Penn recall doing chemistry reads and the awkwardness of auditioning with/against other actresses.
• Elizabeth: “I hate it when they do that...they're kind of using the other one to prove their point...to make sure they can pay you as little as possible, maybe.” (35:21)
• They reflect on Beck's character and the persistent, often gendered, fan reactions to Joe and Beck; Penn jokes about Joe's ongoing fan appeal despite his murderous ways.

Toxic Love Tropes & Relationships

Timestamps: 39:38 – 45:48

• The panel explores damaging pop culture tropes:
  • The idea that “real love” means emotional possession, never cheating, never leaving.
  • Relationships as fundamentally “bondage” rather than liberating partnership.
  • The myth that love “just happens” without any effort, instead of it being an active, evolving practice.
• Notable insights:
  • Penn: “The most toxic, that love just happens, that there's no work. ... We believe that it's a magic feeling that visits you, and then we do virtually nothing to cultivate it.” (41:14)
  • Elizabeth: “How can we be in love and give love by giving someone freedom to be every part of themself inside...the relationship? That's what I'm looking for.” (39:38)
• Sophie debunks “you have to love yourself before you can love anyone else.”

  "I think you learn about yourself in relationship to other people." (45:22)

Friendship as Love and Codependency

Timestamps: 45:56 – 48:50

• Elizabeth unpacks how early friendships can become codependent, obsessive, or controlling, especially when identity is still forming.
• Reflects on the portrayal of female friendship in "You" (Beck and Peach).

Masculinity, Emotional Expression, and Sports

Timestamps: 48:51 – 49:59

• Penn and Elizabeth discuss how men are socialized to only express affection in sports contexts—rarely elsewhere.
• Elizabeth: “I'm like, thank God for sports. In some ways, I feel like sports is theater for the masses. It gives catharsis and feeling and freedom.” (48:51)

Iconic Scenes & The Legacy of Beck

Timestamps: 50:50 – 54:54

• Elizabeth’s favorite scene: intense moments in “the cage” with Penn, likening the experience to theater with high emotional stakes.
• Discusses how fans' recognition is mostly tied to “You,” and how daily life in NYC mirrors Beck’s fictional world—minus, thankfully, the stalking and murder.

On Fame, Recognition, and Awkwardness

Timestamps: 54:55 – 56:50

• Elizabeth recounts a mortifying incident where she tried to confirm a waiter’s suspicion she was a TV actress, only to find out he just thought she worked at a local bar.

  “He googled you, but no, I haven't seen any of your shows. You just really look like that girl from the bar.” (56:05)

• Lesson: Play recognition cool!

"You" Theories and Female Rage

Timestamps: 56:52 – 61:13

• Nava and Elizabeth speculate on Joe’s ultimate fate.
• Elizabeth suggests “death by a thousand cuts,” ideally by a group of women, and entertains a fantasy of a female “Joe” as a form of catharsis for suppressed feminine anger.

  “In my mind, the perfect movie is like, a group of women battling men and winning... It’s not to say that I think that’s the best thing for humanity... but it’s what I want.” (58:48)

Advice to 12-Year-Old Self

Timestamps: 61:21 – 64:52

• Elizabeth:

  “You are all good. Every part of you is good and worthy. You’re allowed to have a favorite color. You’re allowed to disagree. ... You’re allowed to step outside of the rules.” (61:30)

• Discusses the deep-seated effects of “good girl” conditioning and how self-acceptance is a lifelong journey.

Closing Reflections on Middle School

Timestamps: 65:01 – 65:25

• Elizabeth calls middle school a “shitty hard time” but appreciates the show’s willingness to talk openly about it:

  “I really do think everything ties back to it.” (65:20)

Memorable Quotes

• “My heart hurts when I think of 12-year-old Elizabeth… seventh grade, worst time of my life.” — Elizabeth (15:04)
• “You are all good. Every part of you is good and worthy.” — Elizabeth (61:30)
• “The most toxic [trope], that love just happens, that there's no work… It is an act. It’s a discipline, it’s a practice, it’s a life, it’s an activity.” — Penn (41:14)
• “It's hard ‘cause I just don't know if we're going to come back. ... I love you. Okay? I do.” — Penn (06:25)
• “Are you the girl that dies?” — Elizabeth (56:45)

Notable/Memorable Moments

• Drew Barrymore’s loving shout-out to Sophie (02:27)
• Amy Schumer’s “Nava, you’re scaring me” (03:59)
• Elizabeth’s mortifying “period and khaki skirt” story (31:07)
• Waiter thinking Elizabeth was just “that girl from the bar” (56:05)

Listener Middle School Story

Timestamps: 65:29 – 68:29

• Features a story about being accidentally de-skirted in front of the lunchroom; an episode-long motif of middle school's humiliations and the show's empathetic, playful approach to adolescent pain.

Final Thoughts

Season one wraps with gratitude, hope for a return, and an affirmation: the turbulence of adolescence leaves an indelible mark, but sharing stories—humiliating or heartwarming—makes everyone feel less alone.

For more:
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