Alexa, Play Sibling Revelry with Alexa Ray Joel & Jack Brinkley-Cook

Summary

Podcast Summary: Sibling Revelry with Alexa Ray Joel & Jack Brinkley-Cook

Podcast: Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Episode: Alexa, Play Sibling Revelry with Alexa Ray Joel & Jack Brinkley-Cook
Date: September 29, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Kate and Oliver Hudson sit down with half-siblings Alexa Ray Joel (daughter of Billy Joel & Christie Brinkley) and Jack Brinkley-Cook (son of Christie Brinkley) to explore the intricacies of their blended family, childhood memories, evolving sibling dynamics, family legacy, and the unique journey of growing up in the spotlight. The hosts and guests share candid reflections about age gaps, shared anxieties, support systems, and how family unity is built and rebuilt through change. The episode is warm, funny, and full of light-hearted banter about family, fame, confidence, creative risks, and the messiness of modern siblinghood.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood, Family Set-Up & Age Gaps

Sag Harbor Roots and The Hamptons Experience

• Alexa and Jack discuss growing up in Sag Harbor (08:22), with Alexa sharing nostalgia for their “storybook” East Hampton upbringing (31:18).
• The conversation turns to the pros and cons of country vs. city childhoods, with Alexa describing the Hamptons as grounding compared to the “coke in the bathroom” atmosphere of NYC’s posh private schools (10:35).

Blended Family, Age Differences, and Unity

• Alexa (39) and Jack (32) are nine years apart, with a younger sister Sailor (27) (13:36).
• They reveal that “half-sibling” labels mean little to them:
  • “I never would describe Alexa as my half-sister.” – Jack (12:05)
  • “We’re close. That’s how we are.” – Alexa & Kate (12:07)
• Alexa describes being the only child for several years, adjusting with delight when her younger siblings arrived (32:15).

How Divorce Shaped Their Bond

• Their mother’s last divorce “brought us all closer together,” cementing a supportive, unified sibling trio (35:36).
• “We unified around my mother… She was going through it. It gave us a sense of solidarity.” – Alexa (35:56).

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2. Personality Differences & Sibling Dynamics

Complementary Opposites

• Alexa: More of a homebody, introvert, lives for music, loves solitude.
• Jack: Social, flexible, entrepreneur, describes himself as a “hybrid.” Sailor is the outspoken extrovert (34:41).
• “My sister Sailor is probably the antithesis [of Alexa]… She’s always out…super opinionated.” – Jack (34:52)
• “A lot of times your opposite characteristics get magnified as siblings—which is a good thing.” – Alexa (33:59)

How Their Bond Grew Over Time

• Relationship matured in adulthood due to their age gap; Alexa was already moved out when Jack was in his teens (19:03).
• Jack recalls sneaking out in NYC while Alexa acted as older sibling and “a little bit of a neat freak” apartment gatekeeper (19:52).

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3. Navigating Fame, Legacy, and 'Nepo Baby' Stigma

Growing Up with Iconic Parents

• Both Kate/Oliver and Alexa/Jack relate to growing up with famous, high-achieving parents (29:53).
• Alexa fondly recalls the “Three Musketeers” feeling before her parents’ (Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley) divorce, and the challenges it brought (29:53-32:11).

Coping with Public Scrutiny

• Kate discusses the double standard and “underhanded feeling” of people assuming privilege overshadows hard work (49:36).
• “There’s a different kind of criticism…a microscope…extra critics.” – Kate (49:36)
• “There’s always that feeling of ‘she had it handed to her.’” – Alexa (49:45)

The Nepo Discourse

• “Nepotism exists across all businesses…but mainly gets directed at the arts, which is bullshit. You gotta be good. You have to deliver.” – Oliver (49:49)

Embracing Family Legacy

• “It’s a beautiful thing to carry on a family legacy and do you… People are gonna have things to say… Damn the rest.” – Alexa (50:33)

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4. Creative Lives & Individual Paths

Alexa’s Songwriting and Creative Process

• Writes all her own music, including her new single "Riverside Way" (53:13).
• Draws inspiration from night-time baths and “rare, uncharacteristic wild nights” (53:28).
  • “I’m an introvert like my dad. I get into my own world, write alone, go through every feeling.” – Alexa (54:29)

Jack’s Career Turn

• Studied acting and improv but pivoted to entrepreneurship, founding Rove—a luxury rideshare service in the Hamptons supported by advertising (55:13–56:48).
• “I launched a company that I still have to this day.” – Jack (55:32)

Mutual Support

• Jack is Alexa’s “biggest supporter,” promoting her songs and sharing in her creative excitement (43:20).

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5. On Confidence, Risk-Taking, & Social Media Pressure

Risk and Reward in Art & Life

• Hosts and guests discuss the power of taking creative risks, especially for artists with famous parents (48:00–48:19).
• “If you’re not taking risks, you’ll never know how far you can go.” – Kate (48:18)

Handling Judgment & Anxiety

• Alexa is open about her sensitivity:
  • “I don’t look at comments on YouTube…as a sensitive gal, I’d probably start crying.” (48:30)
• Jack acknowledges Alexa’s deep caring and offers empathy: “If I could take one quality from her it would be her caringness…everyone just loves Alexa.” (59:01)
• Alexa wishes she could “care less” and worries about others’ opinions (59:29–59:48).
• Both siblings discuss shared struggles with anxiety in today’s chaotic world, offering the personal mantra: “just float” (60:52).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Age and Perception:
  “If you just told people you’re older, you look even better for your age!” – Oliver (12:39)

• On Sibling Closeness:
  “When you just said it [half-sibling], I was like, oh yeah. I have to remember…But it doesn’t feel that way. We’re close.” – Alexa (12:07)

• On Public Scrutiny:
  “There’s also that underhanded feeling of, ‘she had it handed to her’…No matter how hard you work or how in love you are with your art.” – Alexa (49:36)

• On Family Unity During Tough Times:
  “We unified around my mother…It gave us a real sense of solidarity.” – Alexa (35:56)

• On Risk-Taking as an Artist:
  “You gotta just do it and then let go of whatever people think about it.” – Alexa (48:19)

• On Anxiety & Letting Go:
  “When I get anxious I say: just float. Try it sometime.” – Alexa (60:52)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Early Banter: 03:00-07:00
• Alexa & Jack Join, Childhood & Hamptons Life: 08:12–11:02
• Blended Family, Age Gaps, Half-Sibling Labels: 11:04–13:28
• Sibling Differences & Growing Closeness: 18:26–20:20
• Divorce, Family Unity & Christie Brinkley's Influence: 35:05–37:19
• Navigating Criticism & Nepo Baby Discourse: 49:36–51:51
• Creative Careers: Alexa’s Songwriting, Jack’s Business: 53:13–57:19
• Mutual Admiration & Personal Traits: 58:09–60:10
• Managing Anxiety (“Just Float”): 60:52
• Wrap-up & Goodbyes: 61:22–62:06

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Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is rich with humor, self-awareness, and genuine affection. The familiarity between all four participants brings warmth to deeper subjects—trauma, privilege, self-doubt, and artistic pressure—making for a lived-in, uplifting listen. Kate and Oliver’s quick wit and gentle ribbing set the guests at ease, making space for honest insights and playful confessions.

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Final Thoughts

This episode of “Sibling Revelry” gives listeners a relatable and breezy tour through the unique terrain of famous, blended families. Alexa Ray Joel and Jack Brinkley-Cook are candid about their personal growth, creative ambitions, and ongoing struggles—making their bond, resilience, and humor as siblings the real star of the show.

Transcript

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[Oliver Hudson]

Hi, I'm Kate Hudson and my name is Oliver Hudson.

[Kate Hudson]

We wanted to do something that highlighted.

[Oliver Hudson]

Our relationship and what it's like to be siblings. We are a sibling revelry.

[Kate Hudson]

No, no sibling revelry. Don't do that with your mouth.

[Oliver Hudson]

Sibling revelry.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

That's good.

[Oliver Hudson]

What are you drinking?

[Kate Hudson]

The yummiest protein shake.

[Oliver Hudson]

Did you make it or did one of your people.

[Kate Hudson]

Such an ass? No, I got it from Creation.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, you did?

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah, I just put it in the freezer and then I redo it so it's really cold. And like smoothie.

[Oliver Hudson]

Here's. I'm having breakfast issues because I get lazy. Like, I ate an enchilada chicken enchilada for breakfast. But when you really think about breakfast, because I was going over this in my head, if I put an egg on it, it would be breakfast. You know what I'm saying? It's still. It's still protein, it's still cheese. It's. Put an egg on corn tortilla.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah, Just take a. Take a taco and put it on. And then you're with. Well, not really enchilada. More like.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, but. But if I put an egg on the enchilada, it would still be breakfast. So if I ordered the breakfast enchilada with no egg, it would still be breakfast.

[Kate Hudson]

That's true. By the way, you're speaking like, my family. Like in. In the Japanese culture, breakfast is like miso soup and rice. And Danny and I were even talking about how we should get more into like, Japanese breakfast because it's actually so wholesome.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

You've got something pickled. It's really good for your gut.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

Usually miso soup in the morning is like, yummy.

[Oliver Hudson]

Do you eat fish? Fish in the morning?

[Kate Hudson]

Sometimes. Well, what you would eat? Smoked trout? Well, you'd eat smoke salmon.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, it's gotta have like a breakfast quality.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah, well, that's kind of like the Japanese.

[Oliver Hudson]

I wouldn't mind some like, salmon sushi in the morning.

[Kate Hudson]

Like, yeah, a little bit like a little, like a little miso. It's like. It's actually really nice. The. The Japanese breakfast is very, very good.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

So it's not every. You know, it's only like American. Look. Sausage, potatoes, eggs. Yeah, yum. Yeah, I just got a new kitchen. I just redid my kitchen.

[Oliver Hudson]

I know, I saw it.

[Kate Hudson]

It's all the pictures insane, Ollie. But the best part is, is the new ovens do things that are like. So they make everything so easy. I have a speed cook oven now that can cook like hash brown potatoes in like nine minutes.

[Oliver Hudson]

Wow. Just gets up to like 900 degrees or something.

[Kate Hudson]

Oh, yeah, it just goes a convection oven. So it just goes really hot, like real fast, cooks it, then you can crisp them in there for like a minute. And like, for the kids, I can make them like little like.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

Diced potatoes and onions in the morning in like nine minutes. It's amazing. Yeah, you gotta get one of them. It's really cool.

[Oliver Hudson]

They're probably like $6 billion. No, they're not. No, they're really affordable because I do need a new oven, I need new kitchen. I've been trying to hustle up some sort of HGTV show, like, calling every host, like, hey, you want to do me for like a special? I was just getting no's.

[Kate Hudson]

Well, sounds fun. I want to start a YouTube channel for all of my design things because I'm always doing it. So I think I'm gonna do it and, and we can do your kitchen and get it, like, sponsored. Yeah, we'll figure it out. We will. You'll have to pay for some of it. And then maybe we'll get a partner. Listen, I'm excited to talk to these youngins.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, we don't want to leave them waiting. We don't leave them waiting.

[Kate Hudson]

Today. I have to say, their mom, I feel like, was like your first real crush.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, well, it was because of first of all, Uptown Girl, the video, and then you've got know, vacation in the red Ferrari and at the pool, which is unforgettable, iconic scene for everyone. Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

In the 80s, that was like one of the great moments of all time.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yes. Yeah. Christy Brinkley, was it?

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah. I mean, it's like she's still it. She's so hot.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, she's so hot.

[Kate Hudson]

It's insane. Her energy. Yeah, everything I, I, I look at her. Oh, my stylist used to style her sometimes when she was in New York and said she was just like the greatest, most inspiring woman because she's just so filled, energy and happy and she's very joyful.

[Oliver Hudson]

I know. Well, let's see if it rubbed off on any of these kids. Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah. So we got Alexa Ray, Joel, and Jack Brinkley. Cook.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yep. JBC is what I like to call him.

[Kate Hudson]

Do you want to let him in, Ollie?

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, yeah, let's let him in.

[Kate Hudson]

Okay.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Hi.

[Oliver Hudson]

What's going on, Guys.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Hey, guys.

[Kate Hudson]

Where are you right now? Are you in new. Are you East Coast?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

We're East Coast. Yeah. We're actually at our family house, so.

[Kate Hudson]

Oh, nice.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

In Sag Harbor.

[Kate Hudson]

Oh, I love it. I'm jealous. Is it pretty or is it starting to get fall and cool?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

It's so perfect. It's like early. Like 73. Like, just September.

[Kate Hudson]

I love it. My son.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

My son.

[Kate Hudson]

I will. I'll come. My. My son just took a picture of himself like, a week ago and was like. Because he's in New York. He's at nyu, and he just goes, my first last day of school because he's graduating, which is insane. I can't even believe it.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Oh, my God.

[Kate Hudson]

And. And he. He FaceTimed me the other day, and I was like, oh, it looks, like, so beautiful in New York. I was jealous.

[Oliver Hudson]

I just wanted.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

So gorgeous.

[Oliver Hudson]

Where. Wait, Sag harbor is at the Hamptons?

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah, it's like the. It's like upper. It's like on the up.

[Oliver Hudson]

But it's considered the Hamptons.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

It's the most beautiful. I mean, I'm a little biased. We grew up biased. We grew up here. But it's the most beautiful town in the Hamptons because you got the harbor front.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. I gotta go experience the Hamptons again. I've done it one time when I was like, 19 or 20. 20 or 21 years old, and I ended up on like, 7,000 hits of ecstasy in a pool all day. And it was. It was the most disastrous weekend in terms of my health.

[Kate Hudson]

I'll never forget. He came back from the Hamptons and had eaten his entire mouth off.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, it was very good.

[Kate Hudson]

What happened.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Yeah, you're a little scarred to come back.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. Yeah, that was it. I was like, I'm never coming back to this place again.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Guys need to come here. Like, this is months to be here. It's a little trafficky in the summer, but this is fall.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, I gotta go give it. I gotta give another a chance.

[Kate Hudson]

I like the Hamptons when It's off season 100.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

The winter is absolutely the best out here.

[Kate Hudson]

That's what my friends say who have, like, who live in the Hamptons. I actually have a friend without in the city and then moved her family to the Hamptons and. And put the kids in school there. And she said, it's the best thing I've ever done. She just loves it.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Grow up in a. More grounded. As someone that's sort of been in school at Nightingale, Bamford, and then PCs in the city Professional children's school. I've had both the Hamptons country and city experience, and I can just tell you that people are more grounded out here. It's very different. Then I went to bcs. I was like, what's this? They're, like, doing coke in the bathroom. Very different situation.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah, big time.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

We were pretty, like, kind of sheltered and just low key.

[Oliver Hudson]

Did you. Did you guys grow up in the city?

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

We grew up out here in Saigon.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

And then basically one year I was at school in the city. Nightingale Bamford, which is very posh, very upper crest, very, you know, clicky. And I was kind of terrified. And my mom was like, okay, she's not doing well. This was in. When I was in fourth grade, so I guess I was 10. And then we moved back here, out here, because it was. I don't know, it just wasn't working for me.

[Kate Hudson]

And I think that's so nice. I love it.

[Oliver Hudson]

So you guys are. You guys are. You guys are halves. We have a half. But do you consider. Does that. Does that even. Does that vernacular even come up when you're talking about each other? Or is it like, brother and sister?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

It's so funny hearing you say that, because I always forget because he's just my, like, yeah, we don't even.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

I don't ever consider it. We never like. I never would describe Alexa as my half sister.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Never to us.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

She's just like.

[Kate Hudson]

We're just like.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

When you just said it, I was like, oh, yeah. I have to remember that we're. But because it doesn't feel that way. We're close.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah. That's how we are.

[Oliver Hudson]

What's the age gap?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

What is the age gap?

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Nine years.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

As someone that is in denial of age, I'm not a fan of numbers.

[Kate Hudson]

I know. I said. I said I'm forever 34. I'm just gonna mentally like it. Just like there are all kinds of things are gonna happen and change. But, like, I'm always 34.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Like, you're young at heart. You're young.

[Oliver Hudson]

I just turned 49, and, you know, age. I never gave a shit about age. 50, I think might not sting, but at least make me think. But I have a theory about age. I'm just gonna. If you. If I told you right now I'm 71, it's like, oh, shit, you look good, so you might as well go older, and then you look better.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I mean, I. I hear. I think it's easier. I totally get that perspective. But as a woman, there's a lot of Built in misogyny, like the minute you say your age. Oh, why aren't you married yet? Had kids yet, you know? So for me, I think it's. I. I don't know, Kate, if you. Oh, yeah, I love to just like, let people guess and just. Yeah, I mean, Jack and I are 10 years apart now.

[Kate Hudson]

Wait, what now you have a third though, right? And is he middle or is he younger?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Sailor. Our little sister, she's.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

She's three years younger than me. So I am 30. I just turned 32 two months ago. So I went through that little bit of shell shock that I guess, Oliver, you're gonna go through. And my younger sister's 27 and Alexa's 39.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, he told it.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Oh, you told on me. Wait, how old are you guys? Sorry, I'm 46.

[Oliver Hudson]

I'm 49.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

You're 46. See, it doesn't. It doesn't register. Like if you take care of yourself and you are warm, like the beauty from. I don't know, resonates from within to without. And you. I just, I. It's more of a glow. It's like, who cares about the number?

[Kate Hudson]

I also think women, like, I went to. I remember going to a couple years back, my. My 20 year high school reunion, and the girls looked great and the guys looked awful. I was like, what is happening? Like, the girls all look great. They've got a little Botox, they have a little thing like they're working out. They look so good, the guys. I was like, wow. Wow. I feel like girls take care of her and we just like, we, you know, like, we are just a little bit more ritual. We have our rituals and we like to make ourselves.

[Oliver Hudson]

I mean, hold on.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yeah. This one relies on his good genes.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I have to like, I have to have my rituals or I look like shit. It's just like, I don't know.

[Oliver Hudson]

But men age better. According to you. You guys, right? We age better.

[Kate Hudson]

No, better is the wrong word. Differently.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Hotter with age. Which is.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, we get hotter.

[Kate Hudson]

It's annoying. Well, it's like the structure, it's like your face shows something that happens. Some. Some guys, some guys, they get older and they're like, you know, the way that their face changes is.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

Like, very different than the way a woman's face.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Oh, my fiance has gotten his. He's like a. What would you say? Salt and pepper.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Yeah.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Distinguished. Distinguished. Gray, as they call it. And he looks like he's sexier to me. I don't know. Just also, he's Matured a lot and worked on himself. So it's. It's both, right? It's not just looks, but, like, oh, something about that salt and pepper.

[Kate Hudson]

Mine is getting that too. Like, in his beard and, like, in the. I'm like, oh, it is. It's nice.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

It's a thing. Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

It shows wisdom. But I also think women with silver hair, like, the ones that have, like that crazy. I just think it's so beautiful when their hair is like, you know, some.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Women, if they're into it and you can tell that they're comfortable with it, like, you can feel the energy, they pull it off. Beautiful. Andie McDowell looks. She looks unbelievable. Look at her and think, I don't know if I'm going to be one of those girls because I, you know, you either have it or you don't. Like, I'll probably be dyeing my hair if I'm being, like, honest with you. And let's not have this cycle of shame for women. If they want to get a facelift, great. If they don't want to get a facelift, I know.

[Kate Hudson]

Let it go. Oh, God.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, by the way, you know how many dudes are getting facelifts now? Like, big famous stars?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

You know what I think? I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to look like the best version of you. What I find unfortunate is when a girl, and I know that this happens in our current superficial, looks obsessed society where a young girl will take a picture of a celebrity and bring it to her surgeon and say, make me look just like this girl.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

To me, that's an unfortunate, like, byproduct of it. I mean, not to sound cliche, but you got it. Love yourself. And if you see one little tweak and you want to, you know, tweak it, good for you. But to want to change everything to the point that you're not even you.

[Kate Hudson]

Anymore, I know, that's sad. That's always like, one of those things where you just hope that, you know, it's one thing to be like, oh, I remember I had my ears stick out, right? And I really, like, when I was little, I wanted to. Or when I started to get older, I was like, God, I just, like, want to get them back because they always stick out and I can't put my hair up.

[Oliver Hudson]

And I also called her dumbo.

[Kate Hudson]

He also traumatized me, Right.

[Oliver Hudson]

I always said to Kate, I said, okay, look, there's a breeze. There's a breeze picking up better. You better. You better latch down. You're going to fly away.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I love it. I mean, I have to say, like sailors more the one that teases me. I'm very lucky with Jack because he's just always like so complimentary, so supportive. That's you, big sis. Like, he really just respects my tenure. And anyway.

[Oliver Hudson]

Well, how was that growing up? Honestly, you guys, little.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Big bro, because he's so much, you.

[Oliver Hudson]

Know, because the nine years is a pretty good difference. Like, how did that work? How did you guys get close? You know, what was it like growing up with someone who was like your little man, essentially?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yeah, you know, we got close later in life, I think, because it's. He was more with sailor when you guys were like, really little because that's a huge age difference. And I was an angsty teen, so I was sort of very much introverted and then just, I would say the last, what, 15 years. Well, so in adult. In our adulthood.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

When, when I was 10 years old, she was 19 years old and already moved out of the house. And so going back to being a.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Huge difference hits then.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Yeah. And going back to being in the Hamptons. What was, what was especially cool was when I got to 15, 16, 17 years old and the Hamptons weekends weren't cutting it anymore. I used to go and stay with Alexa in the city anymore. And my mom was very strict and she, you know, she gave me a strict 12am curfew when all my other friends had like a 1am curfew or 2am curfew. And Alexa was amazing because I would stay with her and I think that she sometimes used a little bit of discretion where when I would, you know, come home 30 minutes late, she wouldn't get me in trouble. But she was strict enough where the few times when it was like 3 in the morning and 3:30 in the morning, morning the next day, I was probably in trouble.

[Oliver Hudson]

You ratted out your little brother?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Well, you know, I'm, I'm. I'm a real homekeeper. So with my apartment, I. I'm a little bit of a ocd, like, neat freak. So if things aren't just the way I want them, there's a little bit of a problem.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

She said she's a hyper neat freak. She. She. Everything she does is meticulous. So.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

See the flowers in the back? I like to keep things.

[Kate Hudson]

What's your sign?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Things. Pretty. Do does you. I get stressed if there's clutter around.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah, I don't like clutter.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Hate it. I'm a Capricorn.

[Kate Hudson]

Okay. And you?

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

I'm a Gemini.

[Oliver Hudson]

Okay, no idea. Anyone else have that nagging feeling that your dog is bored and just sits there looking at you and you feel super guilty about it? Well, one way I combat that is making meal time everything it can before my dog Donut Nom Nom does this with food that actually engages your pup's senses with a mix of dog approved smells, textures and ingredients. Nom Nom offers six unique recipes that keep things interesting, all while delivering real health and wellness benefits. And the meat. It looks like meat. And the veggies, it look like veggies because shocker, they are. Their recipes are crafted by vet nutritionists so I feel good knowing it's designed with my dog's health and happiness in mind. You can serve Nom Nom as a complete and balanced meal or as a tasty addition to your dog's current diet. So if you're like me and your dogs are like your kids, you should give Nom Nom a try. It's a healthy, high quality choice that my guys seem to love. So keep meal time exciting with Nom Nom. Available at your local Pet Smart store or at Chewy. Learn [e-mail] Hudson spelled try n o.

[Kate Hudson]

M.Com Hudson September always feels like the start of something new. Whether it's back to school, new projects, or just a fresh season, it's the perfect time to start dreaming about your next adventure. I love that feeling of possibility, thinking about where to go next, what kind of place we'll stay in, and how to make it feel like home. I'm already imagining the kind of Airbnb that would make the trip unforgettable. Somewhere with charm, character and a little local flavor. If you're planning to be away this September, why not consider hosting your home on Airbnb while you're gone? Your home could be the highlight of someone else's trip. A cozy place to land, a space that helps them feel like a local. And with Airbnb's Co Host feature, you can hire a local co host to help with everything from managing bookings to making sure your home is guest ready. Find a co [e-mail] host. You know that feeling when you're on an island vacation. Sun on your face, cocktail in hand, no deadlines or demands. That's Tommy Bahama. In their world, the living's always easy, the drinks are always good, and summer lasts forever. Seriously, Tommy Bahama knows how to take you to your happy place. From their signature prints to their flattering fits. It's like if style and vacation had a baby. Effortless. It's sophisticated, it's art, it's giving. I'm on a beach somewhere and no, I cannot come to the phone right now. And it's not just for me. Their menswear is designed with the same next level comfort and feel good fabric so everyone could get in on the getaway. And Tommy Bahama restaurants and bars don't even get me started. I actually go to them because I love the desert and there is a Tommy Bahama restaurant in the desert and my son and I go there all the time. We drink Mai tais, we have good vibes and it's the world's best coconut shrimp served daily, full on relaxation mode. So if you're into craftsmanship, quality and making every day feel like a vacay, Tommy Bahama is where it's at. Check them out tommybahama.com and find a restaurant, bar or store near you. That's Tommy Bahama.com if you've got dogs.

[Oliver Hudson]

Like we do, you know how tuned in you get to their little signals when they're happy or when they're nervous and when they're just not not moving like they used to. And as pet parents, all we want is for them to feel their best. So whether it's joint discomfort, stress or simply getting older, it's tough to watch them struggle. So that's why I'm here to tell you about Elevet Sciences, where heart meets science Elevet cares deeply about pets and they've done the research to make sure their products really work since their first clinical trial at Cornell University. And in dozens of studies since, Elevet has helped thousands of dogs move better, feel calmer and live more comfortably. Veterinarians trust Elevet and so do thousands of pet parents. Because when our pets are happy, we're happy too. See what Elevet can do for your dog? Get 25% off your order at elevet sciences.com with Code Hudson. That's E L L E V E T sciences.com Code Hudson Tired of spills.

[Annabe Sofa Advertiser]

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[Kate Hudson]

So yeah, cuz I guess if you've got a nine year difference and you're like, you know, 17 coming into the city and I mean, you're well into your life. When did you get married?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I actually, I haven't gotten married yet. I'm still engaged.

[Kate Hudson]

Oh my God.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I think maybe you're.

[Kate Hudson]

I don't know, the same.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

You're the same. Like, I like. I don't know, I like keeping it fresh. Yeah, we've actually been, we've been together for 12 years.

[Kate Hudson]

That's right. It's been a long time.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yeah. And I know you with Danny, right?

[Kate Hudson]

You know, oh, almost nine.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I don't, I don't subscribe to the labels anyways. I do want to get married to him and he is the love of my life, you know, and we just haven't gotten around to it. But you know, when we do, I think next year we want to plan like the perfect wedding.

[Oliver Hudson]

And I was engaged for almost three years, so.

[Kate Hudson]

You were?

[Oliver Hudson]

Well, because that was the idea. The idea was like, there is no rush. Let's enjoy being in love and having fun with the engagement. What is, what is marriage anyway? Honestly? And we're still basically married.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I totally agree. And the way I see it is like kind of me and Ryan have been together longer than a lot of marriages have lasted 12 years. So it's, it's, it's all relative, you know, and time flies by.

[Kate Hudson]

So how many, how many. How do you do you like to be like, how do you say your name? Do you just say Alexa or do you say Alexa Ray?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

You know, I used to do Alexa or Lex, but since that damn freaking Alexa robot Amazon Echo thingy.

[Kate Hudson]

Oh no. Oh yeah.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Everybody's ordering Alexa around. Alexa do this, Alexa do that.

[Kate Hudson]

Oh my God.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

It actually causes some issues. Like I'll be on the phone with someone and they'll say, hey Alexa. And they'll think we'll go, what would you like to do? Like, because of that? I do Alexa Ray.

[Kate Hudson]

Okay, that's so funny.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah, that's I, um. But you have. How many siblings do you have? All together?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

We have. It's just me, Jack, and Sailor.

[Kate Hudson]

Just. Okay, so it's just the three of you.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

How old is sailor now? 27.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Sailors. 27. And then Alexa has two additional half sisters, right?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yeah. On my. On my father's end.

[Kate Hudson]

Right, so mom has three and three dads, correct?

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Yeah.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yes.

[Kate Hudson]

Like me.

[Oliver Hudson]

That's like Kate.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

You know, we're a modern family.

[Kate Hudson]

It works. It seems to work. It does. I'm curious.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Where are you guys? I love the background of where you are. It's so homey.

[Kate Hudson]

Oh, I'm in la. I'm in my office.

[Oliver Hudson]

I'm in my son's room. Okay.

[Kate Hudson]

And Ollie's in. Is that. What.

[Oliver Hudson]

I'm in Bodhi's room.

[Kate Hudson]

That's where Bodhi lives now.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Wait, the difference between a man's room and a woman's room.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, I'm in Bodie's room. It's just easier.

[Kate Hudson]

Exact. Exactly. So. So. So you're. So let's start. Alexa, let's start with. With you. So you. So you grew up. You were eight years old when your parents divorced. Dad's Billy Joel, mom's Christy Ray. We got to get into the parents because, like I was saying to Oliver before you guys got on that, that was clearly Oliver's, like, first, like, one of his big crushes was when I was a baby.

[Oliver Hudson]

Your mom good?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Oh, of course.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah. I mean, like, the hottest. Like, the Ferrari, you know, vacation situation was like, your mom was just everything.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yeah. Iconic, the ultimate.

[Kate Hudson]

But you came out of, like, the. Like, they were just such a couple, you know, and when. When they broke up would. Do you, like. Do you remember it?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Of course. Yeah. I was nine. I was nine years old when they divorced. And, yeah, I mean, you know, they were my world, and we were the Three Musketeers, so we were always together, singing mom would, you know, bring me out on the road. And we were very. Just sort of like a musical family, always singing together, always putting on a show. And so, yeah, it was a shock to me. But, you know, you should probably watch my father's documentary, Can't Wait, because it really delves into all of that and the pressures that my father was going through at the time. He had to go back on the road when he just wanted to stay home with me and mom because his manager at the time ripped him off and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars, and so he had to get back on the road and make that up. And that was a Part of, you know, that was a part of. Maybe it was more. It might have been millions. Actually, now that I'm recounting, I think it was millions. That was a big strain. I sometimes wonder, you know, there's a, there's a, there's a pros and cons to everything because I sometimes wonder, well, if the manager hadn't come into the picture and he didn't have to get back on the road, maybe they would have stayed together, but then I wouldn't have had my wonderful little brother here. You know, I mean, you know, life is funny, but I do believe that they were soul mates. And, and, and it was a dream childhood. I, I grew. We're talking about how great Sag harbor is, but I grew up in a further lane, which is, I don't know, arguably the most beautiful area in East Hampton. And we, we lived in a beautiful sort of like Tuscan style. It was a dream. It was like a storybook. Everything you could imagine out of a storybook childhood, I was very blessed to have. And you know, I look back at it and it almost seems like this beautiful dream because it was, it was just, you'll see in the documentary, just, it was a really magical time.

[Kate Hudson]

And so you basically like that. A ten year difference, nine year difference is, I mean, you were really raised.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

An only child for a very long time. Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

And so when, when your bro came along, how did that feel?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I was happy as could be. I mean, Jack was the most energetic, happy, just always smiling. We were, I was always singing to him. My mom, she films everything. You'll see a lot of the footage in the documentary always got to. Before we had phones, she had one of those old school video cameras on her shoulder. And so, you know, she, she captured all the footage. I used to sing to him. We used to play. He was very active, wanted to be outdoors. I've always been more of an indoor gal. So, you know, I don't know, I think we kind of compliment each other in our differences, but we didn't get close till I, till we were both young adults because like I said at that point there is such a huge age gap that it just gave us an opportunity to relate to each other more. By the time he was in his, I don't know, late teens, early 20s.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

We'Re all very different. Like our little sister Sailor is very different from Alexa.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

We're opposites like you.

[Oliver Hudson]

And explain that, like, how are you guys different?

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Well, so I would say that Sail, Alexa tends to lean to, to be a little Bit more of a homebody. She's very comfortable in her environment and, and my sister Sailor is probably the antithesis. She seems to always be out and.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Introvert versus extrovert. Yeah, I'm an introvert. She's an extrovert. I like to be at home playing the piano.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Honestly, in everything you could be opposite. They kind of, for the most part are.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

She's real tough gal. She'll speak her mind. She's really outspoken. She's. And everyone always sees me as more the innocent one for some reason. It's just, you know how it is. Like when you're siblings, a lot of times your opposites, your opposite characteristics can be magnified, which is a good thing.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

I think Taylor is an innocent. Sailor. Sailor.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

No, I don't mean it in a bad way. I mean like, she's like, she's like a badass. Like, she's, she'll speak her mind. She'll, you know, she's just a very outgoing personality. Outgoing when.

[Kate Hudson]

What about you, Jack? How do you fit into this dynamic?

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

I'd like to think I'm a little bit of a hybrid between the two. I'm, you know, I, I like to go out and I'm social and I.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

But social.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

But yeah, yeah, but I'm definitely less rigid than, than our little sister Sailor, who to Alexis point can be. She, she, she's very opinionated and, and makes her opinions very clear and in a great way.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yeah. Jack, you're very open minded. Like you can always. He can see both sides of everything. You're very diplomatic.

[Kate Hudson]

How did mom manage the family? Like the unit? So you've got three dads. I know, Alexa, you're a little bit older, but with you and Sailor especially, how did she manage the unit? And did it really feel like you guys were one unit or was there a lot of spreading out based on where the dads were or.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

I mean, my, my experience is, is that we always felt like one unit. I think that probably when, yeah, my mom got her last divorce, I think it brought us all closer together naturally.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

It really did.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

And that was the moment where we like really unified.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

But we unified around my mother too, because she was going through it. And so it gave us a real sense of solidarity and, you know, I mean, there's nothing like when you can relate to going through a divorce. We both experienced that and then it did. It kind of bonded us closer together and now we all couldn't be closer. I mean, you know, Jack doesn't go a day without speaking to my Mom, I don't go a day without speaking. And she's the best mom in the sense that she, she worries. She wants to make sure everybody's okay. If she doesn't hear, you know, from us for too long, she's like, I just want to make sure you're okay, you know, so we're, we're tight knit, just like you guys. Like, you can see it and you're a little. I follow Kate on Instagram and I'm such a fan, by the way. I just love your. And it does, It's. You can feel that genuine closeness.

[Kate Hudson]

It's so great. I can, I can see that with Christy on, you know, with you guys, she.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Oh, yeah, she's a little bit of a worrier and in a good way. I drove out from the city to the Hamptons last night. It's a two hour drive, and probably every 10 to 12 minutes, my phone would ring and it was my mom, you know, checking in, making sure that the job was safely, that you hadn't crashed. Yeah, she called me 10 minutes ago. I'm 10 minutes further up the road. We're good.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Exactly.

[Oliver Hudson]

That is funny.

[Kate Hudson]

Oh, it sounds like me.

[Oliver Hudson]

It sounds like Kate. I was about to say that.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Just wants to make sure everybody's okay. She's such a mama bear. She's also super conscious of the environment, health. She's always trying to make us aware of, okay, this is good for you. This is not good for you. She's just, she's that real nurturing mama bear type. And, you know, I'd rather it's the best.

[Kate Hudson]

September always feels like the start of something new. Whether it's back to school, new projects, or just a fresh season, it's the perfect time to start dreaming about your next adventure. I love that feeling of possibility, thinking about where to go next, what kind of place we'll stay in, and how to make it feel like home. I'm already imagining the kind of Airbnb that would make the trip unforgettable. Somewhere with charm, character, and a little local flavor. If you're planning to be away this September, why not consider hosting your home on Airbnb while you're gone? Your home could be the highlight of someone else's trip. A cozy place to land, a space that helps them feel like a local. And with Airbnb's co host feature, you can hire a local co host to help with everything from managing bookings to making sure your home is guest ready. Find a co [e-mail] host you know that feeling when you're on an island vacation, sun on your face, cocktail in hand, no deadlines or demands. That's Tommy Bahama. Seriously, Tommy Bahama knows how to take you to your happy place. Their styles are effortless, flattering, and not just for women. Their menswear has the same feel, good, fit and next level comfort. And Tommy Bahama restaurants and bars don't even get me started. Mai Tai's Coconut Shrimp Go Good Vibes serve daily. So if you're into craftsmanship, quality and escaping the everyday, visit tommy bahama.com that's.

[Oliver Hudson]

Tommy bahama.com if you've got dogs like we do, you know how tuned in you get to their little signals when they're happy or when they're nervous and when they're just not moving like they used to. And as pet parents, all we want is for them to feel their best. So whether it's joint discomfort, stress or simply getting older, it's tough to watch them struggle. So that's why I'm here to tell you about Elevet Sciences, where heart meets science. Elevet cares deeply about pets and they've done the research to make sure their products really work since their first clinical trial at Cornell University. And in dozens of studies since, Elevet has helped thousands of dogs move better, feel calmer and live more comfortably. Veterinarians trust Elevet and so do thousands of pet parents. Because when our pets are happy, we're happy. To see what Elevet can do for your dog, get 25 off your order at elevetsciences.com with code Hudson that's E L L E V E T sciences.com.

[Annabe Sofa Advertiser]

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[Oliver Hudson]

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[Jack Brinkley Cook]

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[Oliver Hudson]

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[Jack Brinkley Cook]

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[Oliver Hudson]

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[Jack Brinkley Cook]

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[Jack Brinkley Cook]

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[Oliver Hudson]

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[Oliver Hudson]

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[Jack Brinkley Cook]

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[Oliver Hudson]

It's interesting how Jack, you were saying that, you know, sort of the last divorce is. Which brought you guys together. You guys were kind of saying that or what solidified, you know, the unit essentially. And is that, Is that. How do you. What. Why do you think that is? Is it just sort of rallying around each other and the support that it takes to sort of get through whatever it is you have to get through?

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

I think it was a very, I think the last divorce particularly too, for my mother was, was a. Was a bad one. And so by, you know, sort of directly because of that, we, like Alexis said, sort of rallied around her and wanted to show our support. And inevitably that brought my siblings and myself closer together as a result of doing that. But I don't mean to say that in that there wasn't. It wasn't like pre divorce. We were all separated. I mean, my. Even before Alexa moved out of the house and again, she moved out of the house when I was 10 years old because she is nine years older than me. I still, up until that point, I have a tremendous amount of, you know, incredible memories still when she was still, you know, going to the same high school here in East Hampton that I went to. But I think it was. I think it was really the. The idea of rallying around our mom.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

That, that it did.

[Kate Hudson]

Sometimes it takes like these big moments to sort of. That kind of kick something into a different dynamic, you know what I mean?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Completely.

[Kate Hudson]

Your mom needed you, she needed us.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

And we were there. And also, you know, Jack is a big music lover and so he's always. He's like my biggest supporter. Like any song that comes out, he's like, I downloaded it, I'm playing it. He'll blast it in the house. The other day he was blasting some tracks of mine.

[Kate Hudson]

I know you have a single out Riverside Way. I just watched the video is very Sexy. I know.

[Oliver Hudson]

And that's your, that's your guy, right? That's your dude in the, in the, in the video.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

That's my fiance, Ryan. Yes.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, because I was watching it too, and there was a moment in the backseat of a car where you sort of straddle him and then you start kissing and I'm like, that feels like someone she knows. I literally was thinking that, you know, I was like, that doesn't seem like an actor.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Can I just say how impressed I am with both of you as actors? Because to me, the idea. They said, well, who do you want to get for this video? I said, my. My guy. Yeah, I don't make out with a stranger. I just feel like, wow, I'm so impressed that you can just break that ice. Because Ryan and I have had 12, 12 years to break that ice. And so it was really comfortable on camera and, you know, it was good.

[Kate Hudson]

I had a moment like this at work the other day where I was making out with somebody and I did. I. I did have this moment where everybody is just filming and, you know, and we're so used to it, you.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Know, and like, nothing to you.

[Kate Hudson]

It's like, nothing. It's. And then I, I said to my friend who, who is playing the guy, and I was like, it's so crazy that we are just like making out and then we're like, anyway, so. Yeah. Oh, my God. Yesterday, my kids. Like, then you start with your kids and your partners and. But you're just. It's like. It's the craziest, weirdest life we live.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I mean, like, that's why I say I think it's amazing. It's. I don't know, because I was just even surprised with all the cameras that I was so comfortable doing the love scene with him in the truck. But then you, you know, once. I think it's just about, I don't know, you would know better than me as a, as an amazing actress. But it's just about locking in because we were just looking at each other. Like, I sort of forgot that the cameras or anyone was looking. You gotta lose that self consciousness. Self consciousness is the worst. And I'm a very hyper aware person. But you got to get rid of all that and just be in the moment. And that's kind of what Riverside Way is about. I wanted to channel my Bad Girl.

[Kate Hudson]

I know. I loved it.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I loved it.

[Kate Hudson]

I was like, oh, go Alexa Ray. But wait, so.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

So that was the moment.

[Oliver Hudson]

Wait, Jack, hold on. Jack. When you watch your sister in the video, like, making out. Are you cool? I mean, you're like, okay, that's.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

No, I was cool with it. Honestly, I was. I was most impressed with her fiance, Ryan, who obviously, as you mentioned, not a trained actor, and I don't think has a lot of experience in that field.

[Kate Hudson]

And he looks so handsome, and he's so.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

He looks so cool. He looks so good. I. I mean, beyond being obviously impressed with her, that was. That was probably what came to mind first.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. Well, that's good. But there's always got to be something, I guess. Shit, there's my sister, like. Like, tongue down. Even if it's your. You know. You know, it's like when. When Kate posts Instagram where her ass is, like, shaking around everywhere. I'm like, all right, we're good.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I know.

[Kate Hudson]

You know what?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I think I've seen a comment or two from you. Like, yeah, Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

I think I tell, like, just unfollow me, then, like, mute me.

[Oliver Hudson]

No, I think there was one recently that I didn't comment on. I was like, oh, jeez, I think.

[Kate Hudson]

I saw Summer dumps out.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Buns out or something.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

What's wrong with closely? Yes, I do.

[Kate Hudson]

Oliver loves putting, like. Oh, so you're. You can put your ass out on Instagram. But I do, and you hate it.

[Oliver Hudson]

You know what's fun up when I put my ass on Instagram, Like, I get it gets taken off. Yet you and every other influencer who's on only fans puts their ass and everything else on Instagram. They're cool. That's cool. I'm being my ass.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

And Oliver, how often are you putting your ass on Instagram?

[Oliver Hudson]

Like, you know, every third, fourth post.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

It's relative, because here I am thinking I wrote, like, this edgy song and, oh, you know, this is a real sexual vibe, but it's. It's. It's really not when you compare, like, every. Everybody's doing whatever they want. Like, Sabrina Carpenter is, you know, as she wants to be, and there's really no rules. And I don't think you're really challenging yourself as an artist if you stay in one box or one lane and, you know, one. The ballad girl, the piano girl, the good girl. I just wanted to step outside of that.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Does it.

[Kate Hudson]

Doesn't it feel good?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Feels great.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Exhilarating.

[Kate Hudson]

You know, art is for taking risks. Yeah. You gotta be able to take risks. And by the way, with that comes the. The. The chance of failure. And it's important to. To do that, like, to put yourself out There is hard, but like, if you're not taking the risks, you're never gonna know how far you can go.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

You gotta just do it and then let go of whatever people think about it. Because I know for me, like, even doing the video, I'm not looking at the comments on YouTube or anything.

[Kate Hudson]

Oh, no.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Because as a sensitive gal, I'd probably start, I don't know, crying at some.

[Kate Hudson]

There's a funny sort of misunderstanding from the outside in. When you grow up with very famous parents, how cr. How critical people are on you when you're young, when you're, it's like, so you're under this microscope before you've even chosen to be an artist or to be kind of like want to be out in the world as an actor or, you know, there are certain, certain kids that are, they're far more kind of criticized than others. Like, I, I, growing up, I, I always thought whether it was in school, whether it was, you know, theater class and music class and all the things that I did, the second they found out or anyone found out what my, who my family was or immediately I felt so much extra critics. There was, there was sort of a, A different kind of criticism that I'd receive.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Oh yeah. Because there's also that underhanded feeling of, oh, she had it handed to her. She grew up with privilege.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah, right. No matter how hard you work or how in love you are with the art.

[Oliver Hudson]

Well, I honestly think that's the fucked up thing about this Nepo baby, you know, sort of wave. It is mainly directed at the arts, you know, actors, writers, musicians, which is bullshit because nepotism exists across all businesses, across all occupations. In fact, I think as an artist, you know, you have to prove yourself. Yes, it's like harder.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah, it's harder.

[Oliver Hudson]

The foot can get in the door, but you still have to be good. You still have to fudgeing deliver.

[Kate Hudson]

Jeannie Bus said to me, which I realized was really interesting. She said, 80 something percent of families get into the business. They're the same business.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

It's inevitable. And why not? I mean, you grew up with it. I grew up hearing music my whole life with my father writing these incredible songs and playing Gershwin and playing sounding music and like I had this really classically amazing, diverse musical repertoire that I was raised with. It's just, it becomes a part of you, you know, because, you know, theaters and in your blood too, Kate. And I mean, you develop a love for it. I think it's a beautiful way to kind of carry on the family Legacy. Irregardless of, you know, I'll never be my. My father. And we're different in many ways, and I may never achieve that same level of mainstream success or when, you know, everybody has their own version of success these days. But it's. I think it's a beautiful thing to carry on a family legacy and just do you. And like I said, people are gonna have things to say. You know, it's always a mixed bag now online, right? I always feel like there's no middle ground. Like, they either love you to death or they freaking hate you and want to see you, you know, just go down in flames, right? But. But you gotta just stay true to you and do. My father always says, you do what you love and you love what you do and damn the rest.

[Kate Hudson]

And, you know, would your.

[Oliver Hudson]

Does your. Does your dad listen to your music and does he give you critique and advice on stuff that you do, or is he kind of like your, hey, girl, go do your thing. Go. Go do your shit?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

You know, he's so supportive, but not in a, like, showbiz father way. He's just like, do you like. Like, Riverside Way? Doesn't sound like anything that he would have written. Very much a departure from his style. So he was sort of taken aback, and he's like, oh, you know, good for you for not, like, staying in that same kind of comfortable niche that perhaps would be expected of me as his daughter. Because I like to show. I know, you know, Kate's very diverse with her choices, too. You don't want to just do comedy, right? Or just do. So I like to show, okay, I can do a ballad. I can do a fiery little kind of banger, and I think it's just about mixing it up and doing what you want. I don't really follow a playbook. I know my father doesn't either. He's a real non confetti forest. He's done the doop stuff and the Tin Pan Alley stuff, and then he's done even stuff that sounds more theater, and then he's done more classical, and then he's done more, you know, real rock and roll songs. So I think it's just about playing and. And. And having fun.

[Kate Hudson]

Do you write all. All your own music?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I do.

[Kate Hudson]

And do you work with anybody when you're writing?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I work alone. Jack's heard me. I just. I just play at the piano. Really?

[Kate Hudson]

So should you write all that just by yours? Just by yourself?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Riverside Way. I was. I don't know if you're a bathtub gal, Kate. But I gotta. I can't sleep unless I take a hot bath at night. One night I'm just. It was a late night, 3am I was just thinking about, like, oh, what if I were, like, playing this alter ego character? And I was thinking of a few wild, rare, uncharacteristic wild nights I had out and I just heard folk cigarettes, drink all day, met a bad boy on the rip, and it just kind of came out.

[Kate Hudson]

That's so fun.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Okay.

[Kate Hudson]

I love writing. I. I've been writing music my whole life.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

And then only in the last couple years have I been doing real writing sessions with different writers. And I love writing with people. I have so much fun. Like.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

Especially just. It's great connecting with different people and, like.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

Understanding how they work and how they think. And certain people, it's kind of hard to, like, get in there with each other. And then some people, you just start to flow and it's so amazing.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

But see, you seem as, like, more of a total extrovert to me, which is amazing. I wish I could be more extroverted. My father. I'm like my father. My dad's a true blue introvert. He sits there and he gets into his own world. He writes alone. He goes through every feeling he's ever had. And I think I kind of caught that, you know, writing alone bug, if you will, from him, because it's so. It's kind of. It's sort of thrilling to just go into your own lens and your own world and just go with it. It's like your own dream world, you know?

[Oliver Hudson]

And Jack, you. You just. You didn't want to get into the business in any way, I'm assuming.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

You know, what's funny is I actually went to acting school, so.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

He's a great actor.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

I did go to acting school. I. I pursued improv more than anything else. But quickly coming after. Quickly after I got out of acting school, my mom, you said, you need to get a job.

[Kate Hudson]

And.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

And, you know, I'm going to give you a month, two, three months to figure it out. And it was within that period that I ended up launching the company that I still have to this day. And so it wasn't.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah. By the way, how is Rove doing? I've heard. I've. Good.

[Oliver Hudson]

What. Explain what it is.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Yeah. So basically one day, I. Having Oliver. Not really been to the Hamptons. I'm not sure if you'd be super familiar, but there's a bus service that everybody.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, I know.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

In the Hamptons. And yeah, it's called the Hampton Jitney. Yeah, it's effective, but it's the experiences, you know, probably is not the nicest experience in the world. And I thought that there would be room to sort of elevate the experience, given that it is the Hamptons and, you know, it is a luxury market. And so we, we launched with direct service between Manhattan, Brooklyn and singular towns in the Hamptons on Mercedes Benz Sprinter vans to offer an upgraded program. And that was the year before COVID And so the following year, Covid strikes. People don't want to travel together, but luckily the. The county that the Hamptons are in, Suffolk county, was looking for a local transportation company to help fight traffic in the Hamptons and drunk driving. And they had a grant and a bid. And so we actually transitioned the program from a. A ride share service between the city and New York to an internalized rideshare service where we actually provide free rides within the Hamptons that are all powered by advertisers. So you get into a vehicle where the vehicle is wrapped on the exterior by an advertiser. The interior has iPads that take consumer data information, and we're able to provide free rides where otherwise an Uber in The Hamptons is $50 to go five minutes down the road. That's what we've become. Yeah.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

So savvy, this one.

[Kate Hudson]

Different.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Different than what she does.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I have really no business savvy.

[Oliver Hudson]

Just so you're an entrepreneur, essentially, this is what you want to do.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

I know.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Yeah, I guess you could say that. Yeah.

[Kate Hudson]

We usually do like our little ending question. Ollie, you want to ask them what that is?

[Oliver Hudson]

Sure, yeah. Every. We do this with everybody. And it's kind of a two part question about you guys. You guys answer, if you could emulate something, take something from your sibling that you wish you had yourself, what would it be? And on the flip side of that, if you could alleviate something from them that, you know, would make their life experience a little bit better, what would that be?

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Wow, that's a loaded question.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Okay.

[Kate Hudson]

Yes.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Something popped up in my mind just now as Oliver was saying that I wish I had Jack's flexibility. He's very flexible. He can. He could be in any situation and, you know, just make it work. He's a great traveler. He's not like so baked in. I'm such a homebody and introvert and kind of. I love to live in my own fantasy world so much that I think it's limiting for me, like, in terms of branching out. He He'll. He can branch out and make anybody anything, a home, make anybody feel at home. He's so good with hosting. He's always hosting.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

It's very sweet.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

It's a true. It's a true extrovert quality. So I wish I had your flexibility.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

And if I was thinking about with Alexa, would I. I think that Alexa is, is probably the most caring person in the world. And I don't think that there's anybody that's ever met Alexa and just doesn't love her. And so I suppose, I suppose if I could take one quality from her, it would be her caringness. Because I've seen over my life how, how that has impressioned people and, and truly everybody just, just loves Alexa.

[Oliver Hudson]

So that's great. And then what would you alleviate?

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Care less. Sometimes I care so much.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

I think, I guess what Alexa was saying is the personality trait that she would take for me. I guess if I would alleviate one thing of Alexa, I think that she. I would give her some of my flexibility and some of.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Exactly.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

I think maybe sometimes Alexa, you. You can. You really consider what people think of. Think. And you know, I know she mentioned she doesn't like to look at the comments and stuff like that, and I overthink her. Yeah. To a certain extent in my head.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yeah.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

You know, I think that I would take away a little bit of the. The overthinking.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Oh, for sure. I wish I could please take it away. I think one thing we have in common, we. We both get some anxiety. We both struggle with anxiety and this anxiety IND producing world. And I know what that's like. And it can be hard to just shut your brain off. I know that he has a little anxiety that he goes through sometimes because he, as he says, I'm so caring. But you're always worried about everybody, too. You want to make sure mom's okay. You want to make sure everybody's okay. Maybe I'd like to take some of your anxiety away. I have a thing that I say when I get anxious where I say, just float. Like I say it in my head.

[Kate Hudson]

Oh, I like that. Just.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Just float, you know?

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Yeah.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Because it can be hard for people.

[Oliver Hudson]

That are always either float or take a pop.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Some Lexapro, you know, I mean, I try to work through it mentally. I. I know why people go to substances because this world is so crazy right now. Everything's so overstimulating. But if you say in your head, just float. Try it sometime.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Yeah, just float.

[Oliver Hudson]

That's amazing.

[Kate Hudson]

Oh, you guys are the best I'm coming to Sag Harbor.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Please.

[Oliver Hudson]

I know. Me too. I need another experience with the Hamptons.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Yeah, seriously.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

We talk a lot on Exorcist.

[Oliver Hudson]

No, no, no.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Here at the art studio. You can stay. You're welcome anytime. And you know, we watch Almost Famous at least once a month around here. Not a fan or anything.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah. It's our 25th anniversary yesterday.

[Oliver Hudson]

Wow.

[Kate Hudson]

It's crazy.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Oh, my God.

[Kate Hudson]

I know.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Congratulations. It's timeless.

[Kate Hudson]

25 years.

[Oliver Hudson]

All right, thank you, guys.

[Kate Hudson]

Thank you so much for coming on.

[Oliver Hudson]

All right.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Fun.

[Kate Hudson]

Yeah. We'll see you soon.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

Bye.

[Jack Brinkley Cook]

Bye.

[Oliver Hudson]

Bye. Cool.

[Kate Hudson]

They're so great.

[Oliver Hudson]

I know. So fun.

[Kate Hudson]

They're so cute. That was so nice, Christy. And also, I love hearing I want.

[Oliver Hudson]

To go to the Hamptons and just chill out.

[Kate Hudson]

Sag harbor is amazing. It's really beautiful. Yeah, but just like, oh, their mom sounds awesome.

[Alexa Ray Joel]

And.

[Kate Hudson]

And Alexa Ray is so cute.

[Oliver Hudson]

She is. She is like really like so happy and positive. And it's like.

[Kate Hudson]

And it's like a Disney character. Yeah, it's like Cinderella. Like all of a sudden a bird is gonna like land on her hand and she's go.

[Oliver Hudson]

Same animated bird is going to pop up.

[Kate Hudson]

She's so cute. Oh, well, that was fun. I love you.

[Oliver Hudson]

Love you. Bye.

[Kate Hudson]

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[Oliver Hudson]

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[Jack Brinkley Cook]

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[Oliver Hudson]

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[Jack Brinkley Cook]

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[Oliver Hudson]

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[Alexa Ray Joel]

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[Oliver Hudson]

It'S back to school time again.

[Kate Hudson]

And you know you can count on.

[Oliver Hudson]

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[Alexa Ray Joel]

And cheese to make those sandwich masterpieces.

[Oliver Hudson]

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[Alexa Ray Joel]

That'S twice spiced and twice baked and.

[Oliver Hudson]

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