Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson

Episode: Clarissa, a Crush and Christmas with Melissa Joan Hart

Date: November 17, 2025
Guest: Melissa Joan Hart

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Oliver Hudson sits down for an in-depth, spirited conversation with actress, director, and producer Melissa Joan Hart. They revisit their personal history, including a hilarious “crush” moment, and go deep on growing up in large, blended families, the realities of child stardom, and the joys and struggles of working in show business while raising kids. The episode is bursting with warmth and reveals, peppered with industry insights, real-life parenting moments, and a behind-the-scenes look at their new holiday movie “Merry Little Xmas,” now on Netflix.

Main Topics & Key Discussion Points

1. Old Friendships and the Legendary "Crush" ([03:35]-[08:09])

• Oliver opens by jokingly referencing Melissa’s past “crush” on him, leading to a fun, candid exchange about awkward young Hollywood encounters.
• Melissa recounts the embarrassment she felt after putting her foot in her mouth at a Sunset Boulevard club, admitting he was one of the rare people to make her feel tongue-tied.

Quote:
"I put my foot in my mouth and made an absolutely ridiculous comment that didn't even make sense and then backed it up with something more ridiculous. And I was so embarrassed, and I felt like I couldn't recover." – Melissa ([07:01])

2. Working Together on “Merry Little Xmas” ([08:09]-[10:04])

• Discussion on collaborating for the new Netflix Christmas movie, highlighting the fun they had and what it meant for their families.
• Oliver cherishes working alongside his son, sharing how emotional and proud he was to watch him perform.

Quote:
"Watching you be a good dad is even sexier... watching you, like, be a stage dad and be nervous for your son, but then want to help him." – Melissa ([08:29])

3. Parenting, Child Stardom, and Family Legacies ([10:04]-[16:35])

• Oliver talks through the tension of letting kids into the industry, referencing his own parenting and family legacy.
• Melissa shares entering the industry at age 4, aiming to hear her name on “Romper Room,” leading to a cascade of commercials and TV roles.
• Reflections on financial realities for child actors and supportive but pragmatic parents.

Notable Segment:
Melissa's story of booking commercials to earn a clubhouse, highlighting her work ethic from a very young age ([15:00]).

4. Sibling Dynamics & Family Background ([23:14]-[29:22])

• Melissa opens up about her Long Island upbringing as the oldest of five (eventually seven) in a blended, free-spirited family.
• Describes her parents as hippies, the diverse paths her siblings took, and explorations in family history that deepened appreciation for her maritime roots.

Quote:
"My parents were hippies…growing their own garden. My mom would go get goat's milk for my sister because she had allergies. I was the oldest..." – Melissa ([23:35])

• Discusses how each sibling found their own lane: Melissa ("the talented one"), her sister Trisha ("the smart one"), and others.
• Explores jealousy, sibling rivalry, and eventual acceptance of everyone’s unique direction.

5. The Move from East Coast to LA & Life in the Spotlight ([29:22]-[38:33])

• The logistics and emotions of uprooting a New York family for a Hollywood career.
• Transitioning from “Clarissa Explains It All” to “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and what those work environments required.
• Differences in recognition and the realities of early fame, imposter syndrome, and the benefits of being in a big, supportive family.

Quote:
"I always wanted them to look at me. I didn’t want to do anything that would embarrass them or hurt them…even when I did Maxim magazine once…Playboy magazine came and asked me...I can't do it because I don't want my brother to be hurt by that." – Melissa ([38:06])

6. Navigating Fame, Finding Balance, and Raising Kids ([42:23]-[53:13])

• Melissa reflects on harnessing fame for fun experiences rather than for ego or indulgence.
• Discussion on being a working mom, juggling shooting schedules on both coasts, and the personal sacrifices and joys.
• The universal challenges of parenthood, especially with teenage boys growing increasingly independent.

Quote:
"I can be all in as a full-time mom and then I'm all in as an actor when I leave and I go on a project...But there's an end in sight, too. I don't know if I’d want a job where it's like year after year going to the same office." – Melissa ([51:02])

7. Producing & Directing: Finding Creative Fulfillment ([54:54]-[59:26])

• Talks about transitioning into producing at a young age (starting with “Sabrina”), directing for efficiency and creative control, and breaking into genres like Christmas movies and true crime.
• Recounts earning her DGA card, being mentored, and ultimately directing episodes of “Sabrina,” “Young Sheldon,” “The Goldbergs,” and more.

Quote:
"When you're directing, you read that script, you get that vision, you make that come true. You're the storyteller, in a sense, and I really connect with that more." – Melissa ([58:26])

8. What’s Next: Developing New Projects and Family Priorities ([59:29]-[61:13])

• Melissa is set on developing more projects—Christmas movies, true crime films, a new sitcom.
• Emphasizes enjoying middle-aged life, being present for her kids as they near adulthood, and pursuing passion projects.

Quote:
"I feel like…the New Yorker in me is more about being a working actor…I'll do craft service. Like, I just love being a part of it…I’m also really enjoying like, middle-aged life with my husband and my kids." – Melissa ([59:55])

9. The New Christmas Movie: “Merry Little Xmas” ([62:22]-[64:13])

• The episode closes with anticipation for their new film, its comedic twist on Christmas movie tropes, and what makes it different.
• Strong emphasis on breaking patterns of rivalry between women characters in holiday films, wanting to evoke the energy of classics like “Elf” and “Home Alone.”

Quote:
"I was a little sick of the vanilla sweet Christmas movies…what I miss are the Christmas Vacations and Elf and Home Alone and that sort of fun-natured movie. And I really wanted to bring more of that back." – Melissa ([63:04])

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “[About the crush] There was something about you, you, like, looked at me and I…my brain just rotted for a second…” – Melissa ([07:27])
• “Just watching you be a good dad is even sexier.” – Melissa ([08:29])
• “My parents were hippies…growing their own garden…my mom would go get goat’s milk…” – Melissa ([23:35])
• “We were the kind of hippies that had the beads hanging in the kitchen, you know, curtain.” – Melissa ([23:37])
• “Being the oldest of so many siblings, I was so responsible…I didn’t want to do anything that would embarrass them.” – Melissa ([37:26])
• “If you’re just reaching for fame, that’s not the right reason to do this because it comes and goes and comes and goes…” – Melissa ([39:35])
• “I feel like…middle-aged life with my husband and my kids. And I don’t want to miss…all the…stuff with them.” – Melissa ([59:55])
• “What I miss about Christmas movies is the comedy…I really wanted to bring more of that back to a movie.” – Melissa ([63:04])

Key Timestamps

• 00:00-03:00: Intros & ads (skipped)
• 03:35-08:09: The “crush” story and first impressions
• 08:09-13:49: Working together, industry kids, and parenting in showbiz
• 13:49-16:35: Melissa’s early career, Romper Room, commercials
• 23:14-29:22: Sibling stories, family background, and dynamics
• 29:22-38:33: East to West Coast, life in the spotlight, shifting shows
• 42:23-53:13: Managing fame, motherhood, and life’s juggling act
• 54:54-59:26: Producing, directing, creative evolution
• 59:29-61:13: Future projects, priorities, middle-aged joy
• 62:22-64:13: About “Merry Little Xmas” and what makes it special

Memorable Moments

• Melissa’s heartfelt and humorous recounting of sibling assignments—being “the talented one,” while her sisters staked out “the smart one” and “the weird one” ([28:04]-[28:31]).
• Digging into childhood ambition ("I need to be on TV so Ms. Maryanne says my name!") ([13:27]).
• Discussion of the unusual, hippie upbringing and how its grounding nature influenced her take on fame.
• Reflections on the ups and downs of parental attention, teenage distance, and how relationships with kids change over time ([53:13]-[54:44]).
• Insight into producing Christmas movies to address her own genre cravings ([63:04]).

Tone & Language

The tone is informal, candid, and heartfelt. Both Oliver and Melissa joke comfortably, tease, and dive into vulnerable reflections with a conversational, sometimes irreverent humor. Melissa is open about her insecurities and proud moments, offering a genuine window into the realities behind the “child star” narrative. The overall mood is supportive, familial, and real.

Conclusion

This episode is a rich blend of nostalgic Hollywood tales, industry wisdom, sibling insights, working-parent realities, holiday movie magic, and plenty of laughs. If you’re a fan of Melissa Joan Hart, 90s TV, sibling stories, or are simply looking for inspiration on balancing creativity with real life, this is a must-listen.

Watch “Merry Little Xmas” now streaming on Netflix!